What is Success?

I attended a reception recently for an invitational exhibition in which I have a piece. The show has some 50 artists included, a few of whom are well-known names in this area, but many are not. As I walked through the exhibit during the opening, I was struck by the question: what does success mean to each person represented here? Is it found in the statistics we accumulate to tell non-artists about ourselves? Or in the checklist we devise for ourselves: showing regularly, selling pieces (how many, what price range), just getting a name out there, or mixing with a certain level or group of artists versus another? The list goes on.

What success means for me is now beginning to shift. It used to be acceptance in juried shows. But now I am beginning to understand that success is showing up at the studio and getting a mark down on paper. Great success is feeling as excited by a drawing (painting or print) when I finish it as I did in starting it. Finishing a piece that pleases me and carries a little bit of my spirit in it.

That thought and feeling is so hard to hang on to in this sound-bite, statistic oriented society. And, yes, it did ‘feel’ successful to be invited to join in with this artist-run gallery for this show.

My quote for the week: “Surround yourself with people who respect and treat you well.” Claudia Black

Welcome

Welcome to my journal. Join my journey as an artist as I explore my craft, as well as consider what art means to me and what my responsibilities might be as a artist. Some of my writing will be focused on the mechanics of my art, for me the actual mark making process; but some will also be thoughts, questions, maybe even rantings on deeper issues that I think touch many of us.