{"id":29368,"date":"2024-02-02T11:48:59","date_gmt":"2024-02-02T19:48:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.howtopastel.com\/?p=29368"},"modified":"2024-02-07T14:08:12","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T22:08:12","slug":"you-just-never-know-who-will-buy-your-painting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.howtopastel.com\/2024\/02\/you-just-never-know-who-will-buy-your-painting\/","title":{"rendered":"You Just Never Know Who Will Buy Your Painting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A few days ago, I was travelling to Duncan, accompanying my Mum for an appointment there. While we waited for the ferry to leave Salt Spring Island, I told her about an amazing thing that had recently happened. When I finished she said, That\u2019s such a great story – you must share it! And I decided why not?! It\u2019s such a great example of the power of connection as well as the idea that you just never know who will buy one of your paintings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So where to start? At the beginning or the end?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll start at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

A few days ago, I received an email from Vivian, owner of the Peninsula Gallery<\/a>, letting me know the good news that one of my pastel paintings had sold and she\u2019d just mailed it off\u2026to a man in Germany. \u201cHe says he met you at the Tate!\u201d I could hardly believe it! And you\u2019ll soon see why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the painting that now belongs to Stephan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Gail<\/a>
Gail Sibley, There’s One in Every Crowd, Unison Colour pastels on recycled UART 500 paper, 5 x 6 in <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Now let me take you back to last summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was in the UK in June and July teaching two workshops (as well as visiting old – and new – friends). After a lovely (if rainy!) retreat in the Yorkshire Dales<\/a>, I headed to Cornwall to teach at the Cornwall School of Art in Truro for three days (wonderful!). Before that got started, I went to the coast to do some exploring for a few days one of which took me to St Ives. My primary reason? The Tate St Ives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Tate St Ives<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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I ADORE spending hours at a good public gallery, primarily looking at the art but also capturing, with camera, those who look at the art (a favourite subject to paint!). And with all those hours of exploration and examination, a gal\u2019s got to remember to keep her stomach nourished alongside the soul nourishing. So twice, part way through the day, I headed to the Tate cafe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"View<\/a>
View from one cafe window<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The second time, it was super crowded. When it was my turn to be seated (after quite a wait), the server asked myself and another if we would mind being seated together. I said fine, as did he. And so we sat together, ordered our food, and soon found ourselves in deep conversation about art and life. It was unexpected and marvellous! This stranger – Stephan – was on a six-month sabbatical, cycling all over western Europe. And here we were on the same day visiting the Tate! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it was time to leave, it felt strange to not stay connected. At the same time, there was a part of me that thought it best to leave this as a moment in time. At the last minute, I handed him my business card. And then I went back into the gallery, on my own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, it was time to take the train back to Hayle where I was staying. As I departed the gallery, a cyclist rode by waving. It was Stephan, the stranger from my table. Serendipity again as it felt a relief somehow to wave goodbye, acknowledging an ending. The book was closed so to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"The<\/a>
Stephan on his way!\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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That was June. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December, just before Christmas, I was delighted to receive an email from Stephan. (Remember, I had no way of contacting him. I didn\u2019t even know his last name!) I hope he won\u2019t mind me quoting these words – they express so perfectly <\/em>what I also felt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIt’s been a while that we were seated together in the cafe of the Tate Gallery in St. Ives this summer, but the \u2013 although brief \u2013 encounter with you, has stayed with me ever since as a beautiful reminder of how magical connection can feel like even \u2013 or maybe especially \u2013 if it happens by chance and that it\u2019s always worthwhile being open for it. That’s one of the many things that my sabbatical taught me last year.\u201d <\/p>\n
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\"Looking<\/a>
Looking out from the Tate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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And now we come full circle: The email from Vivian to say a guy from Germany – Stephan – had bought one of my paintings. WOW! Really, you just never know!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I tell you this story for three reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n