Staying Fresh
I am staying fresh. It takes focus and determination to do so, especially since I thrive on routine. How do I balance changing it up without reaching panic mode by facing the terror of newbie ineptitude? Don’t laugh, but I make challenge part of my routine. I make it a point to face up to what scares me and do it anyway. Well, not something death defying, such as bungie cord jumping off bridges.
Call For Entries
There are far more call for entries than I can ever apply to. Still, that doesn’t stop me from filling out a dozen or so entries every year. Sometimes I go for opportunities I have done in the past, but I keep it fresh by trying new calls, too. What’s the worst that can happen? My work is not selected, or in the case of SAQA’s Spotlight Auction the piece I entered doesn’t garner as high a bid as I hoped. Fortunately, this year, my entry, Lola Bathed in Light, captured the attention of 4 bidders. The winner was thrilled. So, am I. Lola’s bid was the 16th highest out of 383 auction donations. Fingers crossed and Happiness is a Warm Blanket attracts similar competitive bidding when it goes on the auction block in September.
Not Selected
The reality is that for all my acceptances, I receive an equal share of not being selected. Ask any artist who puts themselves out there and seeks opportunities to share their work and you soon learn that not being selected is extremely common, even for super stars. The trick is to dust yourself off and move on. Even my series of Lola thread paintings aren’t a guarantee of getting in. Can you believe I’m Watching You wasn’t selected for our regional Arts Festival?
Rainbow Scrap Challenge
Challenges are a great way to stay fresh. The Rainbow Scrap Challenge is perfect for this. Every month has a new theme color. Not only is it a great way to reduce one’s scrap stash, but it encourages one to work with all colors, not just favorites. May’s color is orange which is probably my least favorite color. I do use it, but as an accent and never as the primary color. How ironic that when I designed my 2023 Rainbow Scrap quilt, the two orange blooms are dead center.
I’m linking up to the following posts:
