Monday, May 24, 2010

The feeling is amazing when I take a risk...

At first it is almost unthinkable. I weigh the pros and cons. I have a little argument with myself about the worth of the risk. I feel alternately giddy and terrified.
And then I decide to go for it, and it becomes very, very scary - putting myself out there, opening myself up to rejection. I think we are all just like Sally Fields, seeking validation: "You like me! You really like me!"
When it is my art I am risking, it's like putting a piece of myself out there, a little bit of my soul, a little chunk of who I am. My art is what I am on the INSIDE - the part I too often keep hidden. A reflection of both the joy and pain in my life; it's my heart.

And so, at precisely 9:12 a.m. this morning, I did it.
I entered three pieces of my art in a JURIED art show and - can you hear the chorus of angels singing Hallelujah? - they were accepted!!!
WAHOOOOOO!!! I gambled, I risked, I took a chance, I walked the tightrope and didn't fall!!
I have never entered a juried event before and really was on pins and needles all day. This was a BIG stretch for me. I even put the paintings in my car last night so I wouldn't chicken out.
But then, pulling into the arts center parking lot this morning, I felt waves of nerves again. Two of the paintings were VERY large and I thought possibly - with limited space at the center - they might be too large. Then I thought they might not fit the theme of spring. Then I thought the colors might be too bright. Or too dark. Or....whatever, just not right somehow.
Then I caught sight of some of the other entries and my heart really sank. Boy there are some AMAZING, let me say it again, AMAZING artists in Eastport....
I dropped them off in Eastport at the Eastport Arts Center - They will be part of the EAC's Festival of the Arts - Rite of Spring. A reception will be held this Friday and the show runs until June 26.
Are you proud of me? I am feeling quite full of myself this evening ...
Now we'll have to see if I have enough courage to go to the reception......deep breaths, Sharon. Listen to your mother - "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" - and go for it! And most importantly, what should I wear?

P.S. For those of you who are interested and familiar with my paintings, I submitted "My Grandmother's Dresses," "Forget Me Nots," and "Ghosts of Herring (a version similar to the one Russ and Lyn bought last fall.)"

7 comments:

Lili said...

Oh Sharon, what a wonderful giddy feeling this must have been for you! Congrats! After having this one under your belt, pretty soon I'm sure it will become "old hat" for you. Have fun at the reception! ~Lili

Libby's Library said...

Proud as a peacock!

Hazel Mitchell said...

Told you SO!! Well done and here's to many more ... I am going to try and make it up to see the show sometime - Mike and I deserve a day out at the seaside ...

love Hazel xxxxx

Gladys said...

Good for you! Yes take that risk! Always if you don't put yourself out there you will never know.

John and Susan said...

That is SO wonderful, Sharon. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU!!!

Joanie said...

Congratulations! We always seem to be our own worst critic...

Elenka said...

Good for YOU!!!!! It's a great feeling, isn't it. And all THREE were accepted! Wow. You go girl!