#TipJarTuesday: Put a Twist on It!

Click for Entry Forms!

Late last week, I put out a Call to Arizona Artists on social media for my annual anniversary show taking place in November. Every year, the theme is derived from traditional wedding anniversary gifts. At four years, flowers, fruit, and candy are customarily given, which are also traditional subject matter in still life paintings throughout art history. Because this theme is so conventional, I'm writing this "Tip Jar Tuesday" blog post in hopes the submissions are anything but. Here are some recommendations to make your work stand out:

Change of Scenery: Instead of a bowl of fruit or vase of flowers on a table, recreate a scene from the market, or the kitchen, or a park, or a field . . . the possibilities are endless!

"Predicament" by Marcela C. Lubian

Change the Subject: Swap the subject matter so that the flowers, fruit, candy are secondary, or become background imagery. For instance, a butterfly can be the focal point in a garden. Or, less obvious, render a woman in a floral print dress, or paint fruit on a breakfast plate in a diner scene.

Alter Your Perspective: By adjusting your vantage point, you create interest. Movie explosions are exciting because they are edited to be seen from a wide variety of camera angles. As the artist, consider your subject matter close-up, from the side, from above or below, framed through a window or door, etc. Engage the audience with a unique view. Look at work by Edward Hopper and Georgia O'Keefe for inspiration. 

Shape-Shift: One of the requirements of the show is that all work must have outer dimensions of 12"x12". Consider painting on a circle or turning the canvas on a point so it becomes a diamond. Three-dimensional works and pieces that extend beyond the square are also welcome. Just remember that frames are included in the outer dimensions. CLICK HERE to see some variations on the square from the very first anniversary show.

It's a Material World: The materials you use can shift the way we see the subject matter. Replace soft petals by creating flowers out of steel. Give fruit a new texture by covering it in fur or push pins. Collage papers to build up your image. Use a wonky pallet to create a frame for a mini paintings, or paint on found wood or metal. I love interesting textures and the use of found objects in art. 

"Pods I" encaustic with cheese cloth by Antoinette Walker

Attach It: Why not paint on top of candy wrappers or rose petals, incorporate rubbings of a rosette from a tombstone, or embed seeds in wax? Alternately, dye canvas or fabric with berries and pomegranates. Flowers, fruit, or candy can be part of your process.

Style It: Make it kitschy or geometric, text-based, or impressionist. Whatever you do, don't make it boring. 

"Coronado Memorial" oil on canvas by Jeff Henley

Tickle the Funny Bone: Be tongue-in-cheek, witty, or humorous within the parameters of the theme. Word play is another access point for creating great art. CLICK HERE for examples from the second anniversary show! 
Be Symbolic: The Hubster and I planted a vegetable garden together in the back yard to celebrate our four year wedding anniversary. It was poetic, tending to our garden in the way we tended to our marriage. A lot of love, problem-solving, and hard work went into both, and the rewards sweet. Do the same with your art.
Be Impeccable: If you must render flowers or fruit realistically, do it flawlessly. Make it gorgeous, lively, yummy, fragrant . . . Entrance the audience so that they have no choice but to fall in love and take it home with them.

Need more inspiration?

Check out some of the photos from past Anniversary exhibitions:

PAPER ANNIVERSARY CLICK HERE for images of the very first exhibition opening reception. Many of the artists posed for me next to their pieces! CLICK HERE for descriptions of some of my favorite pieces on the blog. 

COTTON ANNIVERSARY CLICK HERE for pictures of the artwork hung in the gallery!
LEATHER ANNIVERSARY CLICK HERE for pictures of the artists next to their work at the opening reception! 

For updates about the show, please follow the CALL to Artists on Facebook.