Saturday, February 2, 2008

GOODBYE

I think I regret being in the gallery today.

Christine* asked me to pass by and sign the certificates of authenticity that will accompany the paintings that were sold. She tells me that these will be picked up by their new owners in the next few days. (For every artist whose piece is sold, it's welcome news. There'll be money coming in to fill an otherwise long-empty pocket.)

When I arrived at the gallery, there was a young couple she was entertaining who were buying It Takes a Village. I went straight to the gallery's backroom, heard the whole transaction and in a few seconds the piece was sold.

"The man paid for it," she said with a grin. "He was pretty persistent in getting that piece and he convinced the woman who didn't want it at first. She couldn't say no anymore since he paid in cash."

A sudden pallor descended on me. Somehow, I didn't feel good.

"I don't feel good about it," I told Christine when the couple left. "I know it's just a painting, but I feel like I am losing someone again."

I walked towards the painting and watched as Christine placed a red dot** on her (the painting). I sat in front of It Takes a Village and looked at her for the last time.

Goodbye.

____________

*Christine insisted that I describe her as the voluptuous gallery manager. I have to give in to it. She's reading this blog.

**A red dot placed on an artwork in a gallery exhibit signifies that it's sold.

15 comments:

Edrick said...

i have yet to sell anything i made yet, but when that day comes, i'm sure i'm going to feel the same. it's like your anak no?? :-]

palma tayona said...

you could say that.

doing what i do, it's pretty... personal. ask any artist. :-)

Anonymous said...

don't worry Dan, you have touched other people's lives again with that painting sold.

palma tayona said...

@ kellyboi: i only hope it does.

i figure this is what a friend of mine meant when he said that a painting (or sculpture) assumes a life of their own that is separate from the artist once it belongs to someone else.

i don't know many of the people who own many of my works. i just hope my works do affect them, well, in a positive manner.

Ebb Tide said...

I know how it feels to say good-bye to some paintings. It feels like losing your babies. That's why I am very selective of people who buy my paintings. I wanted to know who bought and owned them, so that years later we could still talk about those paintings. Keep good photos of your paintings. That way the separation would not be too hard. You can always look at the photos.

palma tayona said...

yeah. it does feel like that.

the good side to it is, at least, i have more walls now to make new ones.

WikiPika said...

thanks for dropping by my site!
i also love this painting. can't see why the man wouldn't buy it in a new york minute..

marga rodriguez said...

usually, I'm happy when my works get sold. I feel that the new owners can take better care of my paintings since i can't put the all in my walls.

palma tayona said...

i would agree... but sometimes (a lot of times) some works simply get attached to its maker. as far as i am concerned, they're my stories (in a visual format) that are done like a journal. it's like every time a piece gets to be owned by someone, it's like tearing a sheet from my own journal and having someone keep it. :-)

statatoiler said...

okay lang iyon, as long as it is in good hands. i saw the exhibit and really, i must say that your works are really personal. I recently acquire some works of papers that i really can relate to, that really touched me, or addressed my "issue-of-the-moment". I would always say to your voluptuous gallery manager :) when "acquiring" or getting acquainted with a particular work, that i have a current "issue" or that a particular work moved me. so, no questions asked na pag ganoon and i get na agad. I had a short conversation with the sexy gallery manager and I mentioned to her that i want works that would grow with me (an instinctive response to one of her inquiries). I also told her that i would be passing it to my sister.

So ok lang iyon, hope that your work will be acquainted to persons that will really appreciate the material and grow with them :)

Anonymous said...

okay lang iyon, as long as it is in good hands. i saw the exhibit and really, i must say that your works are really personal. I recently acquire some works of papers that i really can relate to, that really touched me, or addressed my "issue-of-the-moment". I would always say to your voluptuous gallery manager :) when "acquiring" or getting acquainted with a particular work, that i have a current "issue" or that a particular work moved me. so, no questions asked na pag ganoon and i get na agad. I had a short conversation with the sexy gallery manager and I mentioned to her that i want works that would grow with me (an instinctive response to one of her inquiries). I also told her that i would be passing it to my sister.

So ok lang iyon, hope that your work will be acquainted to persons that will really appreciate the material and grow with them :)

palma tayona said...

@ jay: that is true. every work that i have produced for the past couple of years have been quite personal, and i intend to keep on doing so.

my definition of success is to simply "put it out" and be "real". i oft repeat to myself that there'll be instances that being truthful can also be quite self-detrimental. por ejemplo, there are some pieces that i can never show. (perhaps when i am already dead or when i have had enough courage to let others see them)

but for now, it is enough that i do works "from the gut", ika nga. i am not in a hurry. i simply let myself grow as an artist. time will come when i have gathered enough full steam and i can fully "wing it" with my works.

for now, i simply take things things one step at a time and i know, there'll be others out there who share what i see. i do intend that as a visual artist, i will become more clear in defining this vision.

thank you for your kind words.

Nance said...

palma,
i know exactly what you're feeling. so many times that i draw something with the thought of giving it to somebody or donating it. But once the painting is completed, i don't want to part with it ... i got teased by my hubby everytime. :)

TK said...

I'm making a blog entry about my daughter's preparation for her quizbee tomorrow. My wife, Mother-in-law, Cousin-in-law all helped and worked as a team in drilling her. Pwede ko ba ipost dun sa blog namin yung picture ng "it takes a village" painting mo?

palma tayona said...

@ tk : walang problema sa akin ang paggamit mo ng imahen ng "It Takes A Village". it's my pleasure to share it. :-)

it's kind of exciting that your whole family's into supporting your daughter in her quizbee tourney. i am sure it'll be an exciting time for all of you. i too do the same thing for the young ones in my own family. come to think of it though, sometimes it's the adults who are more excited when the young ones are entering a contest or something pivotal in their young lives are happening.

oh, and three cheers to your daughter - yo! yo! yo! here's hoping she aces all the questions. good luck!