Getting Rejected in the Art World

As an artist your art is part of you, if someone doesnt like your art its almost feels like they dont like you. Its usually a long hard road to get where you want to be as an artist. For every artist its going to be somewhere different.

My goal right now is the same as when I started this blog to join the art festival circuit. I think I am finally getting to a place finanically where I can start collecting materials to start my booth. That damn booth photo that's required. It makes sense why most art festivals require that. They just want to make sure that whoever they choose has a good looking booth. They ultimately want people that can sell. If the festival is successful - "they" are successful. So it all makes sense. I guess my main problem right now is havng the space to store all these materials. A tent, tables, and a bunch of framed photos and canvases take up a bunch of space.

On the other side of my goal to finally joining the art festival circuit is my membership in Salmagundi. This art club definitely has its benefits. So far this year I have been in two art shows, I was planning on three, but I got rejected from the Annual Members Show.

The Annual Members show this year is a bit special. Salmagundi is historically the oldest running fine art club in America. The building has been around for a very long time, and they finally got the funding to start renovating and getting the building up to code last year. Well renovations are about 95% done! Which means new galleries!! I haven't seen it yet, but the Annual Members Show is the first to show in the new renovated gallery. So, there is this "newness" to it that makes it special.

Another thing about this show is they take the BEST work. Not of each artist, but in general what they think is just mind blowing. I guess it's the next level. Your work has to receive a certain amount of votes to make it into the show. I am guessing more votes than say a themed show like the Annual Black and White Show they just had.

Needless to say, my work got rejected. I have dealt with rejection on a much more heartfelt level, so maybe this is why this rejection wasn't as hard as a blow. It might have been because of the conversations I had with other artists, veteran artists, on how work will get rejected, and there's nothing you can do about it. You can't win them all. Now, these were artisits that actually make their living off their art. I really took that advice and let the stress of someone not liking my work, go. I let it all go. So, when I heard one of my favorite photos that I thought represented my style, and me as a photographer, got rejected-- I was okay with it.

I think an artist has to expect that. Learn how to best deal with it. Most importantly continue to submit your work into exhibitions. Continue to put yourself out there. Not everyone is going to like you or what you produce, and that's ok because its the beauty of life--the differences.

The show I am waiting for is the floral show. I have a couple photos I really want to submit! Also the thumb box show (small works) is another thing I have something in mind for.  So I am preparing for that, but laying low for a bit for now while the members show is exhibiting.

Getting your work rejected just means you're an artist now.

The Red Dot

I never imagined this event to come so quickly. I imagined that this would happen sometime during 2014, but not so early on.

What is the "Red Dot?"

I learned quickly it's what you want to see next to your name when exhibiting your work. My first show in NYC was at the Mehu Show last year in September, I entered 4 pieces and sold a big Goose Egg! Nada. Zero. Nothing!! Needless to say I was crushed a bit, well not just a bit. Lets be honest it bothered me a ton, and it def got to me. That show sold only 5 pieces. Once I figured the average of selling work at each show I felt better. It's a low percentage of pieces entered in a show to pieces sold. Which is not unexpected. Once it all made sense I didn't stress.

Deep down inside I wanted a "Red Dot" next to my artwork label. I needed that damn "Red Dot."

I think for all artists trying to sell their work, and making a living off what they love to do its something that kinda haunts you. The want for the "Red Dot" follows you to every art show.

The "Red Dot" confirms a bunch of things. It validates for one thing. You know now you ARE good enough. Someone else out there loved your stuff enough to purchase whats part of you. A bit of doubt is erased. You feel a bit freer to be the artist you want to be, and not the artist you THINK you should be.

I struggle with that often. Certain work I want to exhibit I second guess: "Is this good enough?" or "Will this be enough to compete or be on par with what other people enter?" Im slowly learning that I should not second guess myself or my artwork. If I love it, it's good enough, and somewhere out there someone will agree.

My first "Red Dots" came in a pair. My first sale included both photos I entered into the show. I was emailing our group advisor, Patricia, about an upcoming meeting and she returned my message with my "Red Dot" surprise. I couldn't believe it honestly. I couldn't wait to tell my boyfriend and my sister. Even though I was told that I sold both pieces, I needed there to be no mistake. I needed to see it for myself.

Hey, mistakes happen, right?

I went to the reception, while also dropping more work off for two more shows (I hope to goodness Im accepted in the shows!) There they were, both my photographs with the "Red Dot." My third show ever, second in NYC, and my first sale! Those are not bad odds. This is what I needed. There were three sales for that show.  Two of the sales were mine. :-D Again not bad odds.





The first Art show I entered this year, and I sold both pieces.

Ok, I've Gained a bit of Exposure - Now to Try and Sell Online.

I think every photography that wants to make a living has embraced the challenge of making money, starting your business, and getting your name out there. This is definitely in my life right now. There are so many choices to be made.

I have had my website up for about a year and a half, maybe a little longer with just my portfolio. Meaning a place that has my photos just to look at. There is not a button to click to purchase any photo.  I did have that in the beginning with my photos linked to Fine Art America's website. I then unlinked everything. I didn't like how there are so many sites one has to go to just to buy a photo from me. In regards to my website in general I redesigned it so it was less complicated overall. I am happy with the changes so, now I am on the quest to make buying a photo from as simple, and easy as humanly possible.

My web-host is iPage, and it does have a "shopping cart" option, but with the nature of photos, and the varieties a person could want a photo printed is way too much for the format that they offer. And to be honest I don't want to limit my potential customers. If they want a canvas, they shall have it! If they want a 5x7 matted print well than dammit let them have it.

ok, ok, jokes aside, in all seriousness I want to give my customers options, and buying freedom. (some say they may be a bad thing- eeeek!)

Now with my new decision to tack on the buying option to my website I'm finding that this is a lot harder. Currently, I am looking for a web-host that specializes in working with photographers(which there are a ton out there.) Ya know nice galleries, options to be creative, and design the site you want with flexibility in your gallery options. Now, add the printing on demand feature the array of web-hosts to choose from comes down form hundreds to just a handful. I've done a bit of days worth of research. The print on-demand option if anyone isn't aware is just being able to have the customer order a print off your site, the web-host will take that order pass it on to one of the labs they are partnered with, make whatever the order may be then ships it out to the customer.  All the while you don't have much work to do, besides making sure your website is great, and easy enough to order from.

What I'm finding with some sites is there are some that take commission, some don't. Annual prices vary(all being pretty expensive at least for someone just starting out.) Some more customizable than others, some too many details to try and figure out.

I guess my top choice is Smugmug.  It seems to be my best option. I was on there for hours one day trying to figure out how to change certain background colors of my page!! Once I got it down it was okay. Even so, not as easy to change anything design wise like iPage is for me. But looking back to when I first started this website endeavor iPage took getting use to as well.

Some people think that Fine Art America is a good print on demand site, it's pretty much your cheapest option. Free printing options under 30 photos. if you want unlimited on-demand printing it's a $30 membership annually. Which isn't bad, but I'm extremely picky. I just don't like how I can't customize my page. I also feel like having everything being able to be done entirely on just my site legitimizes my business a little bit more, if not to my potential customers at least to me in my own little head. Hey, it's the little things, right?

There are others, but I'm not going to review every last one. One blogged helped me out though. Check that out here if you want more info on these type of sites. This person has a lot more experience than I do.

I'm definitely not the best at all this website/web design stuff, but I can hold my own for the most part, but this search started to be a bit overwhelming. The more I researched it, it slowly started coming together. I will keep everyone posted on what I go with, and when I have the buying option on my site.

Wish me luck!