So, I've been painting a while, and entering shows. I feel very honored to have received awards.
In the suburb I live in, there is a local fine arts group. I have entered their shows for years. Once I won a second place for a painting, and they spelled my name wrong on the certificate. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, and everything about the show felt awkward. I showed up for the artist reception. I saw name tags on a table, and inquired, and awkwardly I was told that only the members had name tags. So...I stayed. Probably an hour or so. And then I left. I had no idea that they announced the winners after I left. Eventually I picked up the painting, the certificate, (with my name spelled wrong), and my ribbon. I thought...I'll do better next time. I've entered some things in shows, and I'm honored when I win anything, or am selected to participate. It's an amazing feeling, to see my art up there with some really great paintings. Over time, I've gotten the feel for how it works. Website gives you instructions, follow instructions, no one will ever say anything about the quality of your piece. You may win something. Go home. Don't forget your painting.
One of the local places where I've shown, gives the participants name tags. This is a great thing to do. The artists can seek each other out, talk about art. I love that!
This week, I entered two pieces. Even though I've done this now a few times, it's still putting yourself out there. Uncomfortable. Exciting. Bewildering.
I'd had a distracting day on Wednesday, the day I was supposed to drop my paintings off. An emotional day. I laid the painting, "Corridor" in the back of my SUV. My daughter was talking about very serious things, as teenagers tend to do, when you get in the car. I do not blame her for what happened next, but I laid the next painting, right on top of the first. I couldn't tell you now what I was thinking. When I went to turn it in, I discovered the tear. There was a tiny tear. I was shocked. I had no idea what to do. The nice lady, (Thank you nice lady), just took it. She just said, "Oh, no one will see it." I left...kind of...stunned.
They will be showing my painting...with a hole in it. It had been a stressful, crumby week for me, and I had put a hole in my painting. All I could imagine, was people wondering, "Wow, great painting...why did they show it with a hole in it??" It felt unprofessional. Embarrassing. Scary.
Luckily, I have an amazing ability to put things in perspective.
By the time Sunday came, I was okay. Whatever. This will be fun.
We walked in, and immediately, I saw the painting, "Grey" had a ribbon on it. As I approached, it was an Honorable Mention. I was pleased, surprised, and honored. I really was. The Judge was someone I had heard of, and who I respected, and as I looked around, the competition was amazing. This year, the show was really much more professional. A nice showing. Okay. Whew. No one seemed to care that I put a hole in my canvas. One piece was so wonderful! It was abstract and I spent a lot of time looking at it. It was very crowded. Overwhelming. Fun.
At the appointed time, we went to retrieve the paintings. I had my receipt. The person, with the list, needed the number off of the name tag. I just went and got the name tag. As I did, I noticed...the painting names were switched. Huh. I grabbed my paintings, my ribbon, etc. and went home.
As I got ready to relax with my family, I realized...maybe the painting that I thought won an honorable mention, did not....maybe...it was the one with the hole in it.
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