I’m writing this in 2022.
And I’ve been painting for about 16 or so years now.
To be honest, I’ve not been financially successful as an artist.
So far, I think that I’ve sold about 40 paintings.
It may be more.
I wish that I’d kept a record.
But I didn’t.
And I cannot remember some of the paintings that I have sold.
I know this because of one very surprising and somewhat disconcerting experience.
I was visiting a Japanese family for a tea ceremony event.
And during the event, the man in the family took me to a room.
And this room was full of paintings.
And one of the paintings was by me.
It was one of my earliest paintings that I had sold.
And I was surprised because I had completely forgotten this image.
I felt as though I was looking at a painting done by another person.
I also wish that I’d kept not just a written record but a visual record of these sold paintings.
This is because I sometimes can’t remember what a painting actually looks like from a written record.
It would have been so useful from a business viewpoint too as I could possibly see what kind of paintings people buy.
Also some of the paintings I’ve sold were very beautiful.
And I was very proud of them.
So it would be nice to be able to see them now and again even as just an image.
Luckily, with the painting above, I had a visual record.
I remember the person who bought this painting.
And I remember how much I liked this painting.
I think this picture came straight from my imagination.
At that time, I felt a strong creative urge to paint a moonlit sea scene.
I’ve learnt that it’s wise to listen to such creative urges.
And this painting was the result.
I think my numerous trips to Beppu bay had taught me how to paint a sea scene.
And this is why I was able to paint such a scene straight from my imagination.
That’s all for now,
Gareth.