Rejection Hurts

About a month ago, I applied for "elected" membership with the Canadian Society of Artists.  This is a non-profit organization that was born to born to foster and celebrate the visual arts in Canada.  Some of the benefits of joining organizations like this one and the Federation of Canadian Artists are:


1. being able to participate in shows across the country
2. access to demos and workshops given by professional artists
3. exposure
4. critiques of your work
5. meeting other artists and benefitting from their experience


Anyways... I received a letter a few days ago which gave me the news that I had not been accepted as an elected member.  After a couple days and 5 bottles of wine......     I'm OK.  


The positive was that they included the juries comments on my work and for the most part it was quite positive, and I was encouraged to reapply next year.  


So... sometimes I wonder if I should be part of these organizations.  It is difficult to have your work judged.... or rather it is difficult to have your work judged and found lacking, but easy to have your work judged and found to be amazing and wonderful.  I love feeling wonderful :)  So, I guess that even though being judged is sometimes painful... it is a good thing, and I do appreciate the chance to be able to grow as an artist.  Growth is a good thing.


The good news about all this is that I've found in my life, when something challenging happens... or I get my sensitive feelings hurt a bit... something great is always just around the corner.  Really... this happens.  


So here's to just around the corner.  :)