thoughts,from an article by Keith Bond

"Somewhere along the way, you get some illumination – some new information – whether from books, DVDs, a workshop, a mentor, or by some other means.  Surprisingly this new-gained knowledge actually makes things more difficult and confusing.  This new light upon the path that you had been travelling casts shadows upon what you had once understood.
As an artist you will travel through many days and nights and climb many mountains.  Some nights are darker than others.  Some bless you with a full moon.  But daylight always comes."
by Keith Bond

How do I know?

I paint every day (almost), I can not imagine my life without it, I successfully sell my art and still do not know what makes someone an Artist. What should separate one from a passionate amateur to professional. Is it $$$ ? Well that would be not right. Would it be the definition of making living by it? But it is again about money. Is it how many hours you spend working at it? But one can spend countless hours (providing financial and social independence ) , It still does not always cut it. Is it a good luck magic ? I probably agree that you can do everything but without Luck or Star or Patron :)) Is it a quality of art? It is also a very subjective opinion in the modern world.

Well, rejection #2.

 This time is much easier, at least there were not rude. I wonder how many I will go through before finding a perfect match. It is like looking for a love relationships. Getting exited, putting a make up,styling your hair, gathering courage and thinking what you will talk about. Than pooh, nothing, ziptik, zero ,no, big NO. Does it really matter why? But you go home feeling miserable and thinking b..i..g.. picture. Why it is never working out, notice the "never" here. What is wrong with me ? the best solution is to avoid generalizations. It is all about your own very personal style. I guess the main Question is how commercial do you want to be. What is the most important place in art for you,just you. Probably it comes down to : can you afford to be you ?It comes with a great price, either material, financial or personal .

Transcript

MAD
485 MADISON AVENUE · NEW YORK N. Y. 10022 · PLAZA 2-7685

Dear Contributor:-

Sorry, but we've got bad news!

You've been rejected!

Don't take this personally though. All of us feel rejected at one time or another. At least, that's what our group therapist tells us here at MAD. He says we shouldn't worry about it.

So that should be your attitude: "What-Me worry?"

Besides - although you've been rejected, things could have been a lot worse. Your material might have been ACCEPTED!

Then where would you be?

MAD-ly

(Signed, 'Al Feldstein')

Al Feldstein
Editor

P.S. Our group therapist also mentioned that many people are so rejected by a rejection that they don't try again. And we wouldn't want THAT! We really WOULD like you to keep sending us your article ideas and scripts. . .so we can keep sending you these idiotic rejection slips!

growing pain of an artist. Rejection #1 and lesson

 I never sold through galleries. I really do not know how to approach them , totally luck the business site. I am new to commercial site of art. So it is probably the few  years in my life that was selling my paintings to somebody I know. And of course kids portraits that I do on commissions. 

So 6 month ago I decided to put a web site together (actually my husband forced :) me to). And i started to paint even more,getting out of my comfort zone. I have got  advise on approaching a certain gallery with referral from a very prominent curator of museum. I send an email to the owner of the Gallery and got... a very rude brush off. 

Oh boy, for over a month I am not able to paint, jumping from one website to another to see what is out there ,what sells,how to sell,what technique is necessary for me to improve, being lost , not being able to implement new things but also loosing my own way, being afraid to make mistakes, always thinking if my painting will receive approval. Probably it is not the longest block but the most damaging in my life. In one week I went through the roof from BIG expectation to feeling of falling down like a sandwich. Always face down. 

And than few days ago I realised that I did not get commercial, but I also lost the joy in my life. Something that helped me function , just me . In reality it is  No matter if I am selling or not. And I do not have right to take away that feeling of being myself.  The true feeling of freedom, where limitation is only your skills level . But it is only you who has control over it. It is so wonderful to play and love and be mad when you want to . Forget the others opinion and judgement .Just paint.To be free, that is the lesson.

P.S. also I still would love to be accepted.:)) Oh that mercantile part of us....

I am still trying to attempt navigating through blogger. I wonder even if it is a useful feature in my life. I struggle to find time for real people and now spending time here takes me away even more . May be it is just because I am so slow in expressing myself verbally. Paraphrasing Edward Hopper "if I would be good with words I would not be painting." Ha ha, I hope I am better at painting.