What is it like to gear-up for an exhibition?

(Written to "Oh My My" by OneRepublic)

I'm a procrastinator. 

As much as I've worked on it over the years, I still sometimes hit the snooze button, run late and spend too much money on things I don't need. These are (just some of) my vices.

So before gearing up for a show or exhibition, it's more or less chaos. 

I'd love to tell you that because I love this so much, I'm super organized, do everything earlier than I need to and the night before a show, all I have to worry about it not worrying about anything.

Please.

That's not my DNA, man. Even though I love creating art and talking art and viewing art, wiring paintings and printing mailing list sign-up forms and packaging my paintings kind of blows. 

I mean, yes, those are all steps I'm taking toward my dreams of doing what I ultimately love more than I knew I could love doing something ever in my life, but I'm no Pollyanna. It isn't fun and the process for gearing up for a show doesn't feel terribly inspiring. Unless you count that first show I did where my fiance and I were trying to figure out just how to wire paintings. (Spoiler alert: We never once pulled out Google and just made something up.)

A show isn't my favorite part of art. Creating is.

Before a show I spend time with my man. He's my rock, my muse and my biggest fan, all in one. He's so many things. I thank him profusely before, during and after an exhibition because without him, I wouldn't be where I am.

“Every time I gear up for a show where I invariably have to sell pieces that I don’t want to sell, I look at him for and remember: most of my best paintings have been made out of inspiration of him. I’ll make more. ”

Every time I gear up for a show where I invariably have to sell pieces that I don't want to sell, I look at him and remember: most of my best paintings have been made out of inspiration of him.

I'll make more. Because that love for him isn't going anywhere and it isn't doing anything except deepening.

God has given me this opportunity to build a life and make money doing what I love and that may mean I sell some paintings that I'm not emotionally ready to part with... but you know what?

There are a ton of people on earth with problems way bigger than that. 

“I pray. A lot.”

So I try to keep things in perspective and I pray to God for guidance on pricing and piece selection and what I tell people about my paintings and everything.

I pray. A lot.

Lastly, I look at my work hanging, before the exhibition or show kicks off, and I take a moment to admire and stand in awe of it.

God chose my hands to carry these paintings into the world. What an honor. What a privilege. 

“My work is incredible. And I say that humbly, not arrogantly. ”

My work is incredible. And I say that humbly, not arrogantly. 

I frequently stand in disbelief in front of my own art.

But I stand there and remember that God has given me this gift and if I can share it in such a way that can remind people that they are souls and not all the shallow things the world tells them to be (a job, a bank account, a young girlfriend, a rich boyfriend, an image, a body, a role), if I can remind them of their souls and remind them that we all come from the same Source, then I'd do what I do for free.

I'll continue charging for my work though, so I can buy my man an excellent wedding gift, though.

TRISHA WILES