Every now and then, usually when I’m contributing to some collective website or another, I am asked to send a couple of examples of my work. Nothing could be calculated better to throw me into a state of indecision. What on earth am I to choose? What criteria should I allow to govern my choice? Sometimes the specific remit of the site will give some kind of guidance. Are we talking, for example, specifically about work in pastel? Do I have any kind of notion of typicality? Who is the likely readership of this particular site?
Tasks of this kind are difficult partly because I have been around for some time now (painting became my main activity in 2001) and partly because I have engaged with several quite different media, and directed to very diverse publics. My earlier obsession with rock and climbing would have little relevance to viewers interested in my more “confessional” themes. Some of what I regard as my best work is really only of interest, I suspect, to family members …. or is generality of appeal essential to this kind of selection process?
I suppose that there must be some kind of “it” which grabs the viewer regardless of who they are. I guys it seems irresponsible to do what I often do, namely, ask my wife. Perhaps I should try just lying down, letting my mind go blank, and see what presents itself spontaneously. That’s an interesting idea. Perhaps I’ll give it a go. Suggestions would be welcome.