#31: The Waiting Room: After the Hand-In, Before the Show

The paintings are in. I’ve seen the photos — there they are, stacked neatly against a gallery wall, still partially wrapped, quietly waiting to be hung. It’s a strange and exciting sight: the work is no longer in my hands, but not yet fully out in the world either.

This moment — between hand-in and opening night — carries its own kind of charge. It’s not quiet exactly, and it’s not busy either. It’s that hum of something about to begin.

A Held Breath

Seeing those photos stirred something unexpected. Relief, of course — they arrived safely, the hard part is done. But also that twitch of anticipation. The paintings are there. Almost up. Almost seen.

There’s something tender about them leaning against the wall like that — like they’re gearing up for their next role. Soon they’ll be upright, lit, labelled, and ready to face whoever walks by. But for now, they wait. And so do I.

Not Quite Complete

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — a painting isn’t truly finished when the brush leaves the surface. It’s when someone sees it, stands in front of it, and feels something. That’s when it becomes whole.

The work is done, but the process isn’t over. Right now, the paintings are in that transitional space — shaped and sealed, but not yet activated by the gaze of a stranger. That’s the part I’m most looking forward to.

Excited to Share

This group of paintings marks a bit of a shift for me. More colour. More risk. More instinct. I pushed myself with this collection, and I’m proud of where I landed. Now I just want the work to meet people — to see what kind of conversations it starts. I also have to remember that these are amongst my first paintings.

The beauty of this stage is the surprise. People see things I didn’t. They bring their own stories, moods, memories to each piece. And sometimes, their perspective helps me understand the work better than I could on my own.

Almost There

Soon the walls will be full. The space will buzz. And the work — my work — will be standing tall, doing what it was made to do: connect, question, provoke, or simply be looked at with curiosity.

Until then, I’ll be checking my inbox for updates, watching from afar, and carrying a quiet mix of nerves and pride. The hand-in is done. The show is coming. And the best part — the part where people see the work — is just around the corner.

.M.

Be real.

Make art.

If you’d like to learn more about my creative process or see my latest work, feel free to reach out or check out the rest of my website.