THE GREEN MONSTER
THE GREEN MONSTER [T-H-I-N-K]
It was my third time showing my art - ever. In retrospect my art wasn’t very good (even though I thought it was good at the time), I was super nervous, and everyone around me seemed to be selling their art at a good clip. But not me. Every time I heard the artist next to me wrapping another painting — the screech of the tape — the rustle of the plastic bag — the sound of a happy art collector telling the artist how thrilled they were with their purchase — I wanted to scream. It was a warm fall day in a suburb north of Atlanta and beads of sweat rolled ever so slowly down my back. With each sale happening around me, time seemed to slow while my anxiety seemed to increase.
Show goers almost appeared to walk around my booth of artwork. I felt invisible. After all the effort it took to get into the show, set up my booth, and hang my art, on top of creating all the paintings, it felt like all my hard work was for nothing!
I went home with a big fat ZERO in sales and I was FILLED with envy. I assumed I would sell well at this show as my first 2 shows that year were great. I thought if I showed up, my art would magically sell as it did previously. What happened? All I could think about was how everyone else seemed to be selling except me.
Now 28 years later, I don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. I’ve learned a lot since that first year of shows. Jealousy is a sign - - a sign for me to step back and consider things differently. This 10-minute video can help you do the same:
10 Things to Do When You’re Jealous of Another Artist’s Success
Was it a Good Show? [k-n-o-w]
Was it a good show?" That seemingly innocent question carries hidden weight. Behind it often lurks the unspoken query: "Did you sell anything?"
But reducing artistic success to mere transactions misses the profound achievement a show represents. Whether mounted in a prestigious gallery, bustling art fair, intimate open studio, or vibrant festival, each exhibition embodies countless hours of creative labor, technical execution, and curatorial vision. The artist must not only produce compelling work but also create a cohesive experience, determine appropriate pricing, design supporting materials, and navigate complex logistics—especially for out-of-town venues.
So when faced with that loaded question, remember this truth: in a world where creative voices struggle to be heard, simply creating a space where your art exists publicly is already a remarkable triumph!!
[g-r-o-w]
The easiest way to be undervalued by others is to undervalue yourself.