Do artists have an emotional attachment to their artworks? When working on a painting, do artists think about how their painting will be received? Do we care about the future Life and fate of our work?
Some artworks are easy to make and it's easy to give them away. Some paintings are challenging in the making but parting with them is also painless. And of course, there are artworks that are challenging in every sense – to work on and to part with. – So was a portrait of my barbers in Florence.
The first challenge was with the photos and the composition. On all photos I had they were smiling. Meaning, the beautiful teeth were shown. `It took me quite some time to get the photos I could use. The composition... how do you do a portrait of two young men so that a portrait doesn't look tasteless or tacky?
The photos are there, the composition is finalized, the work begins. And now... I don't usually think about how my painting will be received but in this particular case the thought of the possibility that they won't like it was killing me not even softly!
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Of course, it's not the emotional attachment which actually also comes up with some paintings. In those cases what do we do? – We make the price so high that no-one will ever want to buy it. Or we not list it right away (and not because it's still wet but because we ourselves like it so much). Or we find all kinds of excuses to keep it by our side. But you know what they say, right? – Every excuse is a lie. The truth is that we can't let the painting go just now.
However, if the art is an expression that needs to be not only done but also shared, then... you just have to let your painting go.
Let it live its own life. You created it, you loved it, and now it's time to really let it go. And this might be the hardest thing to do for some of the paintings.
Well, this portrait was received well and I still visit this barbershop to do my hair. You might ask me how does it feel to see your painting somewhere (outside of your studio)? – Well, it's a different story but I am happy it there (for now). And please go and see it while it's there! – Frank Cimmino Barbershop at People & Hairstylist in Florence – via Giuseppe Galliano 140/A
