The new work featured this month at Absolutely Art in Madison includes a mother daughter team of artists! Sarah and Laura Meddaugh paint garden themes in acrylics. Their paintings have unusually thick textures, with bulges, cavities, and cheesecloth smudges. The paintings are whimsical and playful, with dogs, cats, and cows running all over.
These paintings avoid all artistic pretentiousness. They are straight forward offerings to a wide viewing audience. While most artists are hard pressed to offer work below $100, these artists are selling paintings at $15, with a few selling at $300. There is something for everyone. Indeed, many of their paintings were sold within the first hour of their opening.
I know artists who work hard to sell one piece every three or four months. It must feel great knowing when your new show opens there will be many purchasers. An artist who spends months on one work of art has the satisfaction of creating a very high level of artistic expression, but then has to find venues where their work will be appreciated and sell well.
The high end is difficult in these economically challenged times. State Street Gallery in Madison recently closed their doors. Although they sold giclees from the Chicago artist Laura Lee Jung, they also sold quality original work from local artists, with price tags above $500. The closing of their doors creates a hole in the Madison gallery scene.
Sarah and Laura Meddaugh have found one way to “get their stuff out there”! Simple pleasures.
