Well I got a painting accepted for the RHA annual exhibition this week but yes, I was talking last week about “the huddled masses” queuing up in the rain with their paintings, and I wondered where the term “huddled masses” came from. You probably know this but actually it comes from a poem by the American poet Emma Lazarus, a poem that was written as a donation to an art auction to fundraise for the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty, no less.
Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-toss’d to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
So, to continue with the metaphor, this weekend the wretched refuse of artists will be back again at the RHA to pick up their rejected artworks. We all have to queue up to hand in our crumpled dockets and wait to be called to take away our unfortunate paintings, hastily covered up with secondhand bubblewrap to hide our wretched shame… Oh but, nach raibh an cruatan i gcónaí i ndán dos na Gaeil…
Now, here’s a question for you! The thing is – I don’t know at the moment, which one got in and which one was rejected. You can see them here, which one would you pick? And why? Your comments are always welcome – click on the brown speech bubble and put your comment there. Thanks, eoin
http://www.oliviercornetgallery.com/
Scéalta Ealaíne 
personally I’d choose the top/first one. Congrats on getting on the wall there and good luck with the Walk of Shame next Sat..
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Ah Thanks Tony, and it’s great to hear from you after all these years! I trust you’re painting away goodo? (I don’t like that term : ‘painting away’, it sounds too airy-fairy but ‘goodo’ makes it better 🙂
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What an unfair question! Both are brilliant, but if it were myself, I’d choose the latter. Loved it the first time I saw it. Whichever was chosen is a winner.
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Thanks Óglach, I’ll know by Saturday 🙂
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Hard to choose, Eoin. Instinctively I went for the more colourful one on top. But the bottom one might convey more information about the home being abandoned and perhaps something about who might be making use of the fireplace now.
Juried shows rarely say much about the quality of art when it comes to choosing between good paintings. It will reflect more about the jury’s own prejudices and preferences as well as what they are looking for in an overall statement for the show.
When you go and collect the rejected painting, give it an extra pat and say, ‘Well done, I love you anyway’. 🙂
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That’s the best answer yet ! Thanks Sarah
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They are both equally good paintings Eoin. I find the brighter colours in the first painting draw me in more, so that is why I would choose it now. But it is a subjective thing. Alot depends on ones mood and also seeing the originals rather than a screen version. Congratulations anyway on being chosen! That is the main thing!
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Thanks a chara, you’re right about the difference between the photographs and the actual paintings. It’s always nice to see the original. Thanks, eoin
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They are both equally good paintings Eoin. The first one at the moment draws me in a bit more. I like the orange background and the plant. But alot depends what mood you are in and seeing the originals rather than a screen. Either way Congratulations on being accepted by RHA. That is the main thing and I’m sure a great buzz.
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Thanks Tom, yes it’s nice to get in for a change 🙂
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Congratulations Eoin. First I was drawn to the top one with the color of fire and the command to be gone and the sadness of the fallen surround. But then on reflections I like the second one better . With the wreath and the empty picture frame I think there is some more story about the family who left and that maybe just maybe someone else will settle in. I am all for hope as you know .
wonderful work Charlotte
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Thanks very much Charlotte, yes even though the colours are brighter in the top one, I thought the reality was just a bit too depressing. The second one holds memories of Christmases past and such… Anyway, I can’t decide myself which I prefer 🙂
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Comhghairdeas Eoin, fair play, tá na píosaí sin go haoibhinn!
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Go raibh mile maith agat Deirdre 🙂
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The first one, for inchoate reasons. Maith thú, ar aon nós.
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Thanks Paul, yes I prefer the first one too but… I think it might be the other one. I’ll know on Saturday anyway 🙂
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An chéad ceann oiriúnach don am seo den bhliain 2016 – scáth 1916 – fuil dearg íobairte ar an bhfalla agus planda glas…aiséirí na Cásca. Phoenix rising from the ashes. Ní h-ionann an saol nua aiséirithe ar ndóigh. Na dathanna geala sin a mheallfadh mise, ach ní fheadar an bhfuil scéal spéisiúil eicint ag an bhfráma folamh sa dara ceann… tá cuma níos brónaí ar an gceann sin. Go leor le feiceáil iontu araon. Comhghairdeas!
