Saturday, October 2, 2010

THERE HAVE TO BE LOSERS FOR WINNERS TO BE

Today, I received a package in the mail - the return of my cd of entries for the Viewpoint Show.  Not one of the 3 entries got in.  But it was a nice rejection letter.

There have to be losers
for winners to be.
There has to be darkness
for the light to be seen.

So...maybe I'm in a Zen mood.  Or it could be the Vanilla Latte I had and the caffeine that's buzzing through my system right now (I don't do caffeine very often and when I do, I can feel it).

But I truly don't care. 

I may change my mind tomorrow.

But that's another day...

Here are the three paintings (all strong entries, I thought) entered this year...

15 comments:

Kathy Wirth said...

My two entries didn't get in either! Oh well...

Vicki Greene said...

Rhonda, I am sorry that these paintings were not accepted into the show but you are right, they are strong paintings. Your work is excellent and just did not speak to this particular judge. Keep painting, keep entering. You are an excellent artist with something to say so do not let this slow you down one little bit.

Christiane Kingsley said...

Rhonda,
Just the fact that you had entries that you were happy with is a reward in itself. Congratulations on submitting three excellent entries as these.

Gaylynn said...

I too did not get my two entries in. The odds were against us with so many entries and only a handful accepted. Oh, well there is next year :-)

Ann Buckner said...

I hope you enter these in other shows, Rhonda. You may receive a totally different response. Love that floral.

Elizabeth Seaver said...

I remember when you were working on the middle of the three you entered. It is one of my absolute favorites of your work. It's too bad the juror did not see things your way. Your attitude is just right (and if it changes tomorrow, that will be fine, too!) Keep painting!!

Nick said...

It's a shame there is not time enough for judges to tell artists why something was rejected (or accepted). It would really help the artist. As a judge I have wanted to explain why I rejected something, especially when it was for a reason or reasons that might not be apparent. There is a difficult grey area where resides a lot of work that conceptually is not my cup of tea, but well-painted, as well as stuff that is up my alley but has (IMO)some serious design flaw. A tricky business that can gain you a friend for life here and there, and bunch of others who wonder how in the world you were hired as a judge!

RH Carpenter said...

Well, Kathy and Gaylynn, we can commiserate together - now we know 3 good artists who didn't get in. It will be interesting to see who and what did get in this year. And we have to take it all with a big grain of salt and remember - it was just one person's opinion.

Thanks so much, Vicki, Christiane, Prabha, and Ann for stopping by, reading and commenting and offering such a big helping of SUPPORT! My readers ROCK!

Elizabeth, I seem to want to be sad about it, thinking about it, but then I say, what the hell, it's just one show, so maybe my skin is thickening!!

Nick, judging has to be a difficult process. And it would be better to get a little postcard note saying why your work wasn't accepted - so you know what put off that particular judge. I had to laugh about making friends - yeah, I don't think this judge will be on my Christmas list this year! ha ha It's always good to get your take on things as you're out there doing workshops and judging shows and have been on both sides of the artistic fence. I'm taking my camera to the next GCWS meeting when the paintings will be up to see what got in - I may not agree with any of them or see that they were of such a high caliber that mine didn't have a chance (one has to be honest, even if it stings a bit). Hope you are headache free.

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Rhonda,

I don't think it was a matter of your paintings "putting off" the judge; but, rather, the judge may have found your paintings to be strong and well-done but another equally strong and well-done painting "spoke" to him/her more than yours.

I am very much impressed with the uniqueness of your work, it makes for very strong and appealing paintings, so I am sorry these did not make it into this show. But, there will be other shows and the unique qualities of your work may speak to another judge!

debwardart said...

So sorry, but try again next year - and never let a rejection get you down.
I like Nick's comment that he would like to be able to tell everyone why they were rejected - but imagine the time that would take, on top of judging; sadly, impossible. He makes an interesting point from the juror's perspective. Sometimes it's simply the image not being in focus, or having extraneous material in view. Sometimes it's not following the specific rules for the specific show. There are many reasons, but there are many other shows to enter, too! When you have a strong piece, keep entering!

Gary L. Everest said...

Hi Rhonda,
My latest post echoes yours today. I like your entries, too, though that's little consolation. As I have been wisely counseled...just keep painting and never forget the reason you do paint! Just know you are not alone as nearly every one of your followers and site visitors has an intimate knowledge of your feelings today.
Press-On,
Gary.

RH Carpenter said...

Hey, Susan, thanks for the supporting comments on this one. I'm really not upset or down about it - que sera sera (bet you have that song in your head now!!)

Deb, you're right - there's no way of knowing why a painting doesn't get in unless the judge tells you - and they ain't paid to critique, just say yea or nay.

Gary, thanks so much for the support! I know, we've all been there - someone says, Well....I'm not sure...when you show them something you really love; or a judge says No, thanks anyway when you enter a juried show. My goal is to get into more juried shows throughout the next few years - which means making a calendar of events and those that come up that I want to try my hand at. But then again, I paint because, well, I don't seem able to stop! ha ha

Teresa Palomar Lois said...

Well, judging art is such a subjetive thing, it's a pity that none of them were accepted this time (I still ove those crows of yours) but there will be more events. At least they sent you a letter! :D

Pam Johnson Brickell said...

Sorry to hear the news, Rhonda. You have a good 'tude.
It's always a guessing game when entering shows. I love the paintings you chose. The middle is my fave.
To next year!

RH Carpenter said...

Teresa, it's a learning process - learning how to hear "no" and not turning into a 2-year-old and having a tantrum :) ha ha

Pam, you're right - it really isn't high on my list of things to worry about right now - hey, maybe thinking bigger is expanding more than my brush and paper sizes?!?