I agree with everything you’ve said. It was an auction and that’s what sometimes happened.

The more realistic/less abstract ones also take more time and more skill to complete, and when the ultimate result is going to be a less than realistic price, it is not feesible to undertake such an artwork.

I think next time, they’d be better to advertise the art auction more widely and get members of the general public involved in the bidding.

Once again, thanks for your comments and for helping me pull my head back in!

I can understand your disappointment. I guess what you’ve got to remember is that the auction wasn’t necessarily the forum where your art was going to be appreciated to its fullest, and therefore wasn’t ‘valued’ as such. General public have no idea of what comprises good art, or what it is worth.

You could have fetched your price easily enough elsewhere, but I guess you just have to view it as having made a $100 donation, as opposed to what you considered the work to be actually worth.

The more abstract a piece is, the less people will ‘buy in’ to the concept. What I observed is people (unsurprisingly) going for the more representational/figurative stuff more. This is because it is less challenging, and is more ‘common denominator’.

I can see how much time and effort went into your pieces. The problem is the greater ‘unwashed’ couldn’t. What you almost have to do is do a painting that doesn’t take as long and isn’t up to your usual high standard and then ‘Que sera, sera’ (Let be what happens, happens).

Anyway. I want to encourage you to press on. You have a lot of talent. Keep painting for you, and nobody else (or at least those who you know appreciate you!). I appreciate the sheer amount of work and creativity you put out there! Your art, your music, your design.

God gave us gifts to use for his glory! And despite your disappointment he was still glorified!

Phil D-B