I’ve never been one to hang awards on my wall….
Not exactly sure why. I have been in other artists’ homes and I have seen paintings with ribbons and award certificates lining the hallways. I guess that is not me.
I think it may have started from a severe Catholic school upbringing… I remember winning a little art award in third grade. Third place. It was a pretty, tiny, yellow ribbon and I thought it was so cool to have, but I didn’t want to show it to anyone. I didn’t want it to be a “thing.” Nuns in school would preach- be humble. Don’t brag… God is watching…..I don’t know if that is totally it- I am not afraid to be competitive and I am not afraid to win.
I just want the work to be remembered. Not the award.
During my recent move I came across ribbons piling up in a drawer. This is the actual drawer above. I have a few other boxes of certificates and ribbons too. Yes, I have won some big awards. And I hope no one thinks this is disrespecting those honors. I just feel like these awards are mine to cherish. Not show. Mine to remember. Not display.
So I moved the entire drawer as it was and it is now in a box in my storage unit along with my drafting table and pastel taboret. I don’t have a formal studio space yet but I don’t think those awards will come out of the drawers and onto a wall even when I do. They are my guilty pleasure.
No award makes an artwork “good.” No award can make an artist “accomplished.”
I had someone ask me the other day to seriously think about my “audacious, long-term goals” and what that would look like. (we all only have so much time on this planet to reach those goals, so it is time to focus….) Yes, there are some more big awards in that imaginary future, but in the end it all comes back to the work. The soul in a story. To grapple with it and mostly the way it can communicate to someone on the other end of viewing it- if we are successful in communicating what we want to say then that is the biggest award we artists can attain. On occasion I have brought a viewer to tears. I have made others think about something in my creations in a way I want them to think about it.
I win.
But I won’t turn down an award check…
Well said!
I have won a fair number of ribbons at art shows, but they are all packed in a box in my storage room. I enjoyed winning them, but, like you, I don’t put them on display. (The cash awards are all tucked safely away in my bank account.)
love it!
Well said. Thank you for sharing. I couldn’t agree more.
Just think about all the people to whom you have brought pleasure with your wonderful paintings. That is a reward for your soul. No ribbons needed.
Thank you!
Loved this one. Well said. I too have had awards and I also feel that they are private. They are great but not as important as the artwork. I paint for myself and when I do have the honor to win an award, I very much appreciate it. But it doesn’t sell the painting. I have in my early days used awards to get my name out there. But not so much anymore. Thanks for this.
I have one ribbon – lol. And It’s on the wall in my studio. All alone. Gathering pastel dust.
I am sure it will have a friend soon!