untamedartists

Hey all, just wondering how you all handle criticism and rejection when it comes to your work? I've hit a wall after being rejected by a very large art prize (only 14.7% of the entries made it in this year) and am wondering why I even bother to put my work out there. It seems stupid considering I've won a fair amount of awards at shows over the past 18 months but when it comes to the bigger shows I feel like I'm off the mark.

My entry, Family Ties was a work that is relevant to recent news in the animal kingdom, and previous judges remarked on the way it blended truthful representation of the subject and real emotional impact but somehow when it got to the big stage it was simply overlooked. However last week it was accepted by another high profile juried show. I'm confused and bewildered...

Where do you stand on your audience? Do you do the work solely for yourself or to connect with the viewer? How do you react when it gets overlooked? Do you look at the rejection as a stepping stone to build upon?

Leigh, firstly I'm nowhere near where you are at artistically so I don't worry too much about rejection. I know it is a stepping stone for me. The greatest artists have got where they are because they've been rejected more than anyone, but kept going.

Secondly, yes I'm afraid to say I do the work that resonates with me first and foremost, and then, if my customers like it, great! But if they don't, big deal. My philosophy is that if I try to please them, I'll almost certainly be painting in a way that doesn't please me, yet. Maybe one day my tastes and the tastes of the general public will match, but not yet.

I think your work for the most is outstanding Leigh.
Even the great artists are rejected some time or other.
I think it"s just down to taste.
Some of the work i have done i thought looked good to me but was rejected by others.
I paint first and foremost for my own pleasure if others like it it"s an added bonus.
I think your talent will show in the end.
Have you tried taking a break from wildlife and trying other subjects?i find this helps.

Keep painting.

Best from mike.

Hey Mike, I actually paint a wide variety of subjects. I'm in the process of a series of beach scenes at the moment. Sometimes I just wonder why I bother..

I think you bother Leigh because painting is in your blood.I think like me you could never give it up completely and if you can"t make it with your skills heaven help some of the artists who"s work i"ve seen.

Best from mike.

Thanks Mike. I just had a really rough patch over the past few days and it got me thinking is all. I'll snap out of it soon enough.

Hi Leigh, Well if Patrick is no where near your level...I'm below that. And Mike, I don't even want to go there. So I say this with limited experience in putting my work and myself out there.

From this point of view, what I see in you, Patrick, Mike and others like you, is quite simply you are driven. There is a passion in you that I am trying to spark within myself. At this point I personally feel like a spring that is wound WAY to tight...but I don't know how or where to explode. This is the part of my art that I am trying to find and fix at this moment. It's personal and has very little to do with my actual work...it has everything to do with my head. But I can tell you that I can't work on anything unless I feel a connection. But when you do that as an artist and someone does not like or does not notice that piece and that passion, their opinion becomes a very personal statement.

I think you put yourself out there Leigh because you have no choice. You have found a spark within and once it explodes you really have no choice but to create. I see that in Patrick and Mike too and so many more artist I aspire to. And I'm sure that is the case with all artist. We create or we don't. When we don't, we're never happy, when we do, we're sometimes happy. When we put our work out there, we will shine and some times get hurt. Unfortunately, I don't think you have a choice. You are truly a good artist with all of the ups and downs that go with being one.

From a purely practical point of view, if you feel you are off the mark in any area you need to explore the reasons why and try to address it in your work. Feel free to use me as an example...I've found a mentor...I'd share mine with you but I think you're to busy to help you.

Haha, you got that right!!

Good to have you back Mitch

Nice boys!!! I'm feeling much more like my normal self again now. Completing the chimp has helped a lot in getting my head right again.

Hey Leigh, is there a place on line to view the work of the chosen finalists yet? I'm not finding anything but it may be to soon.

I would say that no way will they put the winners up on the net until the exhibition has at least started Mitch.

I've found this finalists entry Patrick. I was just wondering if there were more out there at this time. I was curious if there was a certain style judges were going for this year. Seems it will be easier to find some more as time goes on. Think you'll be interested to see that this entry is a crop...right up your alley.

Hope this link works...

http://victorharbor.yourguide.com.au/ne ... 90917.aspx

Cool crop indeed. I've met Brenda and I want to nip down to her gallery when I have some days off to try to get some work into it. She's a fine painter and her gallery is dedicated to wildlife art. A lovely little jewell down in Goolwa.

Good find. It would be interesting to see who else is publicising their good fortune. I know the official gallery website won't until the day, or after.

Interesting work. I've spoken to Brenda in the past and will be looking to get some work into her gallery later in the year as well. It's a very subtle piece