What if nobody likes my art?

Every artist has thought this at some point. We show our work to the world, hoping that it will be accepted, even loved. We seek validation through purchases, awards or accolades.

Gifting your artwork can also be fraught. What if the recipient shrugs her shoulders, puts it in a pile, and you never see the work again?

I want to tell you something, and I want you to listen carefully. The viewer's reaction to your art isn't about you. It's not even necessarily about your art.

Remember that all is opinion
Marcus Aurelius

You are not your art. You create your work, and it might be deeply personal and meaningful, perhaps even autobiographical, but it isn't you. When you send it out into the world you need to let it go. Set it free.

So what IS it about?

Think of your own emotional, intellectual, and even visceral responses to the art you have experienced. Have you ever looked around and wondered why nobody else is feeling the same as you are?

Art is unique to the maker AND to the viewer.

All of our lived experienced, all of our memories, our loves, and losses, create a unique lens through which we view the world. OF COURSE nobody else is going to have the same reaction that you do because nobody else has lived your life. They have lived their own life. We aren't robots. That's a very good thing.

Experiencing art is all about the relationship between the viewer and the art. You as the artist might not come into the equation at all. The viewer is seeing with a vision colored by experiences that are different from your own.

It's all about them.

This and other original artworks are available for sale at Lyric's shop.

It is a gift to let your viewer come to your artwork as they are. Free your audience from your need to be validated as an artist and let them love or leave as they choose. Let the experience be all about them, not you.

Free your audience from your own expectations

Christmas is coming up. It is a beautiful thing to create and give work that you hope the recipient will cherish, but don't be devastated if they don't love it. They might, they might not. It's OK. Give freely (or find someone else who DOES love your work and give to them!)

There are many shows to enter in the next few months (especially January!). I encourage you to be brave, stay true to your own voice and vision, and don't worry if you don't make it in. Your task as an artist is to create and your work will eventually find someone who sees it through the lens that understands your visual language. You can do this. I know you can!

Learn to analyze your art objectively

I've been working for quite a while on a re-write of my little Pocket Guide to Critique. I've taken it from a simple list of questions to ask yourself as you make design decisions, to a detailed guide for objectively analyzing art. It's the perfect guide for individual or group critique. It's finally available for purchase as a digital download. I'd love to hear what you think of it.

Take a Peek Now!

Say goodbye to meaningless artspeak! This little digital book helps you to understand and talk about the structure and functions of the elements and principles of visual art. This handy reference contains the tools to objectively analyze your and others creative work using clear and informative language. You will be able to take the emotion out of looking at art and see how it affects the viewer from a different perspective.

Join me for a Virtual Workshop
at Craft Napa
January 6-8, 2022

Craft Napa Uncorked is the online version of one of the most popular conferences for quilt artists there is! Pokey Bolton creates the most organized and supportive mixed media events around.
Registration is filling up after being open for only a few days, but there are still a few spots for my new color class:

The Taming of the Hues!
Color Play for Quilters

The following calls for entry focus on shows that feature art quilts and textiles. You can find further dates at https://lyrickinard.com/calls-for-entry/.
Listings include entry deadline, Name of show, URL, exhibit/shipping dates

November

Nov 1, 2021
Art Quilt Elements 2022 (Wayne, PA)
http://www.artquiltelements.org
Mar 27-Apr 30,2022

Nov 3, 2021
Uncommon Threads (Virtual)
https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=9396
Dec 1-31, 2021

Nov 5, 2021
AQS Quilt Week (Branson, MO )
http://www.quiltweek.com/contest
Feb 18 - March 26, 2022 (ship+show)

Nov 12, 2021
Together: An Exhibition Celebrating African American Quilts(Pompano Beach, FL)
https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals.php?reset=1&apply=yes
February 18-May 12, 2022

Nov 14, 2021
Travel Near and Far: Quilting Arts Readers Challenge
www.quiltingcompany.com
Dec 10 2021 - May, 2022

Nov 26, 2021
Evolutions 2022 (Golden, CO)
https://www.rmqm.org/call-for-entries.htm
Apr 18 - Jul 16, 2022

Nov 30, 2021 (FRCQ members)
Fantasies (Colorado)
https://www.artquilters.org/project/calls-for-entry/
Dec 2021 and Jan 2022 (online)

Nov 30, 2021 (SAQA)
Gastronomy (Houston, TX)
https://www.saqa.com/events/saqa-calls-entry
May 2022-Jan 2026 per additional venues

December

Dec 3, 2021
American Quilters' Society (Paducha, KY*)
http://www.quiltweek.com/contest/
Mar 18 - Apr 26, 2022 (ship+show)

Dec 8, 2021
New Quilts From an Old Favorite: Your Favorite Old Block
https://quiltmuseum.org/education/contests/new-quilts-old-favorites/
Jan 11, 2021 - Jan 31, 2024 (traveling)

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