Michele-lee Phelan ([info]artoftheempath) wrote,
@ 2008-03-11 12:19:00
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A 'Life Sucks' Moment
It would seem that my work is not of a high enough standard to get accepted into Spectrum. I won't lie -- I am feeling very disappointed. I had to work up the courage to enter in the first place, only to fail.

Not happy right now.

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[info]toeknuckles
2008-03-11 01:36 am UTC (link)
i'm having one of those moments too. my name's not on the list either. and it took so much for me to work up the courage too, damnit.

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[info]toeknuckles
2008-03-11 01:37 am UTC (link)
actually, i see a lot of name missing from the list...i guess a lot of people are having a 'life sucks' moment as a result right now. 8-(
oh well. next year for both of us, eh?

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[info]artoftheempath
2008-03-11 01:39 am UTC (link)
*sighs* Yep! If I can afford it.

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[info]toeknuckles
2008-03-11 06:55 am UTC (link)
lol! good lord...i'm stupider than i even realised. I DIDN'T EVEN ENTER!!!
i just remembered - seth's folks were visiting us from the usa, i packaged up my spectrum entry and in travelling about with them, missed the date to post it. i just remembered that. i was convinced i'd entered 'cause i could remember packaging it. i just didn't POST it.

haha. well, now i feel a bit better...er....or worse? on the one hand, i can't make it into a competition i never entered.....uh....on the other hand, i am now the stupidest person to ever live. o_O

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[info]artoftheempath
2008-03-11 07:22 am UTC (link)
*cracks up laughing* Oh sweety! You are priceless.

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[info]toeknuckles
2008-03-11 10:02 am UTC (link)
8-P

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[info]scarlett_heartt
2008-03-11 01:37 am UTC (link)
I would buy your work over most of that stuff any day.
You haven't failed. Just because they don't feel your art doesn't mean it is a failure. You touch a lot of people, just not them.

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[info]artoftheempath
2008-03-11 01:41 am UTC (link)
Thankee, love. Tis sweet of you to say so. Thing is, I'm getting to a point in my career where I need that kind of exposure in order to keep it going. Without it, I may find myself coming to a dead end on my journey. :(

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[info]jenelycam
2008-03-11 01:39 am UTC (link)
*HUGS MICH TIGHT*

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[info]artoftheempath
2008-03-11 01:41 am UTC (link)
Thankee, darlin' (((hugs back)))

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[info]minxee
2008-03-11 01:49 am UTC (link)
Spectrum readers will be poorer for not seeing your work....

Just an opinion from a devoted fan of your work.

I am waiting on your greek series originals to go on sale. Please put me on the list of people who will be 'first to know'

*smiles*

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[info]thrivis
2008-03-11 01:50 am UTC (link)
Awwwr, don't feel so down. You're not a failure. :(

Sometimes getting accepted to a place depends not on how good you are, but how many people/pictures they are allowed to accept, or the subjective preferences of the judges. It doesn't mean you're not good enough!

I know I don't comment much on anything anywhere, but you're one of the artists I admire from afar. Almost every painting you upload to DA I fave or get the downloadable version on your LJ. I adore your work more than I ever will some of the folks that do get into Spectrum. It just so happens Spectrum tends to chose a very narrow line of work.

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[info]giovanna_adams
2008-03-11 03:20 am UTC (link)
(((hugs Michele))) *kicks those silly judges* Art is so subjective that it is hard to know why you did not get in. IMHO..Your art is so beautifully mastered and soulful and I am sure there will be many more opportunities for exposure out there for you that may be more worthy.

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[info]minoukatze
2008-03-11 03:21 am UTC (link)
Hon, in my opinion your work is Spectrum quality, no question. It's tough when it comes down to judges subjectively picking their favorites- it seems like they favor darker themes more often than not. *shrugs*

I don't think this should stop you from entering again. I can easily see your art holding its own among the other pictures there. You didn't fail. Failing would mean that you hadn't entered in the first place.

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[info]uminomamori
2008-03-11 03:38 am UTC (link)
I suck too but I'll probably throw money at the jerks again next year and keep doing it until my name and style are a household name to them and they will have to admit I'm good enough. RAWR.

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[info]siriusstar
2008-03-11 08:14 am UTC (link)
Since 95% of the stuff in there is ugly, I wouldn't be too worried about it. Getting in among the 5% (or less) that isn't must be tough, indeed. It seems most of the good art in Spectrum are book covers from big name publishers. I think once you get more of your work published, you'll have a good chance of being among the %5. :)

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[info]fyremoon
2008-03-11 09:48 am UTC (link)
*hugs tight*



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[info]akeyla
2008-03-11 01:31 pm UTC (link)
oh relax... sometimes it isnt your quality work (which is fab bway) but the sheer coincidence of whosevers-taste-fad plus local weather.
Its what the artwork means to you, and it inspired me to see how much you find in your art, its not just "a drawing" or "a super realistic correctlighting fab anatomy concept etc" what I see so often these days. Thats a good hand and sharp eyes, what you have is talent.

I know I'm the right person to say this, heck, I havent even dared Epilogue again

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[info]flasher
2008-03-11 02:17 pm UTC (link)
You and me both. Still, entering is the first step, yes?

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[info]doricom
2008-03-11 02:47 pm UTC (link)
I really, truly know how you feel at this moment in time. I applied for a job I was well qualified for, only to be turned down (and I have a huge hunch it is because my husband is military, although they can't officially say that). It has left me feeling depressed and despondent. *hug*

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[info]rhiamon
2008-03-11 03:59 pm UTC (link)
Shows you what THEY know. Send Kittybird over to poo on their heads - see how they like THAT artistic expression. ;) ((((HUGS))))

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[info]leatherzebra
2008-03-11 06:38 pm UTC (link)
I don't believe it. Speaking as a writer who gets rejected all the time, I doubt that it's not because you're good enough. It's probably just because someone else was better. Keep trying because I love your art and want to see it everywhere :)

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[info]pixiewildflower
2008-03-11 07:57 pm UTC (link)
*hugs hard* You are an awesome artist hon. I guess they just have so many spots to give out. But, you are one of my favorites, if that means anything.

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[info]susanrodio
2008-03-11 09:50 pm UTC (link)
Try not to take it too personally. I have to say that the work they select is pretty dark for the most part, last few times I have seen the book I havent really found much of it appealing at all and I have broad tastes in Art. I can see that they have pretty dark taste with what they select overall.

I know Spectrum is supposedly at a certain level, but I believe ones path as an artist goes beyond these structures. An artist's path is such a unique thing for each one of us. I think there a many and varied paths to success. We only limit what we think that is with our own minds.

You are an amazing Artist, if you want to, you will find other avenues.

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[info]solalia
2008-03-11 10:02 pm UTC (link)
I wouldn't worry about Spectrum. A lot of the work they select isn't marketable and/or is by artists who will never become a household name or anything more than the occasional book cover artist. There are a few exceptions to that naturally, but not very many.

A lot of the work they accept doesn't really seem "fantasy" to me and they seem to dislike fairy art, I've noticed. Almost all of my friends who have submitted to it in the past and sent in a single fairy didn't make it.

There are better ways to get exposure that don't require cash (which is screwed up in the first place because the artists don't get squat except a single copy). Just keep trying.

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