"Why even enter juried art shows?" a lot of fellow artists have said. I have often agreed, especially while walking away with one of my paintings or sculptures in hand, after being rejected from a show I wrote out a $50.-100. check for. It is humiliating and expensive!

"Why didn't they like me?" I pout close to tears as I lean towards my car.

It is difficult to 'not' take it all personally. What is a girl to do? Every artist I have met, successful or not, has taken the rejection of their work personally at one time or another. It is hard not to. I am an artist though, not a girl trying to be noted in society like Paris Hilton or Britney Spears. Although I must admit that I have contemplated what a good diet would do for me and possible a face lift! I am an artist who is trying to get my work out there in the .com world of galleries that go on forever, to improve my search engine and get noticed by Google and Yahoo. I don't find myself saying to the .com world or to Google or Yahoo, "Why don't you like me?" Of course not! I get on my computer and research about how to get my work noticed and how to compete. I ask myself the hard questions. "Is my work appealing to the buyers out there in cyberspace? Is it marketable, while still being true to myself and my own personal idea of creativity? Have I learned all there is to know?" Never! Who would ever say or think that'?

I don't look at myself that objectively when I enter juried art shows though... or at least I didn't use to. I used to think that it was all connected, my like- ability and my talent. The juror would not only accept me in the show but would honor me with an award because they would view my art and see my heart and glistening smile. They would understand beyond the laziness and excuse the limitations of my painting or sculpture before it was polished off enough to truly call it finished. They would magically understand my true hope for the end result and accept it 'as is'. They would ignore all other competition and choose me because I felt so strongly about what I was trying to say to project the passion inside my heart. Or maybe deep down I felt I should be accepted because I had worked so hard on the last show by setting up the table with flowers and linen table clothes for horderves and wine. Surely I had been noticed!

I am trying to learn to stand back and really look at my work objectively. What else is an easel for huh? I am taking the same approach to juried shows as I have been with the .com world and google and yahoo, with a realistic consideration and an acceptance that there will 'always' be people who are more fit than me... look at Paris Hilton and Britney Spears! Yet, because of my acceptance of the uphill struggle I see myself in the art world with an upward posture and a confidence that if I understand the journey and have my mapquest available to me. I am set. It doesn't take a tsunami to knock me over to accept my fate of being just like everyone else. I now enter juried art shows knowing I have done everything that 'I can' to present the best possible work that 'I' am personally capable of before it leaves my studio. Look out eminem there is a new rapper in town!