Maze-ing Maze 203 Just one more rejection for me!
Maze-ing 203
"Every rejection is incremental payment on your dues that in some way will be translated back into your work." James Lee Burke
I guess I have to just add this to my already large stack of rejections. When I look at how far I’ve progressed in my art its hard to believe that I’m still not good enough to be accepted into the festival. I guess I need to learn a better way to show my body of work that will interest publishers, festival juries and what have you.
Although I will work my hardest to find the positive in yet another rejection I can’t help but feel down. I remember about 5 years ago at this festival, and after viewing some questionable art with my wife. She joked that she was going to draw stick figures and enter the next years festival. What I took from that day and the next 4 festivals after that was an inspiration and motivation to get into the show. Now it will be painful to go to the show this summer. I will spend the entire time comparing all the artists to my work.
DAMMIT!
Warren Stokes Art 
Like the saying goes: “when one door closes, another door opens”. Maybe, your looking in the wrong direction!
I like your work!
Roll Tide!!!
the committment you have in reguards to your work is what admires me.stay committed and be encouraged you have inspired someone,to me thats festive enough!good luck!
Don’t put your worth in how others judge your work. I’m sure you know about the many stories of famous authors, etc. whose work was rejected many times. Keep doing what you love and the venue will come.
BTW–Have you ever considered a children’s book? Kids would love your mazes!
Try to be objective. Judges have moods, preferences, there are trends that affect their decisions. By the time summer rolls around everything will make sense.
Totally agree with what mary said.
That sucks, rejection is so hard. I am compiling my own little list of rejections. Everyone always says there is a reason, or maybe next time or whatever- but the truth is it still is a bummer and doesn’t feel good.
Stack up the rejections as proof of your ability to take a chance.
I am so sorry for your bad news. Please dont let is discourage you but inspire you to realize your dreams even more.
You can attempt to see the positive by understanding being in this particular festival is not in line with your purpose. Maybe that day something more important is going to happen. Maybe being at the festival would put you in the wrong place at the wrong time. I know it is hard, but you will see the reasons after the sting goes away. Letting the universe take care of the details is often the hardest, yet always the most magical and rewarding in the end!
Show selection is not always about talent – you have to fill a “need”…maybe someone else’s work (similar to yours) got there first – or has been an exhibitor before. The show is a business. Don’t be crushed – just find your slot. Go and look at who and what is there – see how their work is displayed ( matted? framed? ) Listen to what the audience says about the work exhibited. Take notes. Know your target audience and select what fits the need…commercial, yeah, but paying bills gives freedom to do what you want. Now get back out there! Don’t be defeated –
I think you are fantastic. Dont let it get to you. Everything happens for a reason and people still get to see your art here. And we actually appreciate it. If you focus on this setback you will only loose inspiration. Paint because you love to and do it with all the passion that is in you and eventually you will get to where you wanna be. An artist never finishes learning and is never done. Who knows where you will be in a year or two. Go to that festival with positive eyes and be happy for the ones that have worked as hard as you.soon it will be your turn:)
This maze is very fascinating! I really enjoy your art work.
Hang in there, keep trying, and good luck. Everyone, writers and artists especially, face more than their fair share of discouraging rejection. Just keep trying, for everyone who’s ever been or continues to be in your situation. When you finally do break through, it’ll be a triumph for all of us who are struggling.
Sorry about your recent rejection from the art show you applied for. After being a participant in art shows for 28 years, I can tell you that it can be very, very stressful to receive a rejection letter. I can tell you that they never get easier. It is because someone else is telling us we are not worthy to be considered to be part of their event. It demeans our artwork.
However, I can tell you from the opposite side – the judging side – that we, the judges, feel for the artists alot. Many of those judging are former art show participants. There are hundreds of applications that are submitted. The amount accepted is far less than those applying. It is a difficult task.
I can give you some pointers for future reference. Your slides must be impeccable. The clarity of how it shows your work is important. Your description of what your work is and how you do your artwork is important and must be condensed so that we do not have to read very long descriptions. The presentation of how you will show your work is optimum.
Tha main thing is never to give up applying. Each rejection is a way of improving yourself. Do not take the rejection personally. We are never given the names. It is all done annonymously with numbers.
The more you do your artwork the more you will improve. The reason for limiting the amount of artists is to assure that all who are participating will have an opportunity to sell. I have added two posts that I wrote about art shows. They showcase some of the artists I selected to participate.
Hope this has helped you. Forge on …!!!!
