I had a full day at school doing my printmaking, I had huge success with the girl in the Forest print..then came home and got the mail and found 3 rejection letters all on the same day! I mean, The Australian Print Council – REJECTION! The Mornington National Gallery Works on Paper – REJECTION! and another dumb printmaking award not worth mentioning because well I don’t care anymore! I am too sensitive for all this competitivenss stuff….I mean, how come they come on the same day, is God trying to tell me something. My prints today were superb and I did reduction prints that are gorgeous…and yet, alas, bummed out and tired. Why do I want it so badly…I want it because, .....gosh will have to think about it. rambling and tired. Thanks for listening, off to read all THREE of my letters again for more gruelling self punishing…b
Rose Moxon, 2 months ago
oh geesh im sorry to read this. keep trying! your work is lovely. cheers, rose
vanesse, 2 months ago
awww honey, never…NEVER give up!!! your work is fabulous!!!
botanicali, 2 months ago
Maybe it was God giving you the chance to feel it hard and fast, rather than three consecutive days of rejection? Just a thought. I know I don’t mind my birthday cards arriving days late, coz it strings out the joy. Anyway good on you for having the courage to enter! Hope it doesn’t put you off doing it again.
Take care,
Alison
vanesse, 2 months ago
tread on for the yes’s…..
Barssel, 2 months ago
Oh BillyL…...................if I had a dollar for every letter of rejection I have recieved then I wouldn’t be driving a beat up old four wheel drive….................its just part of the journey. You know your work is great and getting better…...............thats all that matters.
BillyLee, 2 months ago
Yea, thanks guys, I thought it was getting better in my heart, I just was holding out for the mail every single day, I just feel tired today, my woodcut went well today but the etching failed. I am tired, I suppose I should realize that they said in the letter , well one of them, that 440 people entered and 46 got in, but damn it I wanted to be one of the 46 and this is all on the heals of being rejected from the SHE competition in Dandenong at the beginning of the year. I hear ya though, I will keep trying, just not this week. I need a rest from trying….Billy
Sorina Williams, 2 months ago
I think you need to keep pushing and believe in yourself!! Your work is great! Keep at it! These rejections mean nothing.
BLYTHART, 2 months ago
Hi BillyLee, I know this may seem like cold comfort at the moment, but think …. 393 people are all feeling exactly the same way as you are at this moment. Please don’t take any of what’s happened as being personal to you. Daniel Defoe took his now famous book Robinson Crusoe to twenty publishers before it was accepted and it has been a best seller for 250 years. Albert Enstein failed his first college entrance exam. Did those guys give up? No … and neither will you. Girl In The Forest proved you can do it .. and you will succeed again … and again … and again … put a smile on your face, pick yourself up and start all over again … go for it girl!
Jodie Elchah, 2 months ago
Hi BillyLee
Don’t give up, its just a journey, you will get there and be much stronger for it.
Your work is brilliant
Jodie
montdragon, 2 months ago
When it rains it pours an old cliché so candid and genuine to post about rejections and disappointments…the rejections do make you more determined even if you are an accomplished artist. You should frame the rejections or laminate them to use as coasters for the libations of your choice.
Mariam Muradian, 2 months ago
I will second the coaster idea! Good one. I usually set a match to them, make a cozy bonfire, roast marshmallows!
Billy, you know how hard you are working and how much you are learning and how your art is ripening, and we all know this of you as well!
Poo! There is something even better around the corner, something uniquely suited for Billy! It will be special! We will celebrate with you! Think what shoes you will wear to your big opening….aahhh hell, go put those heels on now!...toss those rejections onto the kitchen floor…ask David to dance…and the two of you dance over them! Or a feverish solo flamenco!
I have no doubt you will find your own flavored creative way of dealing with these….
On your side and in your corner, love.
Mariammmmm
ginnymac, 2 months ago
oh dear know how you feel but grrrr love a $ for every tear I’ve shed,, fabulous posts here of support! so much good advice and words of knowledge.
Paul Lindenberg, 2 months ago
Hey BliilyLee. Don’t take it to heart. Your stuff is great, even if it is only recognised by your peers.
I’ve been on RedBubble© for awhile and their ‘marketing’ of our beloved images as printed output to the great unwashed out there is a little bit thin, to say the least. There are of course ‘other’ sites offering to ‘market & sell’ prints. It’s just too big a market out there. If you want to sell your prints, do it yourself.
bellebuckley, 2 months ago
burn them billy burn them its not very constructive but it might help you let go of the bumed feelings, onward and upward :)
Elaine van Dyk, 2 months ago
BillyLee, you know your work is good, and rejections are based on a very small number of people judging the work at any one time, so don’t take the knock-backs too much to heart. After all, there are worse things in life, such as being passionately creative and being denied an outlet for it! At least you know, and a lot of other people know that you can and will continue to create many good works. Knock-backs make us appreciate the acceptances so much more. So, chin-up and keep submitting your work, and sit back and enjoy a glass of red!
Jan Piller, 2 months ago
That’s where the term “starving artist” comes from!! So there are atists and there are quitters. I don’t think you’re a quitter. That can only make you an artist. Yup – onward and upward!!
GuygoX, 2 months ago
live for the failures and accept the successes
as they come without expectations.
Rejection does not mean failure
,just try better not harder,
you’ll get what you’re after in good time.
Carl Chick, 2 months ago
God isn’t trying to tell you anything. The postman is…and no one should care what the postman has to say. Keep at it.
christiane, 2 months ago
Ok so a couple of rejection letters – just put them away and when you are extremely successful then you can pull them out again and have a good laugh. When you least expect it you will be recognized for the creative artist you are!
Marilyn Brown, 2 months ago
Can’t tell you how many rejections I’ve had…heaps! It knocks the wind out of your sails for a while, but like Elaine says, you would be much more devastated if someone told you you were never allowed to create anymore!
Tonia Composto, 2 months ago
Not to worry Billy
I get rejection letters all the time, It’s a numbers game
Be happy and keep doing your beautiful art. When is your next exhibition?
I’m in Melbourne as well and would love to see your stuff open to the world
I’m planning one for the end of the year, I’ll be sure to let you know
BillyLee, 2 months ago
GUESS WHAT! I applied for a Drawing and Printmaking Competition in Fitzroy and yes, you guessed it, I got in, so now I am preparing one of each and then I will be in Fitzroy Brunswick STreet Gallery on April the 24th! Thanks for all your support, gosh life is so full of the ups and downs who can keep up with me! I should post this in the journal but hope you all come back and read it….so I don’t get into trouble for posting too many journals. But , yes, will let you know when the show is etc and hope that Tonia can come and other Melbournites. Billy
BillyLee, 2 months ago
I meant the Art Almanac magazine and got in…to a Fitzroy Gallery. Gosh so tired. B
JakkiO, 2 months ago
Fab Billy! Expect to be surprised :)
trennea, 2 months ago
Maybe it is because your work is meant for something bigger.
Jason Hampton ..., 2 months ago
Billy the Art Scene in this country seems to be run my a conservative mafia intent on creating a set of rules for artists to abide by…ART IS ABOUT BREAKING RULES!!!
Keep on keep on keeping on and don’t loose your wonderful spirit!