"Do you collect art?"

That is the question of the day. Or week, month, I should say. It's a very reasonable question to ask every patron who visits this show, who is interested in my work.

I shouldn't be embarrassed by it, everyone coming through the doors knows the show is full of artists selling their art; it's not a museum. I've done all but ask this question and have received my answers from body language the majority of the time. A few kind souls were gracious enough to share that they were only looking, not art buyers at all and they understood respectfully my position. That is rare. Art can be enjoyed by all, whether they're collectors or not. At the same time, this is my livlihood and I have every right to know who I'm communicating with. I'm patiently waiting for my buyers, and like matchmaking, I'm sure I'll know them when I see them. We are exactly 1/2 way through this show.

The public venue is very colorful, to put it lightly. 97% of the people are very kind in their critique of your work. I have run into a few, however, that, for whatever reason, just choose to be insulting. Maybe they had a quarrel before the show, maybe you represent something they never tried and for the moment, you have a bullseye on your back, kinda like that bully from gradeschool. Somehow you find it in yourself to be diplomatic because truly, their problem doesn't need to become yours.

I think the sweetest comments I've had involve what I've achieved while young. Funny, in art I tend to see the skills people have, age doesn't enter in at all. Heart and passion can bend time, speed it up or slow it down depending on your will. I will share that while exhibiting in the show, I always do my best work. The artists and new friends you make push you in ways you don't even realize may be your strengths. It's like one huge workshop! Until next time-

"You're not worth anyone's time, period!"

You are so ignorant and arrogant, I'm done. You're not worth anyone's time period, I'll never refer anyone to you or the gallery for sales.

Do not contact me again-
Deborah

This was how I ended my last correspondence with a gallery out in Laguna Beach. How on earth did this become so escalated? It truly appeared as though my work would fit there. In fact, it was a very eclectic gallery, much like the other two I'm in, one back home in AZ and the other in CO. One of the artists in the gallery, I exhibited with earlier this year in a national, annual, juried show. So I got the contact card of who to submit my work to and did that very night, introducing myself and asking for his thoughts and feedback.

The response was/is the most disrespectful and unprofessional I have ever received.

"not good enough for us. thx"

It's a good thing this is not my first rodeo....a few years ago that response would have completely crushed me, and put a dead halt on speaking to galleries. Only a coward too spineless/non creative to create his own work and hang on a wall for others to critique, hides behind selling another's work as his leverage to make this kind of statement. Somewhere in the process of selling art, he has deemed himself above it, like a judge passing law of what is acceptable, and what is not, what meets his criteria and personal tastes. It is not uncommon for your work to pass through this standard, salespeople sell what they like. It they don't like your work for whatever reason, the above response can happen. It does not matter if your work is good, and they will hold your entire self-image in the balance, if you let them. This was beyond a gallery just stating what works for them, what doesn't. I don't care who you are, or who you think you are - you don't treat people this way.

I responded the most diplomatic way possible, that "he was classless, rude, unprofessional and disrespectful". Like most arrogant people who do not see themselves, he dismissed it as nothing, responding below:

"sometimes we dont have the time to massage your feelings. our job is to sell not curry your favor. listen you asked me for my thoughts in your original email. I gave them to you now you are crying. Grow some skin in this business."

I returned: "Don't patronize me, the choice to show class takes no more time than being rude. Your job includes respect for everyone who comes through those doors, for current sales and future ones."

Truth is, if you listen to these people they can affect you going forward and creating. It's a good thing I believe in my work and know his statement is false. It is good enough for the gallery, but not good enough for him - that's the difference. And it never will be, for two reasons:

1) He was deconstructive in his opinion, no professional foundation to stand on, art-wise. I've rarely seen a situation jump from unprofessional to professional. He abused his power, meant to derail me with his arrogance and was all right with it.

2) I will not be altering my course or work or style to meet what this person considers to be good enough, nor ever have him represent me in the future, by choice.

Life is too short, do not waste your time on these unworthy, trying to prove to them you are. We're all at different levels in our craft, those that are respectful and professional are the only ones in this field worth working with, and representing your art. As for the the jerk above, I documented everything, passed it on the owner's son; they needed to know who it was representing them.

A few months later, my point was proven. He'd put me on their mailing list and sent a notice out of specials and sales happening in the gallery....many artists collect other artists' work. I shot a reminder back of our previous experience, not only will I never purchase from him - but everyone I know is advised to go elsewhere as well. Take me off your list. All this came from his choice to handle the matter in which he did.

Happy New Year

Criticism II

Sorry for the delay here, I've been on travel. It's so fitting this entry follows the last post. Since my recent work has expanded into wildlife, I decided to follow up with a gallery I've had my eye on for awhile. It's one of the top galleries in town, very reputable. Not only do they feature high-end art, they have the clients to follow and they're very good to their artists. They have a reputation of paying when the work sells. (This topic is another blog post! I'll come back to it, promise) A little backstory here, my last correspondence was 2 years ago;  it's good, when possible not to burn your bridges, you never know when you'll need them again. An artist currently in the gallery suggested I contact them when I showed him my horses back in 2007.

So I emailed this contact with examples of my work, (all horses - I was fairly new at them, experiencing with a looser, impressionistic style). He thanked me and had problems with my rendering of their anatomy. Well to be honest, he ripped my work up one side and down the other.....I was beginning to wonder why my artist friend had referred me.....but I thanked this contact for his time and asked if I may follow up in the future, which he welcomed. 

But inside I was fuming!!

Confused, defeated, but knowing I still had talent and needed to continue, I set this experience aside - keeping a critical eye on my anatomy of horses.

And now, a few years later with wildlife subjects added, I decided to follow up. I'm going to paste his response below:

Deborah,

Thank you for your email and photos.  You have some very nice paintings in this group.  My main concern is the backgrounds of the paintings.  Not very exciting.  I know, you want to focus on the animal(s) but there still needs to be some interest there.  Also, the separation between your subject and the background is not evident.  The wolf painting is a good example of this.  I like how you executed the wolf but the background seems to be right on top of him/her.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

Though my work may not be "there" for him just yet, this response and critique is much improved from our last.  He likes my animals and has no problem with the anatomy, and this time it's a selection of multiple species. His concern is backgrounds; which is a relief. Honestly, backgrounds do baffle me, they're not the focus of my work - the animal is. I have some ideas for experimentation in my next series of works.

He knows his gallery and clients, and what sells. Playing with some background changes does not compromise my artistic integrity or alter the focus of my works. Some artists think any suggestion of change means to forfeit their vision and to them I ask: Is it really? Though I may come from an emotionally invested angle with my work, he views it as commodity; it's a product. The difference between art as a livelihood vs. art as a hobby, comes down to this:

Is the work sellable? 

Criticism

Touchy subject. To take criticism means to accept rejection, that your status quo isn't quite cutting it. Not fun! Which is why I will always come back to the form of criticism itself, is it constructive? 

I only accept the constructive version, have no ear for the other. Not that it hasn't found me. It's my belief that people who can constructively give criticism, have your best interest at heart. The other, is too self-absorbed to extend an interest beyond themselves....which is why they don't care how the criticism is received. It means more to their ego to use some temporary authority and power than to actually help.  

Ask yourself at least these 2 questions during criticism:

Is it constructive?

If so, are they qualified to be giving you advice?

Be open to things that can improve your work, be critical of yourself, but also be true to yourself, your vision.