I recently applied to have 10 my paintings juried for professional status recognition. I entered the process with trepidation but also with excitement. What would they think of my work, and what recommendations might they have? 

Never did I quite expect the comments made to have such a profound impact on how I see the art jury process and how I see myself as an artist.   Needless to say, it was an uncomfortable and demotivating experience but so worthwhile!

Note: In no way was the juror unkind or rude. Just pragmatic and always polite.

Having been encouraged by a few mentors that I should apply to have my work juried and as they put it “you’re ready”, I was excited about the prospect.  But based on the jurors’ comments received, I was clearly not ready to be included in this class of artists.

My overall juried score was 78.4% based on 5 jurors and an additional Board of another half dozen artists.  A 78.4% or B+ by any scoring assessment is not bad really given I’ve been painting only part time for 12 years and don’t have any formal training in fine arts. But I needed an 80% to pass.  The scores assessed for technical elements such as colour, value, design and composition were 76%. OK, clearly some technical things to work on which are fairly easy to keep in mind with future paintings.  My technical excellence and visual impact had higher scores of 80% and 84% respectively.  Oh!  That was a nice surprise.  The consistency of my body of work was rated 92%.  Outstanding but not unexpected since I only really paint Canadian landscapes of trees, rocks and water.  On my CV scores I pretty much had B to A- with a score of 72% being lowest for the recognition and accomplishments category.  I guess I haven’t won enough awards or been patted on the back much by peers.  I wondered what would it take to get that score over 80%?  But, the score that concerned me the most was the score I received for Originality of Work.  A 68%.  Ugg! That was a punch to the stomach.  So, my work isn’t original enough?  But I went out and took photos, sketched on site, did studies and painted some of the most beautiful places I visit.  I asked the person sharing the results, "Why is my work not original?”   I was told my work is “too Group of Seven’ish, cliche, there is nothing unique about it and there is a lot of that type artwork out there. There's nothing really unique or different about the work." Maybe so, but I love to paint Canadian landscapes and I love the Group of Seven!

But wait, the critique got better…. or worse?  I then received an evaluation of each piece of work, to tell me why I scored the way I did.   For a long while I heard all the technical issues repeated with each painting and of the ten, there were only two that he resonated with.  Got it.  I can easily address those technical issues.  But there was one painting, I was told was "a weaker piece" and "a miss".  Ouch that hurt.  I was suppose to drop that particular piece off to a juried show that afternoon but obviously I was too discouraged to put it out there again.  Another opportunity to increase my recognition score down the drain.  Some other comments like I use armature brush strokes at times, my drawing skills needed work, my water reflections were unresolved and not representative of what water looks like, my brush work sloppy and I needed to add ‘polish’ to most of the pieces and, look at becoming more "creatively innovative” with my art. I honestly only wrote down the areas for improvement and don't remember any of the positive things he might have said. I'm sure there were some positive things but I was already down the path of self deprivation half way through our call.

What does creatively innovative or originality of work mean?  Well, he wasn’t able to really explain what that category is or how the jurors critiqued under that category.  There’s no description for it on the internet other than “turning new and imaginative ideas into reality”.  So, I guess I have to come up with a new art form. Representational art is not creative I guess. I wonder why 'originality of work' is a category at all in these juried processes if the average person can’t explain what ‘originality and creativity’ elements are or or how to evaluate it.  I rated 84% for Visual Impact but 68% for Originality of Work.  What is the difference, exactly?  I guess to me, if you can’t define it, can’t demonstrate what it is or can’t teach it/direct it then I guess you just have it or you don’t.  I probably will never score high on this category without incorporating weird unnatural colours or something that is not so representational, more impressionistic, more abstract, odd angles or micro paintings of stuff that people have to imagine what it is?  Maybe I need to do more sunsets, make trees more stylistic, and spend my hours coming up with a subjective new and improved art form. Well, therein lies the flaws of all juried art shows and programs. The criteria itself can be subjective.  I’m a CPA by trade, a highly educated professional and I work in the law profession for God’s sake.  I think in terms of logic and process as do many people (fewer artists though as they are more right brained).  So, I guess based on that I’ll never be an overly creatively innovative artist.  I'm too balanced in my left brain/right brain. But why is it that I can't be the best representational artist out there with working hard? The reality is that representational art as a reflection of everything we see every day may never get a high score for originality except in 200 years when none of that nature world exists.

I’m sure there are other artists who have had a harsh reality handed to them and they too probably have hurt feelings for a while. Yes, I'm discouraged, frustrated, depressed, sad, demotivated.  Not at all by the score of 78.4% or the technical critiques but entirely by the words and comments about my artwork being nothing unique, amateurish and unoriginal. I paint landscapes popular in the area I live, places I’ve visited, hiked to and found peace and solitude.  I paint what brings me joy.  I paint paintings that bring the outdoors inside.  Someone surely must  like the types of paintings I paint because I’ve sold hundreds of paintings in recent years. And I get regular commission requests too.  But I do know that art is subjective and not everyone will enjoy or buy my art.  I’m OK with that.  As the discussion with the juror wound down, he told me to “lick my wounds and move on”.  So, I’m going to do just that.   Here’s my lessons learned and my plan forward.  

1)  Don’t believe everyone who tells you you’re ready for the next step.  You need to trust your own gut on that and pursue those scary milestones on your own timetable. 

2) Take the technical feedback and run with it.  Make those changes you can make and learn as much as you can to make your art better.

3) One person's opinion doesn’t make it true.  Art is subjective.  So, pick an artist you respect and love their work and ask them for a critique.  Get as many critiques as you can until you fix those small mistakes and make improvements. Pay particular attention to any positive feedback. While that kind of feedback might be few and far between, they're the comments that push you forward.

4) Be on your OWN path.  Don’t change your style just to get recognized or get elected.  Be the best at what you can be for your own reasons.  Play the recognition game if that’s your objective but don’t change your style or your passion because someone doesn’t like landscapes or doesn’t like your work.  Follow your dream, paint what you are passionate about and above all, be kind to yourself and remember why you started painting in the first place.  

Ultimately, get over a harsh assessment as quickly as you can.  As my twin told me yesterday when I was grumbling about the lack of originality in my work, she said “I don’t give a crap if someone says your artwork isn’t original.  I have many of your pieces that bring me joy every day.”  She also went on to tell me to stop feeling sorry for myself and that there are far more important things in life like lost friends, loneliness, financial burdens, wars, hunger, and we must remember that and take pleasure in the small things in life, like an afternoon spent putting paint to a canvas. Don’t sweat the small stuff, or the small setbacks. Above all else, stay passionate about your painting journey and ignore the noise.  

The Free Stuff!

So, for those of you who have read this far, go back and comment on my Instagram post (all good, bad, critical, encouraging comments welcome). Share it with an artist friend who might need a boost and like my page.  For anyone who leaves comments, I’ll put your name in a hat to win this painting.  ‘Misty Morning’ is the piece the juror thought was ‘a miss’.  Maybe it will bring joy to someone.  Note:  The painting is free but the freight is not.  Winner selected November 25th…My birthday! I'll be in touch via DM on Instagram.