It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

If an artist is going to put themselves out there, they will experience rejection. The trick is to think strategically and be smart and thorough. I quit my safe full time teaching job to be a full time artist over four years ago.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." (Charles Dickens quote) This describes my past six months. I have worked very hard over the last four years (and of course before that, but my art business always came after my teaching job). Yet, this summer I have experienced some fruits of those efforts.

However, I have also experienced some serious rejection this summer! SO, simultaneously, there are great things like in September (right now) I have local, regional and national art publicity! But, I also heard a "no" from several grants applications and one residency.

If I were gauging my success on my rejections, I would have never quit my safe teaching job in the first place. Business is a balance of passion (doing what you love), marketing (finding who shares your passion and will invest) and strategic planning (where do you want to be down the road and then steps to get there).

I love to paint women in water. I create other work, but I am passionate about this series and it has become my "brand". Several years ago I said I want to be in American Art Collector Magazine. I waited because strategically, I thought it best to have an ad with a gallery. Now, I am in that magazine in a RedSky Gallery ad and I am mentioned by name in an interview with the gallery owner.

Yet, at the same time, I have received numerous rejection letters... for things I really thought I had a chance at "this time"! So, artists, brace yourself for rejection. Learn from those rejections and move on. IF you want to make your art a business, you must learn what you can from the ups and the downs! Business is just like your art practice in that is a process. I would encourage you to enjoy more of it and use these experiences to get closer to your goals.

A peek in my studio...

I have just delivered nine new pastel paintings-including the three paintings you see just started with original photos to the left-to Red Sky Gallery in Charlotte, NC. (www.redskygallery.com)




To left is one of these 7x5" gems, And around again, finished. See my website, www.carmellajarvi.com, for more info about this work and Red Sky Gallery reception.





Here's a photo of my new pastel studio space... I still have another smaller painting, etc. studio, but here, I can leave my pastel work & supplies out. You can see several paintings in process on the easel... as well as my soft pastels set up. One of my favorite things about Vermont Studio Center (where I was a painting resident in 2006 & 2008) is having lots of different artwork going on at the same time! (www.vermontstudiocenter.org)

Two new paintings

These are two recent pastel paintings that I am so happy with. (You can see this new work starting October 9, at Red Sky Gallery, Charlotte, NC... their East Boulevard location... www.redskygallery.com)

Many things have converged this summer for my new body of 'figures in water'. First, a new permanent pastel studio space in addition to my existing studio means I can always have my pastel paintings going... and I have! I enjoy painting with oil, but pastels are my passion... my expressive medium!

This summer, I bought an underwater digital camera which really opened up the images I could capture in water... because I can SEE what I just shot! (This also helped to show the model what I like and am looking for.) Thankfully, I had access to a couple of different pools and models, including one place where I could do live figure study of the model next to or inside the pool! (Painting real water and real person helps me when I go back to the studio and work from photos.)

I'm varying my sizes, working with different color palettes and painting almost every day. This last part is tough because of all the other things I juggle. Anyone self employed knows it IS more difficult to get to work when you're working from home... many, many distractions. BUT, moving my permanent pastel studio space to another building has been great because I am leaving the house!

Do what you want with all this... I just wanted to share my thoughts on this cool body of work being the convergence of many things. (See more on www.carmellajarvi.com.)