Being Stubborn is Good in Art

As you may or may not know I am a member of an art club in NYC. Im a Junior/Scholarship member, and we have to meet at least monthly. 

We met last night, and sometimes at the meeting you get one person, two, maybe three. I always hope for more, for obvious reasons. Yesterday we had five plus our two advisors. and we talked about a lot of great ideas. Different shows we'd like to do, an open house for college students, panel discussions, debates, all kinds of events we could have at the club. 

The problem is always the follow through on an idea-- as it is with almost any group. Getting to people to participate and be active is a job in itself. To which we addressed, and wanted to do something about it. So, we came  up with a few requirements.

More things came up at this meeting than usual. I put that in the positive category of course. Nothing wrong with us throwing ideas around. Up to this point the meeting was great, inspiring, and hopeful. 

Then we started to to talk about working as an artist. One comment from a fellow member was pretty much along the lines of "there is no work out there for artists." Which I mentally laughed at. What brought this conversation to this point was a brand new member asking about doing a small job, and if you should pick and choose what kind of work you decide to do when hired. 

"Never say no" 

Those were the words that were said more than once. If you are trying to break into any creative field no job is too small when you're starting out. The committee head (our advisor) began a speech about how she has made a living being a freelance artist. she laid out how she got her work, what kind of work, and how she never said no even if it wasn't something she's never drawn before. She described how  the industry has always been tough to get into, even in the 1970s when people today think getting work was so much easier back then. Needless to say she had a different opinion when the no work comment was said. Trying to establish a career as an artist is hard. It's going to take work, sacrifice. The work is out there you just have to find it. "Look and a take a walk all around the city there is art everywhere, someone made that, and than someone bought it." While her husband was listening just as we were he chimed in to say "just because one gallery doesn't want to show your work doesn't mean you're not good, or never going to get work, you have to be persistent."  Our head advisor goes on to say "If you say you are going to make a living as an artist come hell or high water you are GOING to make a living as an artist." Stubbornness goes a long way. You don't take NO for an answer. If one gallery rejects you, you move on to the next, and than the next. "Three Years" she says. three years it takes to slowly build what you want and make something of yourself in one location. 

It was very inspiring to hear this from someone that was a creative type like me. I work in a different medium, but art is art. All the creative fields operate the same. In her voice you could hear the struggle that she dealt with just starting out even though it may have been many years ago. Listening to her you knew she truly believed what she was saying.  

If you want to make it work, and you want a certain life doing what you love you will find a way.  Every now and than its always good to hear this kind of conversation. 

Nothing great is easy to get. So, be stubborn.

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.