Every once in awhile you come to a place where there are a lot of roads leading out from a single point. At times like these you have to decide what really matters and what direction you want to take.
Now this is not some inspirational post about making hard decisions, but I have recently found myself at one of these places.
I teach art because I love and appreciate art, and I think that I can offer something up to the students who work with me. I have to tell you that I am really lucky to have them, even the ones that could care less about art and only need a credit. Regardless of their reasons, they are there and they are looking to me for guidance. It is kind of humbling, and more than a little terrifying.
While reviewing my 2014 work for entry into Spectrum Fantastic Art I had a moment of doubt. How will my work measure against 6000+ other entries? What am I doing when I could use the entry money for something else? What makes me think I have a chance?
I don't have answers to these questions, but I do have hope.
All I can say is that every time I hit the submit button for entering one of my pieces, I felt accomplished. I may not make it into the publication. These are high ranking professionals and new up and comers alike, all of us vying for coveted space, each of us working hard to create something never before seen. For me, win, lose or draw, it was the act of submitting the pieces that mattered. I have only recently begun showing my work in a public forum. While entering a contest may not seem like much to some people, it is a big step for me.
Regardless of whether we succeed at our creative endeavors, remember that no one gets in without trying. Put yourself out there, and persevere against all odds. It is the only way to know whether you will succeed or not, and what you can do better the next time around.
As Tennyson says in Ulysses: "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
Words to live by.
