On Artists and Rejection

As a creative, I am compelled to make art. I am also compelled to share that work, to expose self and vision, and in that exposure, risk rejection.

I submit work to juried art shows - and sometimes that work is accepted and sometimes rejected.

No lie, it's easy to be accepted, it's a sigh of relief, a sign of validation.

Being rejected is hard. I question the work, the choice I made to expose myself, and wonder why my work wasn't chosen. What was missing for the juror? What was s/he looking for? Should I have submitted a different piece?

Rejection is a chance to learn, to grow, and to try again, but first I deal with the hurt of rejection. And it always hurts, no matter how many times it happens.

Once I spiral past the hurt, I review the work. I re-focus on the next step, the next deadline for submission, the next art project. And I re-read this quote from Ramesh Lohia: "Each rejection brings us closer to acceptance."

Pictured below is "The Chair" - it was rejected for one show, but juried into another and sold. 

"The Chair"

Artwork & words by Terry Rowe.

All work can be or is available for sale, visit www.terryrowe.photography. You can also leave me a comment if there is a particular piece of work you are interested in.

I am grateful for all of your comments and views.
 

Rejection

Rejection.

Feeling raw with the latest rejection of an art piece for a gallery show
I thought that I'd look up the definition in the dictionary. Sometimes plain words can soothe a rough edge.

Merriam-Webster's definition of rejection: "to refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use." Ok, well that didn't make me feel less pain about it.

The self-talk, which began before I found out my piece had not been accepted, now upped the chatter. The piece wasn't good enough, wasn't good. And worse, maybe the other shows I got into were flukes!

There is no knowing why a piece gets rejected, or for that matter, accepted...jurors usually don't say.

You're either in or you're out. 

It's the same kind of feeling as being in grade school and no one picks you for their team. Or the birthday party you didn't get invited to. Or your crush who ignored you when you gathered up the courage to say hi. Or all the times you waited for him (or her) to call you back, ask you out, like you back. That feeling. 

You tell yourself it's just that one juror, one show, one time. You tell yourself next time. You work harder, pick more carefully, hope again. That someone, some stranger, will see the value in your work, find it worthy. Pick it. Pick you.

Hope. That's a whole other discussion. Hope is such a tease.

So, next time.

 

You can visit me on Facebook at tART - Photography and Art by Terry Rowe,  https://www.facebook.com/tarrowe. If you'd like to purchase a print of any of my images please contact me or visit my website, http://terry-rowe.artistwebsites.com/.