Isadora
http://insidethemindofisadora.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/art-show-calendar-and-judging/
http://insidethemindofisadora.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/art-show-judging/
I dare you to laugh at this rejection and remember the only opinion that truly matters is God’s. Each of your creations are to priceless because YOU created it. Examine the reason why you are creating your gorgeous mazes. Are you doing it for praise and jury? Or do you value each art expression of YOU? May you find peace in my words. God bless you and your expressions of art.
Love your work! We’ll put you on our blog roll. Mazes are such a great way to stretch your mind. Wonderful activity for a long commute to work too, especially if you are not a sudoku or crossword fan. Any chance the mazes could be created to be done online? Just thinking of people commuting with iPads, etc. Will blog about you in future, if that’s okay.
Festival committees have their own preferences and taste, so that rejection does not mean your art is bad. Maybe there’s another festival or venue that is better suited for your work, you just need to look for that opportunity. Your disappointment is understandable, but even the greatest artists have faced rejections before they get acknowledged by the world, so don’t give up!
Life can be like a maze and sometimes it takes years to understand why you can’t seem to go down the right path. Sometimes, years later it all just comes together beautifully and you then say…… with the glory of hindsight “Ahhh, that’s why I kept getting blocked, that’s why it didn’t happen how I thought it would” You just need to bump into the right person at the right time, or have them see your work somewhere and your efforts will all have been worthwhile. I think your work looks great!
That is hard to take, but you can’t give up.
Awww im so sorry to hear that…i can imagine it must hurt…thank you for reading my story on my blog, i hope when its time for me to publish it – i dont meet with any rejections, those are quite hard to swallow. Keep your head up, as long as you are healthy and alive and there is always next year, there is always a chance you might be accepted and win an award for it too!
Just hang in there as everyone else deserves their break. It may not happen today but who knows what is in store for you in the future.
The fact that you didn’t make it into the festival doesn’t mean your work wasn’t good enough! It just means your work wasn’t what they were looking for. Don’t let the opinions of a handful of people (who think they know what they are talking about) make you doubt your work. You have already made a difference in so many peoples lives; not many people can say that about themselves 🙂
Rejection is never easy to take but think of it this way: YOU know how good you are, YOU are putting in the effort and hardwork – it’s only a matter of time before YOU are discovered 🙂
The way I think of it: we all have to pay our dues before finding our break – you just have to keep pushing!
p.s. just because you didn’t get accepted doesn’t mean your work isn’t good enough – try a different perspective: maybe it wasn’t what they were looking for.
Goodluck! 🙂
Did you know that Abraham Lincoln was born into poverty, lost EIGHT elections, failed twice in business, and suffered a nervous breakdown before he was elected president (one of themost influential presidents in history)!
Point being, rejection hurts…but its only one step closer to bringing you where you are meant to be. You have a great outlook and energy. You will prevail 🙂
You will get there! never give up! and like you said you’ve already had so much growth! When one door closes another opens:)
Rejection is never nice… I know how that can feel. But always stay positive!
I always think art is something that can’t really be judged… not really. Just because they didn’t accept it doesn’t mean it isn’t good! Stay positive and always remember that everything that happens in life will make you stronger and build you up as a person.
Times like this I always think of this quote: “A set-back is truly a set-up for future accomplishments.”
P.S. I really like your art work! Please keep it up! 🙂
As an Artist, my words to you are: Screw ‘Em
Art is in the eye of the beholder. Most People who run festivals and galleries are uptight arties who have an elitist ideal to the work they bring in.
Rejection and Failure is good. It brings out the best in you. It makes you realize why you are doing what you are doing in the first.
And the ultimate answer is: because you enjoy doing it.
I’m so sorry to hear about your disappointing news. I think your mazes are fantastic — really imaginative, detailed, and original. (That last one’s especially hard to come by these days.) It’s so hard as an artist to remember that rejection of your artwork for a show or publication isn’t the same thing as being rejected yourself… It can sure feel that way when you pour so much of your energy and creativity into what you make. Just for the record: your value isn’t diminished because of this. I admire your reason for this blog a great deal, and it makes me want to keep trying too, art show or not. Thank you for that.
It’s a right of passage. I can’t get an agent to take my writing no matter my changes. It’s darn annoying!
Don’t feel bad. I just watched a doco on Basquait and he was rejected by various parties in the art industry his whole living career. If we put too much value in what other’s think there would be no creativity. Keep up the good work.