The Art of Letting Go

If you are lucky, it rebounds

Photo by author.

You make something. It sells. It goes away, and you may never see your creation again. You let it go, even though it is a part of you. It was born from your imagination, creativity and skill, now it is out in the world.

I made countless windows and autonomous panels in my thirty years as a stained glass artist. Most I never saw again after they left my studio.

My partner is a painter. Her experience is similar. Once someone buys one of her paintings she may never see it again. She will keep a photograph of the painting, which is an inadequate representation of the real thing.

My experience is similar. Once one of my photographs is purchased I may never see it again. I will have the original digital file of the image, but I do not print multiple copies of a photograph. The client buys the original work and that’s it. Gone.

One of the wonderful experiences about being an artist is the ability to enhance someone’s environment. Most often the client will take their purchase home and hang it on a wall. The piece will transform the space and reflect the taste of the owner. Displaying the piece allows others to enjoy it. It becomes a shared experience.

Quite often a client will share a photograph showing the piece in its new location. It gives me great pleasure to see one of my photographs in context.

So here are some of my pieces displayed in their new environments. Most have a backstory of how and why they ended up where they are. Enjoy.

Photo by K. Carron

A dear friend of mine lost her teenage son in a tragic car accident many years ago. The family gets together every year to release flowers into the river as a way of remembrance.

She liked the photo shown below and asked me to create an image of her family in that style. She had a photo of the event, but one family member was missing. So she photographed the young woman on her balcony and I digitally added her to the group photo.

She sent me a photo of the piece hanging in her home.

Photo by K.Hunter.

This image of customers at the weekly farmer’s market in Lagos, Portugal caught the eye of a friend who had experienced that market. He recognized the vibe immediately and felt connected to it in a rather personal way. He took it home with him.

He sent me a photo of the piece hanging in his home.

Photo by L.Meng.

This photo was purchased by a collector who owns a number of works made my both my partner and me. She even owns a piece of my stained glass work — that shows how long ago she started her collection. She has been a loyal supporter of our art for over 30 years.

Photo by author.

If you step onto the balcony off the room where this piece hangs, you'd see many of the elements that are included in this image. These friends own the largest collection of my partner's paintings. They have been wonderful supporters of her work right from the beginning. I have managed to sneak a couple of my photos into their collection.

Photo by author.

When the gallery told me who had purchased this piece I realized that I knew those folks quite well. I dropped in for a visit to see the photo in its permanent home.

Photo by T. Jones

This collector is a longtime resident of New Westminster so when she saw this photograph she made an immediate connection. I love the choice of location for this piece. The soft lighting emanating from the table lamp enhances the look of the photograph.

Photo by J. Keeler

That this photo hangs inside a home on the shores of an Ontario lake is no accident. Even the image on the shelf shows a boat on the lake.

Photo by L.Meng.

Family ties. This is my son-in-law next to a piece that hangs in their home. One of many pieces of art made by either my partner or me that adorn their lovely home.

When their twin children were young they used to point at the photo and call out “boobies” while giggling uncontrollably. Soon they got so used to the piece that the image lost its risqué factor. No more giggles.

It gives me great pleasure to see my photographs or my partner’s art living in someone else's environment. When a piece sells through the gallery that represents us, it vanishes forever. Very often pieces get shipped to far away locations never to be seen again. We may never meet the collector.

So thanks to those who have shared your images with me. It is much appreciated. You warmed my faulty heart.