It is not uncommon to experience both success and disaster inside a week…
The Success
“Room with a View” was accepted in to the juried exhibition “Time Frame” at the Alton Mill Gallery in Caledon, ON. (Details below) Heritage, both natural and architectural, is the focus of this exhibition. Perfect, right??
I burned the midnight oil and finished the painting hours before the application was due and waited three weeks for the results. Happily, a piece of Muskoka’s heritage will be headed to a community with a rich tradition of preservation.
A little validation is a good thing, isn’t it? I conquered the BIG canvas. I can do anything!!! The view from here was great…. I guess I lingered a little too long and I forgot to watch my step. (See falling cow)
The Disaster
Remember the ugly WIP? Well, it went off the cliff, crashed and burned – hence no new painting with this post. Perhaps the warning should have been when even in the ugly stage, it was, well, very ugly. I really, really, REALLY wanted it to work and so I pushed days longer than I should have. And so, I must begin again. I thought I could pull this one off. I planned to donate this one to the St. Stephen’s Church in Vankoughnet to raise funds to maintain this historic building. I wanted it to be a wonderful success. I am now unable to get a single word out of my mind. OK – maybe two words:
FAIL.
DISASTER.
The alternate for the fundraiser will be lovely and simple but NOT the ‘angels singing on the mountain’ I had planned. Perhaps I am being punished for my hubris (yes – I was raised Catholic – and this is an Anglican church!). It is after 2 am and I know it will take a mostly sleepless night to let go and move on. Either way, the church will get its painting.
I just need to get up, dust myself off and get back to work. I have uncovered something that is going to require much more practice. Maybe, just maybe, it will all be for the best.
Summing it up…
I guess everything in the Universe seeks balance. I guess the point is to keep working and don’t let either the successes or the disasters throw me off. Good advice, right?
“Time Frame” runs from May 28 – July 10, 2011. The opening reception is June 2nd from 6 – 8 pm. Check out my Exhibitions page for links and more information on the show… (I’ll post more when it gets closer…!)
Teresa Cairns
/ April 28, 2011I would be very worried if there were no failures, this is the silver lining because from that failure you learned something valuable. Might not be apparent yet but it IS there.
Soldier on.
Emily Magee
/ April 28, 2011Fall down seven times, get up eight.
Barb TenEycke
/ April 28, 2011Thanks for this post Michelle! I can relate to it completely. It’s so reassuring to hear that another artist that goes through the occassional “failure”. We know intellectually that failures are good- they’re learning experiences, right? But somehow they can feel like a kick in the stomach. They hurt our feelings….
But you’re right. Put that canvas away. Forget about it for now. Get going on another painting, and soon you’ll be back in that thrilling place!
All the best,
Barb
Michelle
/ April 28, 2011Yes – we all know failures are necessary, but they still suck! Especially at 2 am… LOL! Honestly, though, I feel like a weight has been lifted and I can start again with a clean slate.
Barb – It is good to know we are in it together, eh?
kaslkaos
/ April 28, 2011Well, for starters, your magnificent failure sparked a GREAT blog post, especially for fellow artists gnashing their teeth over some process. I’m thinking that falling cow sign would be a great accent to any studio. The other part of failure, of course, is what can you learn. Hoping you will just stash, not slash that painting. There are probably successes therein, things you reached for and nearly not quite touched, and the fatal flaw, whatever that was. Months from now, you may see it with clear eyes and say yah, that sucks, or wow! here’s something to work/learn from (more likely both). I bet you, you can tell from my long comment that I’ve been there, done that…
Anita Stephenson
/ April 29, 2011Right! Your “Summing it up” has hit the nail right on the head!