Rejection

It has only been in the past couple of years that I have made art that I have tried to sell. I am differentiating my art from my crafts, which is what I call the items I make like wallets, bags, key rings, etc. My crafts sell fairly well, and I am always trying to understand what types of crafts people are interested in buying. My art is a whole other thing. I have sold just a few pieces. I have no illusions that I make great timeless art. My art is a creative outlet. Sometimes I get a vision of a piece, and then I have to try to make my vision real.

I have bought numerous pieces of art in my adult life. Most of the pieces I describe as art I want to vacation in. A relaxing but vibrant floral painting. A gorgeous sunset painting capturing the beauty of nature. An abstract painting that brings me a feeling a calm. I have bought numerous art pieces while on vacation, and the art is lovely in itself, but it also always reminds me of a wonderful place I have visited.

Some of the pieces I make are similar to the types of art I buy: pieces that capture the beauty of nature, pieces that bring a feeling of calm, etc. Many of my pieces are just meant to be fun. Most are meant to cause you to take a further look at what else is in there. All my art is fiber based, but most of it is mixed media. I love bringing texture into my pieces. I love using items in unexpected ways and just plain using unexpected items. I’m an environmental engineer, and I fully embrace up cycling.

Alas though, not many of pieces have sold. I suppose I then ask the questions that many if not all artists ask. Do people just not like my art? Is my art not very good? Is my art too weird?

Earlier this summer, I entered three pieces of art into a show at a new gallery focusing on up cycling, and I thought my type of art was perfect for it. None of my pieces were accepted. I didn’t take it too hard as it is a gallery in another city, and well I suppose I am too much of amateur, and I aimed too high. However, I recently entered a piece of art into a show at a local gallery that is owned by a group I belong to. I am really proud of this piece, and it the biggest piece I have made yet. I spent a lot of time on it, and I am really happy with how it came out. Sadly my piece was not accepted. The rejection email said the juror selection process was extremely competitive. Still it hurts. I don’t know why it was rejected, but it makes questions my art. Is it any good? Does anyone but myself like it? Is it too weird? That is the problem with trying to put your art out there, it may be rejected.