We all overindulge if we can. Food, drinks, gifts. As Christmas draws ever closer, we are all guilty of making rash decisions in present purchasing. We all have that difficult relative who is almost impossible to please. Or the brother who already has everything. Or the eternal quest for an exquisite celebration of love for a partner.
Perhaps instead of the voucher or cash or that last-minute ill-considered present, we could all change tack in our choices for this Christmas.
Buy art. Buy original art.
In most towns across this country, there are galleries, studios, craft co-operatives and market stalls. Artists and artisans working in every medium possible. From soaps, bath teas and candles to jewellery, woodwork and ceramics all the way through pastes, acrylics, oils and photographs to awe-inspiring sculptures. All artists have passion and dedication.
They are also trying to make a living. Being an artist is like being gay. There is no choice. Michael was, is and will continue to be an artist. Today, he is using his skills to create metal weights for a local's grandfather clock. Even when he is not actually creating a piece, his head is still flooded with new ideas that push his boundaries as an artist.
A long time ago, my brother Simon fell in love with a painting by an emerging artist. The bloke's name was Pro Hart. Simon bought his Pro Hart picture because he wanted that particular piece of original art. Arguably one of Australia's art legends, Simon's painting is now probably quite valuable, but that was not why he bought it all those years ago.
Yesterday was a wonderful day in the East End Gallery. A couple of sisters with a hoard of kids barrelled into the Gallery. I set the younger ones up on our art table. Apart from sampling the paint, the littlest one, aged around eighteen months old, didn't put a foot wrong. Each of the children was given their own mill ball. The boys (including the adult one) were fascinated with Michael's workshop.
They must have stayed about an hour. One of the little girls fell in love with a ceramic horse. All the children handled Michael's spiders. A lay-by was started with the horse and two spiders. The oldest lad, a nineteen-year-old, was the typical teenager and appeared to be focusing on his phone. Then he announced he wanted to buy one of our paintings.
"Enigma" was his choice - a startlingly dramatic study of a woman's head and shoulders, a cigarette hanging from her bright red lips whilst gazing with luscious green eyes at her audience from her sanctuary.
Who knows if Manon Chatnoir (a divinely talented young French woman and one of our HelpXers) will ever be a famous artist? That's not the point. The young man in question is taking his first step in developing his individual artistic appreciation.
And I think, that for a nineteen-year-old, this was a special moment in his life.
And please remember to buy art from a living artist. The dead ones no longer need the money!
"Enigma"
All introducing some of our artists -
Manon Chatnoir
Andrew Taylor
Asta Lander
Brian Aylward
Chris Shannon
Christine Davis
Colleen Sleer
Denese Borlini
Murray Cook
Gracie Courtney
Jan George
Mandy Evans
Meredith Lee-Curtis
Michelle Rothwell
Kim Allison
Len Zuks (on the right)
Pat Lane
Jenny Couper
Neil Elliott
Gary Waters
Michael Sofoulis
Sharon Ellis
Shirley Gillis
Steve Pease
Tim Burns
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