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Go raibh míle maith agat Éamonn. b’fhearr liomsa an chéad ceann freisin. Beidh a fhios agam amárach ar aon chaoi nuair a phiocaim suas an ‘reject’ 🙂
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the first one, for certain sure, the oranges and greens are so much more hopeful than the almost funereal shades in the second !
comhghairdeas, well done and well deserved for getting the place in the exhibition , slán Maev
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grmma agat Maev, yep, I prefer the first one too but… is minic ar bhris béal duine a shrón 🙂
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My vote goes to the first one Eoin – I just love the colours, and the fact that the fallen surround makes me think of a grave. All your fireplace paintings are beautiful, so it’s a tough choice!
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Merci beaucoup Marie-Héléne ( sorry I can’t do accent graves) I think most people are going for the first one and I prefer it myself. But I will know for sure which got in tomorrow morning 😦
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Congratulations on being chosen to begin with. They are both beautiful. I would choose the second one. I love the colours and the mirror still above the heart. Its the beginning of a story that could take you in any direction. Or its the end of a story.
The rejected one will still be loved.
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Thanks very much for your comment, Niamh. We’ll soon see 🙂 all the best for now, eoin
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Congratulations Eoin, both are really strong pieces and should grace the walls of the RHA but the first piece clinches it for me, those pinks and oranges are very delicate.
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I think I prefer the first also, John. Thanks for the comment, eoin
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I like them both — a lot, but would have chosen the second one.
My first impression has to do with colour; the play of light and thereby the variation of colour is more subtle and complex in painting 2.
My second impression has to do with emotions: I like the shadows, I like the idea of something hidden – it underlines the fact the history will never be full recovered, or regained — never fully known.
Anyway: Congratulation!
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Thanks for that thoughtful comment Sigrun. In the end, the first one was chosen – I’m just happy to have one in the show 🙂
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Lovely pieces, both. Looking forward to seeing the painting in the exhibition.
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Thanks very much Alan. Did you get a piece in yourself?
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Nah, no luck…hopefully next year, but sure not to worry. Well done again !
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ah, you win some, you lose some 😦
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Hey Eoin, I would have said the first one mainly because it is a new home for nature as you can see by the plant which has had the good fortune of landing right in front of the hearth of the house, sometimes nature just takes stuff back when it’s not being used, this is the one that was chosen? cool. It can be hard as an artist to say which work is “better” as so much feeling and effort to complete any painting, both pieces are of a very high standard, and of individual value or worth artistically, it’s like trying to say which friend you like best, or who your favorite sibling is. Paintings are friends, having spent so much time nurturing them, to make such decisions is difficult, but that has been decided for you now, congrats. The “rejected” works from the RHA are actually called “Unselected” works, I thought about the numbers and the space that may be available to non RHA members and associates and there wouldn’t be much space left for open submission applicants like yourself or myself or others in a similar position. When I went to rescue my work from the RHA having been “Unselected” I was happy, polite, friendly and observant of the general milieu. I’m not sure that the opinion of an artist(s) is really valid in terms of assessing artworks merits, but the RHA have the space to put on a large show and like every organisation they have their own agenda, whether that is classical or neo-classical, or classical modernism, contemporary etc. depends on the specific panel of selectors. I figure I’m in good company along with many other “Unselected” artworks by “Unselected” artists, I will go and look at the show and may post a comment at a later stage, in conclusion, nice one – I’m glad you got accepted and much success in the future, the works look much better in the real world than on screen, (little bits of news paper collaged under the paint, if I’m not mistaken gave a depth) and a strangely homey feel to the pieces, like the old newspaper under a cushion when I would visit my grandparents years ago. have fun, (Séamus).
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Hello Séamus, thanks for your long and thoughtful comment. Yes, those open-submission shows are tricky. I reckon that there’s always politics involved and, as you say, they have their own agendas… It is difficult not to be affected though – but really, we shouldn’t take it personally or let them get to us. Keep on painting a chara! all the best, eoin
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The fireplace fell and the smell of ash damp history filled my senses
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Hello Carol, thank you for your poetic contribution, eoin
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