How does one grow thicker skin?

October Reader · 01-11-2005, 12:51 PM

Leslie, I appreciate your sentiment as I do with everyone's post here. Some comments are so poignant that I am going to review them often as guidance.

It's good to be aware. It probably is healthy not to pin one's hope entirely on a single venue. Though while making an attempt, I sense it's more beneficial to give a hearty try than otherwise.

Elizabeth Schott · 01-11-2005, 01:49 PM

October, first I love your painting! Don't get hung up on the auction thing, just remember your's might not have gone but the stool painted like a cow eating grass likely went for big bucks!

The getting over thin skin, well I might be wrong, but I don't think this is something you necessarily ever get over. I think it's a tool to keep yourself getting better; like the stage actress who gets nervous before every performance.

I really believe the old saying "the more I learn, the more I learn I do not know" really applies to this field of visual arts. The proof is hanging on the wall. I, to this day, feel a great sense of pride with every painting I finish - only to finish the next and wish I could go and get back the ones done before. I kick myself for even selling portraits "before my time"!

Taking workshops has helped me learn a lot of the elements of painting people, reading this forum keeps my enthusiasm up and actually picking up a brush affirms my love of painting.

I think your posted image is so refreshing and very different, I would keep hold of that and feel good about myself. It is a niche market and a very difficult one to crack. Read every bit of information Michelle R. posts about marketing through auctions, she is a wiz kid!

And... when you think you are bad, go to a smaller museum and look at some of the "lesser" works of well known artist. HA, then you'll smile!

October Reader · 01-11-2005, 08:58 PM

Beth, your stage fright metaphor definitely puts the matter into perspective. Thank you for your kind words.

To detach self-worth from how others perceive one's own creation calls for a levelheadedness that I guess many people, not just artists must learn to cultivate. Say an inventor or a shop keeper. It's really a necessary life tool I suppose. In that sense I hope time will be a friend.

It's rather comical at times to see famous successful people overreact to criticism or failure. Which goes to show nobody is immune from such human frailty.

Sharon Knettell · 01-12-2005, 09:43 AM

I offered to do a drawing as a part of a silent auction at a fund raiser. It was for a favorite charity and is one I still participate in. The auction took place at a dinner for a private state animal welfare organization. I knew many of the people there, quite a few of them were well heeled to say the least. I got NOT A SINGLE offer.

To say I slunk home was an understatement. This embarrassment happened only a few years ago.

Michele Rushworth · 01-12-2005, 10:14 AM

On the other hand, my biggest auction success was when I donated a portrait at a private school fundraiser a couple of years ago. The winning bidder was a Microsoft billionaire. I painted their oldest child (which involved an upgrade that brought me income) and I will also be painting each one of their five kids at full price, over time. Their friends and neighbors have a lot more money than my friends and neighbors so there may be additional referrals over time, too.

Another private school auction success was when a head and shoulders portrait I donated turned into two people, three quarter length with background (additonal income over what I donated). I later got a referral for another two person, three quarter length portrait with background from that, and more referrals may come from eventually, too.

Mary Sparrow · 01-12-2005, 10:43 AM

Sharon, I find that hard to believe!

I have had success with auctions. The first one I ever participated in was at the Heart Ball for the American Heart Association. Needless to say there were plenty of wealthy people, most of which were doctors. I remember sitting there frozen scared when the time came to auction of my portrait, I wanted to flee the room. To my surprise it brought in more money than any other object, I laughed to myself because it brought in more than double what I would have charged had they come directly to me.

I can't say that I know for sure that any of my commissions came directly from participating in an auction, but just having my art visible to many people was worth it. I do know that I got one portrait specifically commissioned THREE YEARS after the woman saw one hanging in a Designer House. She had kept my card until her daughter was the age she wanted to have her painted.

Linda Brandon · 01-12-2005, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary Smith

I laughed to myself because it brought in more than double what I would have charged had they come directly to me.

Hooray Mary!

Sharon, I also find that really hard to believe! Guess you should have offered to paint some pets at that event. There are a lot of people out there that would rather have a pet portrait than a human on the wall.

Mike McCarty · 01-12-2005, 11:29 AM

In 2002 and 2003 I donated a charcoal portrait to my daughters annual school auction. Each year the portrait was purchased. Each year I could not, after many attempts, get the person to actually allow me to do the work. They paid the price so it was just a matter of giving me someone for thirty minutes so that I could take a few photos.

At some point you have to conclude that it's no just you that is being rejected, but art itself.