Galleries are an almost extinct breed of beast. My last exhibition was a wakeup call for me – no one comes to galleries to buy art anymore. Although I did sell some work, it was not like the old days…where satisfying numbers of red stickers emblazoned your work and people raced to get their favourite piece before someone else snaffled it. No, it was a much quieter affair….most people were at home watching Netflix or surfing the web…. I ate too many canapes and caught a taxi home to reflect on the new gallery-free landscape.
I have always known that it would be easier to teach a monkey social-media skills than to teach me. I was dragged kicking and screaming into Facebook a few years ago and now am happy enough getting around in Facebook world chatting to art friends across the globe. However when Nicky suggested I needed to get active on Instagram (and maybe even on Pinterest – aargh!) I broke out into a cold sweat and retreated immediately to my studio. Let’s face it, I am not a 12 year old so have zero interest and ability in all things digital. Nicky is also not a 12 year old, so had to endure days of Youtube videos trying to work out how to use Instagram for promoting a business. After wading through videos of instruction about how to get the best butt shots and which filters to use for really cool selfies, finally we had some idea about how to proceed. Thus dear reader you can now find me on Instagram under #tonypridhamhyperrealism (obviously for my new hyperrealism work) and #tonypridhamfineart (for traditional realism). I would really love it if you followed me so I could graduate out of hashtags that have 16 postings to the more popular ones where thousands get to see and comment on work. I guarantee you will not be bogged down in posts where I pat the dog or eat a biscuit….I am posting new work regularly, so you can follow my painting adventures and make pertinent comments as you wish. It is all rather confronting for a non-hipster – but watch out Instagram-world, I am taking you on!