Anyways, I can't believe I didn't post this sooner! Earlier in the semester I was chosen as being one of seven students from my college to be showcased in the Figge Art Museum college invitational. It was my second year in the college invitational, two in the same year technically since the last reception was in February (they had it early this time around), and I was really hoping to win a prize this year with my series I had worked so hard on. Unfortunately, I didn't get anything. But I'm still very proud of my Twisty Trees and I intend on furthering the series even more once I have some extra time and ideas for it! I was also going to vlog this and have it on my YouTube channel for you all to see, but you'll understand why I didn't when you read further on.
If you've been following me for a while, you know I've had this series going since I was a senior in high school, and I feel like it has nowhere to go but up! Every time I make a piece for my series, I learn something from it, and it gives me a reason to try new color schemes, techniques, maybe a new media or texture I can utilize, there are so many possibilities and scenarios I can put these trees I've created in that it's almost overwhelming! I can truly see my progress and improvement through these pieces that it makes me ready to do more!
And I wouldn't have been able to further my talents without the help of my professor, David Murray! I was the first one to take his Portfolio Development class and I would honestly take it again if I could! He taught me so much about how a series works and what the best ones look like, and he always encouraged me to do more and strive for the best outcome of a piece, to help it reach its, and my, full potential. (But don't tell him I said all of this nice stuff, I'll never hear the end of it! ;)
The College Invitational had an awesome turnout, even more people than last year! It was so claustrophobic (and I usually don't get bothered by that kind of stuff) that it was hard to even see most of the artwork. The only time I saw my artwork was when these pictures were taken with me in front of it, other than that I tried my best to check out the other works, but I didn't even really get the chance to look at them closely like I wanted to. I was going to vlog, but with all the people talking to me, meeting up with old friends from past semesters, and just trying to maneuver around in there, it was impossible to even look at my phone let alone vlog any of it.
Overall, it was a very nice reception and all the people who placed totally deserved it! One of the seven students who were chosen from my college to be shown got honorable mention even! So even though I didn't get awarded anything, I'm glad the people who did place got what they did. Also, I had the BEST support group ever through this whole series and they're the ones who have come to all of my art shows: My mom, dad, and Austin! I couldn't ask for a better support group to always have my back. <3
I also have a bunch of friends that have my back too, and I know I can always come to them for critiques, fun conversations, and art talks! It was so nice to see everyone there, even some came in from out of town!!
I never really told anyone this, but I sort of set a very large ultimatum for this show. I've been in several shows and I've never placed. I got an honorable mention in the student show last year and I've been awarded 2nd place in the art department's magazine they put out every 2 years or so. But I've never won in an ACTUAL art show. And the closer graduation gets, the more I'm starting to doubt myself. I had put this massive ultimatum over my head, that if I didn't place in this show, art just wasn't my thing and I should move on and try and find something else for a career.
After all the prizes were announced, and I had come out empty handed, I actually didn't feel as crushed as I thought I would. Maybe I had talked myself into knowing I wouldn't get anything from this show that made me expect it, maybe I had grown up a little since my last show. I still don't really know why I was so calm about the fact that this series I had worked on, though it's just a small chunk of it, for so long hadn't won anything. My guess, now that it's been almost a month since the event, is that I'm finally accepting that art shows are all just the judge's opinions and not a reflection of my talent. There were plenty of art pieces there I personally would have had as first, second, third, and so on. But they were in the same boat as I was. I like to think I'm growing up a little bit when I can handle a loss like that, but even just being chosen to be in a museum is pretty impressive.
Am I still disappointed I didn't get anything from the show? You bet. Am I still going to quit art? Not in the way I originally planned to. I'm not "quitting" art, per say. I'm more accepting the fact that there's nothing, job wise, around here for what I want to do besides doing side jobs, commissions, etc. I do plan on opening an Etsy more toward graduation so I can hopefully have a side/fun income along with a new scary adult full time job. I still have a lot of research to do about that, but I'm excited for it because I feel I could actually be good at that kind of thing.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that even if you feel like "quitting" a passion, or something you just enjoy doing, try looking at it from a different angle or figure out truly WHY you're wanting to stop doing something you enjoy. I figured out I'm bummed that I can't go somewhere and do MY art all day and get paid for it, but there's nothing I can do about that right now. So I'll make due with what I have, and what I CAN do at this time.
So hopefully there was something in this that inspired you to keep going, because I'm glad I decided to, and you should too. <3
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