We put ourselves out there all the time as artists. We enter contests, apply for grants, approach galleries, submit to publishers/licensees, and so much more. Sometimes our work is accepted, other times it is not.
Being rejected is not fun.
But here are some tools to help you move on:
First, acknowledge that it didn’t work out. If it’s particularly painful, run around the room saying “ow ow ow” or have a good cry. Say a bad word. Whatever you need to do to acknowledge it and let it out. Then begin to let it go.
Don’t let it define you! It’s just one moment out of your lifetime. There are so many other good ones out there. The fact that you got rejected means you are putting yourself out there. Pat yourself on that back for giving it a shot! It’s a numbers game. The more you ask the more you get. If you always have a lot of submissions in progress, there is always a possibility of a “yes” down the road.
Learn from each experience and move on. Did you maybe submit to a publisher or show that wasn’t a good fit? Or was it simply a case of a judge who didn’t like your style? One year I submitted a painting to a show and it got rejected. The next year I screwed up and submitted the same painting to the show and received 1st place. Sometimes it’s not about you at all. Then again, sometimes it is. Take a look at each rejection objectively and determine your part in the whole thing.
No matter what, just keep going! When you plant a garden some seeds sprout and others fizzle. The more you plant the better the chance of a lush garden.
So there you go! For the latest tips and lessons, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel and visit Painterly.info