6:30 a.m.: I get into my car, head for my exhibition and decide to share with you a moment that is always “special” when you’re a painter:
Stress before an exhibition
Taking part in an exhibition as a painting artist can be a stressful experience. At an exhibition, you leave your home to show your work to an audience. And without knowing what the return will be.
It’s something that’s often stressful and anxiety-provoking, because you can’t know in advance what the return on your art will be.
Questioning your work
It’s not uncommon to lose confidence in one’s work a few hours before an exhibition. You’re bound to hear phrases like:
- “My work has no value!”
- “I’m going to look ridiculous in front of the other artists!”
- “My work won’t interest anyone, that’s obvious!”
- “I don’t want to go there anymore, I don’t have a place at this exhibition!”
- “Why waste my time?”
These are words I caught myself saying!
In the end, it’s a normal, human thing to do, because you find yourself in a context where the public is going to be watching everything you do closely, and you feel you have to be accountable.
During the exhibition!
That‘s it! Now there’s no turning back! So you set up your equipment and wait, more or less serenely, for the first arrivals.
Generally, if there are other artists exhibiting with you, you’ll quickly get to talking to them, and that’s when the pressure can start to ease.
During the exhibition, you’re likely to have the opportunity todiscuss your work with kind-hearted people, and the exchanges are generally rich and positive.
What should I do if I receive negative feedback?
These things happen. Indeed, you may well get negative comments about your work. And in many different ways. Indeed, people are more or less tactical!
And I’m sorry to say it, but this happens even more often if you’re into contemporary art, and abstract painting in particular. Indeed, many people are hermetic to this kind of practice, don’t listen to their emotions, and systematically consider this kind of art as vulgar stains…
Don’t stop there. I’d advise you to either ignore them or put on your best smile! I can assure you that this will destabilize the person and they’ll be frustrated not to have been able to reach you with their probably unfounded remark.
After an exhibition!
In general, exhibitions are a rich experience. You’ve met other artists, people who support you in your approach & constructive feedback.
It’s often at times like these that you’ll regain confidence in your work and feel energized!
The opposite effect
Note that the pattern may be reversed.
Let me explain: if you go into a show with your head held high and say I’m going to sell absolutely everything, I’m the most talented artist on the planet and no one else can match me. If you do, you’re likely to fall off a cliff and end your show totally depressed!
In my case
Personally, I’m always stressed and anxious on the way to an exhibition. Because that’s when I’m faced with a fait accompli and I can’t go back.
As you can see in this video, I’m both stressed and questioning my work. The only thing that puts things in perspective for me is that I know I work like that, I’m not a first-timer and in theory everything should be fine! But you know, as the old saying goes: “If it ain’t broke, it ain’t broke!
The bottom line is that this exhibition was a superb moment for me. It allowed me to get to know local artists. They were absolutely great with me and I was lucky enough to get a superb welcome.
So I came home at 8pm, tired but with a smile on my face and a renewed sense of motivation that only strengthened my conviction that I’d never give up my passion for abstract painting.
What about you? What’s your state of mind before an exhibition?
I can’t wait to hear what you have to say and how you feel on the day of your show! I invite you to leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
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