First Painting Down and OUT

     As I mentioned in a previous post, Hung's critique was one of the most helpful and beneficial pieces of feedback I have received all quarter, and I took everything she had to say to heart. We really connected as painters and friends... our work is SO similar and I hadn't even put the pieces together until she mentioned it. Both of our works deal with identity in some way. I had never thought of that before. Sure, my birds had their tags showing, but I had never considered those to specifically represent identity rather than straightforward "identification" (as in mere species identification). We struck a really great friendship and even took a selfie together, which was Hung's idea! I emailed her a picture of my finished piece tonight, and will update you when she responds. We both promised to keep in touch with one another when she left.
     This weekend I finished my first painting since Hung's critique. I also decided to do away with the really crummy plywood and instead bought some ready-made birch wood panels from Guiry's which are absolutely phenomenal, have no dings or scratches, and are all the same depth. All work from now on will be made on these. I followed every suggestion she had for me - sanding in between EACH layer of gesso to help in creating an ultra smooth surface, changing the background color to match the cream color of the paper which holds my graphite bird specimen drawing, getting rid of the stark white, and also being selective with my shadows. She also praised the accuracy I get with my paintings and helped to ease my worries that I would not be able to create a truly, real-life illusion.
     I am underway on my second painting... this time working on a warbler specimen and trying to get away from the hummingbirds for now (which I have painted 5 times in a row already). I'm trying my very best to keep myself motivated and not stress as much for our show date... but it's really really hard.
     I'm also wondering something in regards to the show... right now, my work is strictly focusing on realism and not surrealism. Would it be weird if I included some of my more surreal pieces into the show? I'm thinking about the collaboration Steph and I did, which is the coyote sculpture in the lobby... or maybe my deer painting with the grass on its back. Not sure...