Keep trying after rejection
One of the more frustrating parts of freelancing is constantly having to put yourself out there. The bonus is as you get used to applying for open art calls and art jobs, it gets easier. (Or you get smarter and keep a ready to copy/paste bio on hand. It's hard to think of how to write your bio often. My mind goes blank. I was raised by wolves.)
It is equally frustrating to be rejected.
And the more you apply to galleries, art calls, art fairs and jobs in the art field…the more rejection can happen.
Which is also a good thing sometimes, rejection builds character lol but seriously. Rejection forces you to make a choice right there. Will you dig in your heels and carry forth stubbornly believing in yourself? Or will you take that rejection and make a different plan accordingly? There is no right or wrong answer, really. You have to know the line between knowing your art needs a little more experience or it does not. Sometimes you've been rejected because your style doesn't fit with their aesthetic. That's not anything to do with your skills. Take it for what it is.
The most recent art thing I was rejected from was a gallery exhibit. I can admit though I was in over my head and the rejection was a blessing. I see this now, weeks after it happened.
Originally when the rejection letter happened, I was very derailed by it. I had been floating on a successful high and felt ready to do a gallery exhibit. After the rejection, I felt like a failure and a let down. Many people have been rooting for me. I feel aimless, nothing mattered.
I took some time off to lick my wounds and determine what course of action I'd rather be taking. Still want to get in the galleries, but I will take smaller steps to that.
This a.m I have submitted art for a contest, I may hear back in two months time. It's a little like deja vu, I applied to a similar contest in August years ago. I didn't win, but I picked myself up after that and improved my art style.
Speaking of art style, it's hard when you see the mass majority is producing lineless art and you are out here making boldly lined art. A part of me doesn't want to apply to places because they seem to have a preference for lineless stuff. I tell myself that it's better to 'not' fit in with the masses. I really do love black lines on my art.
But am I missing out on opportunities to improve my career and financial standing-because I won't do lineless art? That remains to be seen.
This is me, at age four. I have always been very creative. If I was't so afraid of being in the spotlight, I may have gone into acting since I love to dress up and take on characters. I was a cowboy in this photo. I had no access to tape, but I knew then that a bar of soap, when wet, gets tacky/sticky. So I applied some wet soap to my upper lip to “tape” on my toilet paper moustache. Applied a toilet paper bow tie to my neck, grabbed a cowboy hat and was riding my trusty rocking horse. Good times.
Trust your vision, trust yourself. You'll find a way through it all.
