The Grange Tree
I've won a couple of awards lately. First place in Kutztown's Alfresco! plein air festival, fifth place in the Lehigh Art Alliance 75th Anniversary exhibition at Muhlenberg College. I was very surprised at the Kutztown show, especially because its the second year in a row that I've won first place there. The Big Cheese. I felt very happy and grateful for both the recognition and the monetary benefits. I wondered if I should have also felt a little embarrassed at the abundance of riches- I'm still unsure about that. But, I needed that award as much as anyone and am very grateful for it. As for the LAA show, I was just happy to get in the exhibition. The level of work there is so high, and the historic nature of the show meant a lot to me. Looking at the other work, I was surprised I got the award I did; there are so many pieces of varied styles and techniques and such excellent quality. It must have been very difficult to judge it. And, it is always difficult for me to compare my own work with others. Again, I was delighted to get the recognition and the monetary benefit of an award.
I was reading something somewhere on Facebook the other week and someone commented on another person's post as being "shameless self promotion". But, isn't that what marketing is? We work so hard, putting everything we have into a piece. If we're trying to make a living with our art, it doesn't do any good to not talk it up. And, I think we owe it to the piece itself. I love it when one of my works finds a good home. And I love it when the income from sales lets me continue to paint another day.
And, so accordingly when I get awards, I talk it up. I send out e-mail newsletters, post a comment on Facebook, tell my parents (because it makes them happy, not for marketing!). But, its really just another tool in the resume. An award reassures collectors that the piece they bought is not a fluke. The more I promote my work, the more my work is noticed, the more I get to paint and find good homes for my pieces.
It's easy for anyone to get caught up in the competition of it all. But, neither art, nor life is about competition. All artists have an obligation to support each others' creative efforts, to encourage each other, to share opportunities. What happens to one of us, happens to all of us. If we get caught up in painting a piece in a particular style for a particular show's judge, then we lose something- we lose the passion of why we are painting in the first place. We should paint what we really want to paint- it will show in the work and viewers will respond to that. Philosopher Howard Thurman says it well:
"Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive...then go do it. Because the world needs people who have come alive."
Back to the awards. I'm proud of the awards- I'm pleased when my work is recognized by a respected juror and grateful because that recognition brings a second look from others. But, of course it doesn't define who I am.
I'll tell you what I'm really proud of: I'm proud of my efforts.
I work at my art.
I work at trying to be the best person I can be.
I put in the time, the practice, the focus, the energy.
Some of my favorite pieces get rejected from exhibitions.
Sometimes my best attempts to be friendly are misunderstood.
That's when its important to know that its enough that I gave it my best effort. I take it seriously. I also take it all lightheartedly. It is important to simply celebrate the grace of this life. Every day is a vacation day; every day is a work day. Great happiness is bone deep.
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