I’ve never been to an Open Studio. How does one enjoy it?

Every relationship they say rests on communication of expectations. I can lay out what watercolor artists might be wanting from an open studio experience. In a week’s time, I will get a chance to refine these. Here we go, first cut-

  • If you are invited, the artist wants to share their art with you. This is joy giving to the artist.
  • Take no gifts for the artist. This is your time to take from her.
  • No one is wiser than you when viewing art.
  • If you have any question about the art, ask away. This is the exact place to ask pointed questions about each piece you see. 
  • No question about the process or why is wrong.
  • If you have a question at studio closing, the artist is going to answer it. Worry not.
  • It’s ok to be quiet at the open studio. 
  • Uma herself enjoys her art in mute – she enjoys feeling a piece.
  • Watching art is a skill too – if you feel overwhelmed – that is ok – stick to one wall or one section of the show. Immerse in that corner of the show and say enough to the rest.
  • You feel you don’t know good art from bad art? The following has worked for Uma – if you turn your head to look at a piece again, it intrigues you, that’s good art. If you pass by with eyes open, that art isn’t working for you. 
  • Large pieces need some distance between you and the piece so you may immerse yourself in it. 
  • Studio is the artist’s prayer house and sanctum. What’s not open – like study books or tucked away paintings – is not open. 
  • Each piece speaks differently to every person. What may be worth $100 to you may be worth less to the artist or vice-versa. Therefore, price point does not describe what the piece does for you. Every piece is made with same quality of paper and pigments.
  • The artist has had a hard time putting a price on each piece. She is parting with a story of her life with it to you. You don’t need to know the story, but you have to feel a piece. If it speaks to you, that’s your story. This is the way art grows.
  • The price is a metric of artist’s evaluation, the price needs to work for her. 
  • The price you pay should always be under what you evaluate the piece to be and should therefore work for you.
  • Bring no food or drinks to the studio.
  • pH is a big deal with the artist, so she finds pH neutral paper and does not want food/stains/dirty hands on it. You do not want someone else to lower the quality of a product you may end up purchasing.
  • The open studio visit itself is the artful experience the artist shares with you. Do come.