Columbus Park, North End, Boston
Over the last 6 months I have concentrated more on my artwork. I am not sure where credit is due for this change . . . an unusually harsh winter here in the Boston area, a muse that made me want to be creative, or a high level of stress that called for therapeutic time and to pick up a brush . . . but whatever the reason(s) I am happy to be concentrating on my artwork again!
One of the differences with this current spurt of activity is that I’ve challenged myself — not relying on subjects I’ve done before and know how to approach — but instead finding more challenging compositions, different lighting situations with nighttime scenes, including people (which I’ve always avoided), and larger canvases that made me think more about detail. I believe I’ve grown as a realism artist during this period.
With social media, I’ve shared completed work to a great response that encouraged me to keep pushing myself. It was the cheering section I needed to instead of doing one painting and stopping – have others lined up and ideas brewing. From this interest, I decided to explore offering Giclee prints for those who were interested in buying a print, and built an ecommerce website on Shopify to market my work. I was thrilled as the first orders rolled in for paintings and notecards! As an artist, we always doubt our work, but this has been very uplifting.
So, what is a Giclee? Giclee (zhee-klay) is a French word meaning a spray or a spurt of liquid. Apropos since I paint in bursts or spurts! They are incredibly accurate prints made on-demand, on canvas with either a traditional stretcher bar or gallery wrapped and ready to hang, and in the size you want. Giclees may not replace an original oil painting, but it allows people to buy a painting they like, at a lower price point, and enjoy it hanging in their home. I had seen them offered a lot during my gallery browsing last summer and its a nice way for artists to offer their work to a broader audience.
I’m off to finish a painting of Fenway Park . . . and it may just make its way to my Giclee offerings!
The Art and Musings of Lynn Ricci 