Happy Thanksgiving!

I am headed off to visit family for the Thanksgiving weekend, so I won't be posting anything further this week. I hope everyone has a great holiday!

Dealing With Rejection Part II

A friend of mine recently wrote a wonderful novel that is well written and very intriguing. She entered it into the annual novel competition on Amazon. Her book did very well. Out of 10,000 entries, her novel made it into the top 100. Her manuscript was reviewed by a professional book critic and the first chapter was available for the public to read and vote on. She felt like she had obtained a large amount of success with her book even though she didn't win the grand prize.

More recently, my friend has been sending her manuscript to various publishers in hopes of finding one that is interested in taking a chance on it. She got her first rejection just the other day and it literally crushed her spirits.

Rejection can be very difficult to deal with, but it is important to remember that it is just part of the game. For every "yes" I get, there are probably 10 or more "no's" that came before it. It is easy to let yourself get discouraged when someone tells you "no" but once you put into perspective just how many submissions and requests are received by galleries, publishers, and other venues, you come to take the rejection much less personally. Most of the time, it has nothing to do with the quality of your work, it has more to do with limited space, over-abundance in submissions, and budget restrictions.

In my friend's case, I want to put my arm around her (I can't because she lives in Idaho and I live in Wisconsin) and tell her not to let it get her down. She will get many more rejections before someone says yes. She just needs to hang in there and not give up, because someone will say yes. All it takes is one.

I'm a Hallmark Contest Winner!

Inside: “…to stop putting the precise number of candles on your cake! Happy Birthday!”

On a whim, I decided to enter the “Birthday Her Way Competition” that was going on at Hallmark. I actually forgot all about it until I got a phone call telling me that my card is a winner! I was so excited! My card was picked to be published and sold online starting Jan 4, 2010. I am completely thrilled that my card was chosen by Hallmark!

Creativity Can't be Forced

Peachcots - 11 x 14

Oil on Canvas Panel

$600

Copyright Dena McMurdie 2009

Call me a huge nerd if you so choose, but I am a fan of the "Twilight" book series. I was reading some Q & A on Stephenie Meyer's website yesterday about her plans for upcoming books and unfinished projects. She said something that rang true to me:

"...it is not a simple matter of sitting down in front of my computer and typing out the words; the words have to be there in my head to type out, and right now, they're not. I have to be in the zone to write any story, and trying to force myself into that zone is a waste of time, I've found."

I can relate to her words entirely. When I sit down to paint, I have to feel inspired, the image HAS to be in my mind in order for me to make any progress. The next step, the brushstrokes, and the colors all have to be in my mind before I can sit down to paint. I cannot force myself into creating a masterpiece or feeling creative. Of course, there are things that I can do to help my situation. Looking through art books, reading art blogs, and even looking back over my old artwork will often give me the kick in the pant that I need to jump start my creativity and enthusiasm. But on those days (and there will always be those days) when no jump start is possible, I will choose to pursue other interests rather than half-heartedly dab at a canvas just to throw it away at the end of my painting session.

A New Week, New Goals

When I had a full time job (a 9-5 job, not my artwork or my kids), I absolutely dreaded Monday morning. Now, I look forward to catching up on the things I couldn't do over the weekend. Monday provides me with a time to plan, organize, and strategize the rest of my week. Of course, with little children at home, my "to do" list usually has many many more items on it than are possible for me to complete. It still feels good to make goals and work towards completing each of them.

I have set several new goals for this week. Hopefully I will be able to see most of them through!

I'm Still Alive!

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know that even though I haven't posted anything all week, I am still alive and working. I have just been really busy lately and haven't been able to find a moment to sit down and write a thoughtful blog. Stay tuned!

An Inpsiring Article for Artists and Art Lovers

One of the highlights of my day is when I receive my Fine Art Views blogpost in my inbox. I love reading the insightful articles and learning from the advice given by experienced and professional artists. This article was particularly inspiring to me and I wanted to share it on my blog.

What do I know about art?
by Clint Michaels

What do I know about art? Not much, if you really want to know the truth. Yet, at the age of 46, I found myself wanting to know more. Call me a late bloomer, call me blind, but it was only when I was ready to see beyond the ordinary, that I could see the extraordinary. I knew about science and mechanical things that go up and down round and round. Ahh, good ol' left brain. Still, in many ways, I could see the beauty in those kinds of things. Ahh, right brain. Although facts and figures never did much to calm my soul or move my heart, they did put food on the table. And while that's always a good thing, imagine my surprise when that dark veil which blinded me for so long was removed and the beauty of the human spirit came crashing through in the form of a painted canvas.

