The insecure bonus of being an artist – coping with rejection
It’s a shame that one of the things that makes a good artist is their vulnerability and yet it’s this vulnerability that leaves them in a gooey pile of sadness when their work isn’t met with the enthusiasm they presented it with. It sounds like an insane pity party and it probably is but it’s there and I’m here, talking about it, trying to dissect it. Coping with rejection is tough but you’re not alone and hopefully, this entry can help you navigate through the sticky mess and find the light at the end of the tunnel.
hey, you’re just not good enough!
If you’re an artist and have experienced rejection before then you’ve probably fed yourself the above sentence.
You’ve also probably been rejected more than once.
Repeated rejection can take you down two paths. The first path uses each rejection to add to your armor until you’re so strong you’re capable of powering through any obstacle. The second path continually reopens a wound unable to heal.
Some truths
1/ There is an artist out there better than you, this doesn’t take away your own worth
2/ To be hurt means you had the courage to put yourself out there
3/ Those artists you look up to have also been rejected at some point
We’ve all heard how Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper company because they claimed he wasn’t creative enough, or how Tim Burton was fired from Disney because his work was too scary for children. Vincent van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime and Jk Rowling was rejected from 12 publishers before finding one for Harry Potter. Imagine if any of these creatives had let those rejections destroy them!
Let’s break it down
1/ You’re excited, you put yourself out there
2/ You got rejected (may come as a surprise!)
3/ You’re confidence is shattered, you feel emotions and then you may:
A – stop making art and give up
B – or move on
So which one is it going to be?
Are you going to let your creative light be smothered?
PEP TALK
The rejection you’re are facing or even the World’s indifference isn’t a personal attack. Your sensitive heart has been stabbed, it’s gonna hurt, let yourself feel, and then be free – move on. The worth you had before the rejection is still there, your art is still as valuable, nothing has changed about your gift.
Practical ideas
– Sheet of nos. Cesar Rodriguez suggests trying to get 100 nos. The idea being that when you reach 100 you’ll be closer to success – love this reframe!
– Resign yourself to having a bad day, aka feel the feel
– Make art about your “failure”
– Your emotions arise because you love creating and value your work, reflect back on the reasons art fulfills you and focus on them!
– Change your setting, get out, do something physical, hug a pet, water a plant
– Don’t over generalised, one failure doesn’t mean you’re a complete failure.
To have a sense of not belonging is a powerful soul crusher (we are social creatures at heart) but the real tragedy is not that it happened but that you question your worth. You can get back up, you are worthy, keep making art, and don’t ever stop sharing your gift with the world!
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