I won "June Artist of the Month"!

I was very honored to win Jerry's Artarama's "Artist of the Month" contest for June, 2011. I submitted a series of paintings probably....a year ago? I completely forgot about it! So I'm on Facebook last week and I see their post for June's contest and I didn't think much of it. The front page of the link showed five artists that were in the running along with their names. I went ahead and clicked on the link and damn if I wasn't there as #7! What a surprise to see that!! http://apps.facebook.com/fanappz/poll/vote?id=28407

 

Anyway I was really honored and I felt that I was among some really great artists. I mean, art is subjective right? So seriously it's almost apples to oranges. I think art competitions really aren't "fair". BUT I will admit I have a competitive streak so immediately I wanted to win! I just couldn't help it. It would be a feather in my cap to have those bragging rights. And their FB followers are over 50,000 strong so it could only be positive :)

 

I went ahead and sent the voting link to my "website distribution list". I have at least tried to be smart there over the years and keep track of everyone I've worked for or even potentially worked for over. The result is a pretty nice database that I can send the occasional email to when I want to show off a latest kitchen, or in this case, get people to vote for me! :) 

 

What REALLY surprised me during all of this and was completely unexpected, however, was the enormous outpouring of support. I would open up my home page daily during the voting week and see post after post of people getting the word out, sharing the link. I mean, not just the expected family and friends, but people I don't talk to that much, or people that only friended me that week on the suggestion of someone else. It was pretty overwhelming. The happy result of all the crazy support was winning! :) http://www.jerrysartarama.com/blog/post/2011/06/01/June-Artist-of-the-Month-Denise-Saylor.aspx

 

What I got out of it was of course, bragging rights and a $65.00 gift card to shop on their website which is not too shabby! It gave me a boost of confidence to get back and start painting again. I have been SO caught up in painting kitchen cabinets that I haven't picked up an artist's brush for probably six months. I miss it. But the money and the making a living part of the cabinet painting is impossible to turn down. And personally I have a hard time switching my brain back and forth. When I'm painting on canvas, I need to be "in it". I'm sure plenty of people don't work that way but I do! So the little bit of self doubt that creeps in when I take this much time off has had a necessary kick in the ass from the simple and genuine communications from all of these people supporting me. "You deserve it!" "you're amazing!" It sounds egotistical but really I simply felt humbled and appreciative. I wanted to win for the sake of winning, but the outcome was that I had an eye opening experience. Maybe I am good at this, maybe I need to take it more seriously. It made me feel really good to hear the positive feedback, not gonna lie ;)