With my eyes fixated on a 5" x 7" image of The Crucifixion, a painting from Alessandro Castelli, (1809 - 1902, Private Collection), my mind raced to comprehend its meaning and beauty. Up to this point in my life, I had never really paid much attention to art before, but somehow this image was different. Maybe it was the painted sky and dramatic rays of light, or perhaps the deep contrast of dark and light against the landscape; but it felt as if I could hear a voice inviting me to look closer. Like the faint sound of sweet music playing far off in the distance, I was drawn to it. As I drifted further into this unknown painted world, I started to become one with it. I began wondering how I would feel if I were there. It is a frightening image with scenes of sorrow and glory. My imagination took off like a child, and I soon found myself wondering what the people in the painting might be thinking if they were real. It became a make believe place where adults were invited to imagine what they would do if they where there. I was hooked; lost in the painting, and it was wonderful.

Scanning the horizon of this painted world, I began to believe that I could feel the emotions Castelli surely must have felt as he reached the pinnacle or credenza of this great work. I remember thinking, there's treasure in here. I found myself searching every inch of the small little image to unlock its secrets. Like diamonds in the sand, everything glimmers in the sun, but it takes a knowing eye to tell the difference between glittering sand and precious stones. I smiled and thought to myself, "This is amazing!" I could actually feel the intensity of Castelli's work. I began to understand how art can become medicine for your soul. And how it was possible to bring us to a place in time we once knew or dreamt of. How could it make us feel something we once felt and forgot? This piece was like that. Through this work, I began to believe that I could feel the joy and sorrow Castelli must have felt as he poured out all he was onto his canvas. Every character began to tell their own story, and every stroke from his brush began to reveal his genius. I smiled at the beauty of the light which streamed from the painted clouds and gently spill onto the landscape below. Then I thought to myself, "Only God and humans could create so much beauty." We are truly blessed, and would be even more so, if only we will quiet ourselves long enough to appreciate all the beauty around us.

It's been three years since I saw that painting. Its beauty so inspired me to love art that I have began studying and learning how to oil paint. For the first two years, I read everything I could get my hands on, but I rarely touched a brush for fear of learning bad habits which might never be overcome in the long run, thus diminishing my ability to create truly great art one day. Finally, after a long search, I discovered an artist whose style and work most represented my own aspirations. I found a very talented local artist who was willing to take on a newbie hack like me. Daniel Mundy (a regular sponsor of this site) has been a great instructor and mentor. With the patience of a saint, he has helped me find the courage to begin. In fact, when we first talked, he told me "It's not how many paintings you have done, it's how many you've started. So let's get started!"(Or something like that.) His works and knowledge of painting have inspired me to keep working and showed me how to have fun with my art. My eyes still have a foggy spot when it comes to my own work, but as Daniel might say," Just put down the notes and let's see how it sounds." If every stroke is a note, and every note builds on the story, then for now my canvas sounds like a one man band. Yet with practices and determination, I know one day it will become a symphony. I have no delusions of becoming famous or rich, but wouldn't it nice to imagine that one day my art could wash away someone's blindness. Ah heck, I'd be happy just to know I made someone smile.

This article appears courtesy of FineArtViews.com by Clint Watson, a free email newsletter about art, marketing, inspiration and fine living for artists, collectors and galleries (and anyone else who loves art) . For a complimentary subscription, visit: http://www.fineartviews.com

Creepy Homework Makes More Creepy Homework

A couple of posts ago, I wrote about an assignment I had in college to draw a human skull with dramatic lighting. It completely creeped out my roommates, yet captured the awe and interest of my husband's roommates (before we were married, obviously). In fact, one of his roommates tracked me down a couple of years later when he needed to find some original artwork for a Photoshop class he was taking. His assignment was to take an original piece of artwork, and blend it with a photograph, making the two work together in harmony. He asked me if he could use my skull drawing and I consented. I pulled out the drawing so that he photographed it, then he left.

I didn't hear about the end results of his assignment until several months later. My husband and I ran into him and he told me how he used my drawing in his assignment. His professor was quite taken aback and speechless when he handed in his finished project!

As I think about these two stories, I have to laugh. I posted them mostly because it was Halloween, but also because I found them quite hilarious. I have always striven to create uplifting artwork that will inspire the heart and soul of my collectors. Yet here is one very innocent (and necessary) assignment that produced a very opposite effect! From now on, I believe I will avoid showing anyone my studies of human bones!

Rejection vs Acceptance

I am always amazed at the number of rejection letters I receive in comparison with acceptance letters. Like most artists, I receive far more rejection letters than acceptance letters. The trick is, to not take it personally and to keep looking for new opportunities. Creative people must have an extremely thick skin. If I took every rejection personally, I would end up living in a padded cell eating pH balanced food without any sugar. It is a good thing I don't take them personally!

The truth of the matter is that every opportunity has hundreds and sometimes thousands of hopeful participants. Most opportunities can only accept a couple hundred at the most. Every judge, curator, gallery, and collector has their own tastes as well as likes and dislikes when it comes to art. Just because you get rejected, does not mean you aren't creating good art, it simply means that whoever was making the decision liked another person's art better.

I honestly believe in something that a well respected (and collected) artist once told me. He said, "There is a buyer for every painting. You have to be patient. All it takes is one."

One is all it takes. One buyer, one judge that likes your work, one curator that enjoys your style, or one gallery that finds your work unique in order for you to get a letter of acceptance.