Disappointment is an understatement! Sometimes things happen that just reinforce my usual superstition about telling ANYONE about something good that might be coming up until I know it’s all a go. DID I do it this time?, NO, NO, NO!! So I can tell myself, “I told you so. …you shoulda kept your big mouth shut”.

I was so excited to have been contacted out of the blue by a really good gallery in southern CA about my work. I noted from their website that I knew one of the artists and even contacted him to ask about the gallery. He said they were great….but a short season due to their location. So I get all excited, spend a HUGE amount of time getting some small pieces ready to ship to them, along with all the other stuff for a portfolio and actual printed out imagery with information……….in other words I invested a lot of my time. Even more than that, I invested myself. They got the small pieces today and immediately said they wouldn’t work for their gallery……….seems they sell work for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Maybe I should keep my big mouth shut now as well. But knowing how artists are…oh well, most people I have to admit. ….it’s a real let down and I’m a real highs and lows person although generally positive.

I had this happen with a gallery in San Francisco, too, a few years ago. Only that guy was a REAL jerk. I can only tell myself now that I was lucky to not be doing business with him. This case is just one of those where some people either do not care or just don’t realize the blow this deals to an artist’s ego. I’m still scratching my head about the work not being suitable since it looks just like it did on the website and they were the ones who chose the pieces to view. I would have sent something else if they hadn’t. I will say that at least it didn’t take a great monetary investment to send the small pieces which is what the director had in mind I think. That may not have made any difference but would have been more representative of all my work. Surely having low prices compared to the rest in their gallery isn’t a total problem………prices can be raised.

Good thing I don’t have any wine in the house or I would be drinking several glasses right now.

The next thing I always tell myself when something doesn’t go as I wanted or planned or hoped………there was a reason for all this and it’s going to be that something better for me is coming down the road and now I’ll be free to do whatever it turns out to be. So quit being disappointed or bummed out by a rejection and get back in the studio. When you sign on to being an artist rejection is something you face all too often. I must say though……..it doesn’t get any easier with practice.

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