V is for Validation: Artistic Rejection and Recognition
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Thumbs up or down by Vlue
The vast majority of people whether they are aware of it or not are constantly seeking approval from others. Our day may be going great, and a slight negative comment or rude remark from someone can set us off balance. Outside validation from others affirms our self worth but any form of criticism or rejection can really hurt and diminish our self esteem.
“People who want the most approval get the least and people who need approval the least get the most.” ~ Wayne Dyer
Artists are even more vulnerable to outside validation because they are putting their work out there in front of others. Your work is an extension of yourself, and therefore criticism or rejection of your artistic work seems like a direct attack on your being. On the flip side, recognition and praise for your work validates your sense of self and may inflate your ego. As an artist you will definitely experience both approval and negative responses to your work. You must learn to accept both and not take either too seriously.
As a practicing artist and educator I’ve experienced both recognition and rejection. When I was in Art College I remember once being verbally attacked by another student during a painting critique. It was like someone was physically stabbing me and it hurt. Thankfully the art instructor handled the situation in such a professional manner and quickly turned the conversation around. Criticism is part of the creative process and you have to learn to deal with it. We all know constructive criticism is actually helpful, while destructive criticism is well …destructive! I’ve also had plenty of praise and positive reactions to my art when I have put it out there for others to see.
As an educator I’ve had my ideas rejected and even been sneered at by other professionals just because I am very right brained, think outside the box, and have an education philosophy that may be different from others. I’ve also received recognition as a teacher and have enjoyed plenty of praise and approval for the quality of my student’s art work.
In my artistic and educational activities I’ve learned to really not pay too much attention to either recognition or rejection from others because both quickly come and go. In other’s eyes one moment you can be a shining star, and the next you can be deeply flawed. So what? The only constant is your relationship with yourself, your inner compass, the quality of the work you produce and inspire others to produce, and the intention behind your actions.
Constantly seeking outside approval from others is a dangerous game to play. As a human being, and especially as an artist, you must free yourself from the need for outside validation as much as possible. You need to just do your own work and put it out there and not worry about either praise or criticism. You know that the greatest pleasure is the time spent alone painting in your studio, playing your guitar, writing poems, or whatever form your creative impulse follows. This is when you are in flow and accessing the meditative no-mind state through your creativity.
Rejection
“In the lives of artists there are a thousand varieties of criticism, much of it implied, and there are also a thousand varieties of rejection, much of it covert.” ~ Eric Maisel, Creativity Coach
If you are an artist and feel compelled to create you have to be prepared to handle rejection and overcome obstacles. I was watching a movie the other night “Coco and Igor” and the opening scene depicted the riot that happened in May 1913 when the composer Igor Stravinsky debuted his ballet The Rite of Spring in Paris. It is one of Stravinsky’s most famous works, and is now seen as a masterpiece, but on the opening night his creation actually caused a riot!
Audience members booed loudly because they were not familiar with the inharmonic notes and unconventional music. They did not like the sharp, angular, unnatural choreography or the primitive themes. The police finally had to come and break up the riot. Stravinsky was shocked and ran away before the show was over. Talk about criticism and rejection!
This is an extreme example, but all artists, whatever medium they use will experience criticism and rejection. It is part of the process and must be accepted if you are to survive as an artist. Do you think you are alone in experiencing rejection? Think again! Read some of these quotes on rejection by well known artists and successful individuals:
- “I had another dream about music critics. They were small and rodent-like with padlocked ears, as if they had stepped out of a painting by Goya.” ~ Igor Stravinsky
- “The world doesn’t understand me and I don’t understand the world, that’s why I’ve withdrawn from it.” ~ Paul Cezanne
- “Into each life some rain must fall, some days must be dark and dreary.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- “You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance.” ~ Ray Bradbury
- “My rejection at the Salon brought an end to my hesitation [to settle in Paris] since after this failure I can no longer claim to cope… alas, that fatal rejection has virtually taken the breath out of my mouth.” ~ Claude Monet
- “If you can’t paint, paint Big. ~ Audrey Flack
- “We keep going back, stronger, not weaker, because we will not allow rejection to beat us down. It will only strengthen our resolve. To be successful there is no other way.” ~ Earl G Graves
- “A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.” ~ Bo Bennett
- “Oh, great reviews are the worst. They mislead you more than the bad ones, because they only fuel your ego. Then you only want another one, like potato chips or something, and the best thing you get is fat and bloated.” ~ Chazz Palminteri
- “I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat.” ~ Sylvester Stallone
- “To escape criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing” ~ Elbert Hubbard
Recognition
“The truly special moments in art making lie in those moments when concept is converted to reality – those moments when the gulf is being crossed. Precise descriptions fail, but it connects to that wonderful condition in which the work seems to make itself and the artist serves only as a guide or mediator, allowing all things to be possible. All things considered, in most matters of art it is more nourishing to be a maker than a viewer.” ~ David Bayles & Ted Orland, Art & Fear
You may or may not experience recognition for your art. At a minimum you may not receive as much recognition or the type of approval you feel your art deserves. Some great films flop, and like Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring perhaps your art is ahead of it’s time. If you want to survive as an artist you have to accept this reality too. Again, you know that creating art is essential to your happiness – it is the art making that counts! This is when you experience flow and the no-mind state. Of course deep down we all want to be recognized as good artists and want our work to count. However, if recognition for your artistic work comes too soon it can be just as bad as if it never comes at all!
Do you think you are the only artist dealing with recognition issues? Think again! Read some of these quotes on recognition by well known artists and successful individuals:
- “Anything new, anything worth doing, can’t be recognized. People just don’t have that much vision.” ~ Pablo Picasso
- “There are two things people want more than sex and money …recognition and praise.” ~ Mary Kay Ash
- “What gives the artist real prestige is his imitators.” ~ Igor Stravinsky
- ”Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkenss that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?” ~ Nelson Mandela
- “Give me a museum and I’ll fill it”. ~ Pablo Picasso
- “I will tell you King’s First Law of Recognition: You never get it when you want it, and then when it comes, you get too much.” ~ Billie Jean King
- “Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition”. ~ Abraham Lincoln
- “Success is dangerous. One begins to copy oneself, and to copy oneself is more dangerous than to copy others. It leads to sterility.” ~ Pablo Picasso
SWSWSWSW
This popular acronym stands for “Some will. Some won’t. So what? Someone’s waiting!”
What this basically means is that some people will love your art. They probably have similar interests, backgrounds, or life experiences and can relate with your poems, stories, plays, or paintings. Or they may sense the vibration from your art and be attracted to that energy.
Some people won’t like your art because it does not match their interests or they don’t feel a strong connection with it. They may look at your work and think “not so great”. Just like you don’t automatically like every new person you meet, while you are instantly attracted to others even if you know nothing about the person. This is because you can sense the person’s energy and either are attracted or repelled. Same thing with your art – it will either vibrate with a person or it won’t.
So what?
Your art is exactly what someone out there is looking for! Someone’s waiting for your unique brand of art. You are a unique individual and the way only you can express your creative gifts is just what will resonate with another person and may bring beauty, joy, and healing to their lives. Therefore it is a necessity that you ignore all your fears and worries based on ideas about either future artistic recognition or rejection. Get in the studio and start painting, get out your pen and start writing, take out your camera and start shooting …do whatever your artistic muse is calling you to do! Then go and share it with the word!
Do you worry too much about others criticizing your art?
Are you afraid of artistic success and recognition?
Are you afraid of artistic failure?
Resources:
Books:
“Art and Fear” by David Bayles and Ted Orland
“Creativity for Life” by Eric Maisel
Website:
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