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Making art takes courage.  The very act of creating a piece of art and then showing it to the world - an often overly critical world - can be terrifying.  Compliments can lift our spirits, disinterest or rejection can be disheartening at the very least.   Art emanates from the soul, and to put your soul on display for all the world to critique is not for the faint of heart.

To say that art is subjective is an overused understatement.  What is boring, uninspiring, or just plain ugly to one person can be truly beautiful to another.   An artist friend of mine once entered one of her lovely paintings into a monthly juried show only to have it rejected by the show juror.  Undaunted, she entered the same painting the very next month.  This time a different juror not only accepted it but awarded it First Place! 

Another artist I know, very skilled at painting beautifully expressive female figures, once remarked to me that she “didn’t know why she bothered.”  Her art wasn’t selling, nor was it getting much interest, and she was feeling pretty negative about the time she was spending on it.  I was amazed, because I found her paintings truly uplifting and awe-inspiring and I’m sure other people did as well.  

So why do we bother?  The actress Stella Adler said “Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.”  That’s why.  If nothing else, art serves as a sort of connection to our soul.  And, if we’re lucky it touches the soul of someone else out there in the cosmos – the viewer who enjoys, or (fingers crossed) – purchases our art. 

"Crystal & Pearls", watercolor on paper

Over the years I’ve learned to be a lot less sensitive to other people’s opinion of my work, but it has been challenging.   Many years ago I belonged to an art organization that had monthly member shows.  After having a painting accepted into one of the shows, (“Crystal & Pearls”) I volunteered to work at the gallery for an afternoon.  A couple of ladies walked in, commenting on the paintings hanging on the wall.  As I was sitting at the desk I could hear their conversations about each the paintings.  When they came to my piece, one said to the other, “what do you think of this one - boring, huh?”  Not exactly the reaction I was hoping for!  I was crushed.  The funny thing is, that painting went on to win the People’s Choice award for that show and a few months later was purchased by a very happy buyer.  A successful painting?  In my opinion, yes.  I never expected it to end up in the Louvre or anything, but in some small way, that painting was an expression of who I was.  The fact that someone left my studio with that painting under her arm and a smile on her face gave me tremendous satisfaction.  And more importantly, a real sense of connection – and that makes it all worthwhile. 

The business heads out there might disagree, but I do believe that efforts we artists pursue, even if they don’t benefit us materially, make a positive impact on our world.  We all long to express who we are, but just that effort takes considerable courage for most people.  The creators among us should rejoice.   Our intrepid pursuit to make and show our art lends a positive energy to the universe, energy that in some small way celebrates the human experience.  It may take guts (no sissies here!) and force us out of our comfort zones, but yes, it is worth the effort.