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Writer's pictureAmanda Ketterer

Reflections on My First Solo Show

Learning, Growing, and Letting Go


The paintings have left the studio—today, they were collected by the gallery, and they’re now out of my hands. This part, I love: the letting go, letting them fly free!


When I was asked by one of my galleries 6-7 months ago if I’d like to do a solo show, I was beyond excited. I hadn’t been with this gallery long, so the fact that they had faith in me as an artist meant everything. Despite years of exhibiting, I’d never had a solo show, and this felt like a rite of passage. I thought I knew what to expect—after all, I’d created series for art fairs and group exhibitions before. How different could it be? I’d just need to make more paintings, right?


Turns out, saying yes to something like this can come with a little naïveté, and honestly, I’m glad for it! Looking back now, I realise that if I’d known the full scope of what I was taking on, I might have hesitated. But I’m so glad I didn’t. Creating for a solo show taught me lessons I never anticipated, both in art and in life. I’m not the same person who started this process six months ago, and I want to share some of the key things I’ve learned to make the path smoother for myself—and maybe for others—next time.


Paintings from Where Wild Flowers Bloom exhibition

Keeping the Faith Without Feedback


When you're creating for a solo show, you’re often working in isolation for months on end, with little to no feedback along the way. It’s hard to keep the faith, to push through the doubts and the second-guessing. This year, in particular, has been challenging in many ways, and I hadn’t realised how much I rely on the occasional sale or positive comment to lift my spirits. They say we need to create for ourselves, not for validation, but none of us exist in a vacuum. It’s difficult to stay strong all the time. I’ve learned that it’s okay to want connection and reassurance, and to allow that longing to fuel, not hinder, my creative process.


The Financial and Life Commitment

The financial aspect is something I hadn’t fully grasped either. It’s an honor to be offered a solo show, but it comes with a significant time and material investment. Sixteen paintings are no small feat, and all the costs—materials, studio time, and life expenses—are on the artist. I worked 6-7 days a week for months, with little income and no guarantee that the financial return will match the effort. This process requires not just passion but, quite frankly, a little bit of delusion. I’m incredibly grateful I had savings to rely on, but the financial risk is something artists have to consider carefully, especially in times like these.


The Growth You Can’t Avoid

Putting your heart and soul into your work means there’s no avoiding personal growth along the way. I started this collection thinking everything had to follow a consistent theme, that I had to know exactly what it would look like from the start and stick to that. But along the way, I realised that no one actually told me that! It was a story I was telling myself. I learned it’s okay to evolve, to let the work change as you change. Expressing what you’re going through in your art is what makes it relatable—it’s what connects you to others.


Moving Forward with a New Perspective

My next solo show is already booked for March/April 2025, and I’ll admit, I felt nervous about saying yes again. But I want to do things differently this time. How lucky am I to have these opportunities! Next year, I’m aiming for more ease, more fun, more flow, and less stress. I’ve realised it’s up to me to make that happen. Working non-stop because of deadlines, not taking breaks, and focusing on the pressure rather than the possibilities made this experience harder than it needed to be. I don’t want to forget that the magic comes from within. I need to make space for that magic to flow through me.


Paintings from the Where Wild Flowers Bloom exhibition

Final Thought: Remember You Are the Magic


If there’s one takeaway from this experience, it’s this: don’t lose sight of the fact that you are the magic in your work. Trust that, make space for it, and let it shine.


Where Wild Flowers Bloom

An exhibition with Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza

19th October - 2nd November

Opening Saturday 19th October 11am - 3pm

Come and say Hi if you are nearby x





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