Virtually Going Out
Iain Merchant
Artist, Photographer & Poet at 'The Art of Life' & Founding Artist at The Artocalypse
The World is being dreadfully impacted by Covid 19 and there are many people suffering as a result. Not only those that are ill are suffering though, as many people’s mental health may suffer as a result of isolation, so what can we do about it.
I am thankful that we live in the age of the internet as that has certainly provided people with an outlet to some degree, and I hope that those struggling will find the peace within themselves to try and make the best of these difficult circumstances and, maybe, learn more about themselves or pick a particular subject that they have an interest in and research/learn more about it.
In fact, I have been struggling with the fact that I can’t get out with my camera as I want to, and this caused me to really take a look at what I might do that would challenge me whilst staying in, and I found something.
I am always setting myself up with projects of one sort or another, as it’s my preferred way of keeping my brain sufficiently entertained, and not too long ago I decided to do a project on Swans. I had taken many photographs and I hadn’t quite decided what I wanted to do with them so, as many of my projects do, they were sitting on the back-burner waiting for some inspiration.
Inspiration for me is usually a cocktail of the timing of events and thoughts and this was no exception. I was about to visit a friend’s Photography exhibition in Derbyshire UK when the gallery was closed due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and staying at home was recommended to all.
So there I was stuck at home far more than I would choose to be and missing the exhibition I wanted to visit. I also remember thinking that it must be so disappointing for any artist to have any exhibition cancelled. It also entered my head how great it must be to have an exhibition, having not yet been fortunate enough to have one myself.
It was this cocktail of thoughts and timing that led to my next move.
I decided that I was going to create my own exhibition in the virtual world of 3D modelling and that it was going to be based on the Swan project…
Inspired and motivated, I set about searching for a 3D gallery that I could (metaphorically) hang my art in and, let me tell you, that sounds far easier than it was.
It took me many hours of searching to find what I was looking for, and then it took me even more time to whittle those I found based on the quality I wanted with a price I could afford.
The work was worth it though because I eventually found a superb company in Germany called Kunstmatrix.
The result of working with Kunstmatrix and my web host theimagefile.com, whom I would highly recommend to any Photographer/Artist, I was able to create my very first Art Exhibition and I am mega proud of it.
So, even though you make be stuck inside at this tough time, make a point of going out virtually and have a walk around my gallery…
https://www.theartoflife.gallery/the-swan
Enjoy your trip out
Best wishes
Iain Merchant
#TheArtofLife #IainMerchant #Abstract #Art #Canvas #photography #ThinkingOutLoud #ThoughtProvoking