Yesterday, Dennis R. of Aspen, Colorado wrote, "I read with interest your letter on why you shouldn't put dates on paintings. What are your thoughts about catalog numbers on paintings? Assuming an artist uses some sort of sequential system, an astute observer may be able to guesstimate the date. Or is this taking things too far?"
Thanks, Dennis. Several times in my life I've started cataloguing and failed. I once got as high as 75 before zoning-out. If I had to do it all over again I'd have had an early lobotomy and given #1 to my first parent-noted drawing at age four and carried through to this morning's effort at #23,865 (just guessing). Fact is, I was absent from class the day they covered sequential systems. You may have better luck.
In my studio at least, an insider-accessible, comprehensive cataloguing system would be worth a boxcar of gold bricks. I can see an entry now:
#1678, Whistler Mountain, Oil/C, 16"x 20", Jan 17, 1978, "It was a dark and stormy night and the ski-hill was a ribbon of ice. Sara hit a mogul and broke her leg."
But alas, unpleasant associations like this will forever be difficult to pinpoint. Recently, an old painting came in for cleaning and I noted #43 in my writing on the back. I would have loved to tell the owner something about it, but I've lost the catalogue.
Personally, I like the idea of an old fashioned journal--a sort of Pepys' Diary with cryptic tweetlets and insider asides. ("Particularly bad day for bears," kind of thing.) Just out of interest, I'd also like to know the time I started and the time I finished. Oh, and the amount of paint I used. I guess the main argument against keeping track is the possibility it may turn perfectly lovely chaos into bookkeeping.
I took a chance and asked Joan Morris who works with Mark Zuckerberg if they might come up with an app just for us, but they were all too busy watching the stock.
Dennis, don't do what I did, do what I say. Get yourself a big handsome book and start cataloguing and notating everything you do. It's too late for me. I'd look even more stupid starting at #23,866.
Best regards,
Robert
Esoterica: There are 7,650,000 Google destinations when you type in "computerized cataloguing systems." I've heard of artists using commercial and library applications like "Catalog Builder" and "E-catalog." A long-time standard is "GallerySoft," designed specifically for art galleries to keep track of inventory, but in use by a few artists. Some catalogue systems have search capabilities. Type in "broken leg" and in my case I would have been whisked to the unfortunate memories associated with #1678. We're now in the 21st Century, folks. Ya gotta love this stuff.
The Art Show Calendar: If you or your group has a show coming up, put an illustrated announcement on The Painter's Keys site. The longer it's up, the more people will see it. Your announcement will be shown until the last day of your show.
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