“A Walk in the Rain” 26″x20″ Watercolor on Yupo
It’s raining today. Not the best Labor Day weekend weather. We were planning a trip to the coast, but decided to stay home instead and get some things done around here. I have lots to do to get ready for next weekend’s West Linn Arts Festival. And it is kind of cozy sitting here with the coffee, the dog, the hubby watching sports & surfing the web. Who needs the view of the bay? I’ll be happy to enjoy the cooler weather here at home. At least I’m not showing this year at ‘Art in the Pearl’. Maybe it was lucky that I didn’t get in!
This morning I read an interesting email from an artist friend who said he makes it a practice to believe when he enters a show or puts out a work for sale that it will be passed over. That way, when it is’rejected’, he has expected it and he isn’t disappointed. This artist was trying to make a point about the importance of self-validation, believing in the value of one’s own work.
For me, it is hard to reconcile the ideas of self-validation, but low expectations. If I value my work, if I am excited about it, I expect others to be excited about it too. And I am disappointed when they aren’t. I almost feel like I have this fabulous thing…. say, a trip to Hawaii, and I’ve invited someone to come along on vacation with me. And they say… “no thanks.” Now, wouldn’t you expect people to jump at the chance to go on vacation with me? Of course it is more complicated than that.
In the case of exhibitions, your work competes with the work of many others out there. So, it’s not whether the juror wants to go on vacation with me but whether they want to go with me, or Jayne, or Mike or Donna or…. and how many people can they take? Still, it doesn’t feel good to not be chosen. And, I mean….who wouldn’t choose me?
These other artists are probably better at separating their art from themselves. I can do that. If someone can give me a logical reason, then I can work to improve the situation… can’t afford it? Let’s work out a payment plan. Design problem? I’ll work on that. I don’t tend to take those things personally.
I also think there is something about expecting positive things, seeing the glass as half full, that improves how others see us. I’m not talking about those theories like ‘The Secret’ about the law of attraction, but more like the conventional: “You’ll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” In fact, it makes a difference in how I see myself. My mom used to tell me I could choose whether to be happy or not. It isn’t a matter of circumstances, but one of perspective.
So whether it means I’m disappointed when I get rejected or not, I will always see the glass as half full. I will always expect that a work I love will be accepted. How about you? Are you an optimist or a pessimist? If you are satisfied with a painting, do you tell yourself it will be accepted/sold or not?
I am like that artist who assumes he did not get into the show whenever he enters a show— the glass is half empty. Then if I do get in— I feel pretty good.
then the disappointment is short lived if I don’t.
Your philosophy is better of course to see the glass as half full.
Great article Ruth! For me, the cup is half full!
I once heard some good advice to think about the potential home for a painting while you are working on it. You never know where a piece will end up. So when someone passes by or turns down a painting, I just assume the “real owners” haven’t shown up yet.
I knew that about you Donna 🙂 But it seems to work for you…. Thanks Vinita… I like the idea of the ‘real owner’ showing up. Sometimes it takes longer than others for that person to appear.
I’ve become pretty good at assessing my work and, frankly, sometimes I enter paintings knowing they are not my best and probably won’t get in. I don’t consider that pessimism, though, but, rather, realism. On the other hand, when I have something to enter that I “know” is good, I’m optimistic.
Hi Ruth,
I love your quote: “If I value my work, if I am excited about it, I expect others to be excited about it too. And I am disappointed when they aren’t.” Oh, I have so been there, felt that! But I’ve learned, over time, that I love a lot of my stuff (for different reasons) and not everyone feels the same way. I’m okay with that, because CERTAIn paintings of mine just give me an excited tummy feeling and I just KNOW that someone, somewhere will “get” what I’ve painted. Most of the time I get rejected from a show it’s because there’s just TOO many other good artists in that show—I know it’s not a reflection on my painting per se. Bottom line, ya gotta listen to your paintings–they tell you where they need to be! Good post (and love your rain pic–I just did a Rainy Day Friends painting that got an Honorable Mention at OSA).
Thanks Liz and Sue 🙂 I hear you….
This is a great topic for all artists. I have to admit that I am always disappointed to get a rejection no matter what kind of self-talk I do during the wait. I have always looked for (and needed, I guess) other people’s approval about most areas of my life. I would be a different person if I didn’t.
As I have had more entries with both acceptances and rejections under my belt, it does get less disappointing for me. There was a time when I found it hard to get back to painting for a few days or weeks, now it doesn’t send me into a painting block at all.
I’d hate to be a juror!