Did these unfavorable reviews hurt my feelings or deter me from creating more art in a similar vein? No! Because art criticism is nothing more than an opinion. Art reviews are---if nothing else--- highly subjective. What one viewer loves, another may hate. Criticism of my art has nothing to do with me or my art. It is nothing personal. And as such, the public's reviews do not, in the least, impact my art or artistic esteem. Nor should they impact yours. Don't let negative reviews stop you from making art. Don't allow them to hurt your feelings. I know deep down we want lots of people to love what we have created from our blood, sweat and tears. We want patrons "To Get'' our art. We want high critical praise. We want our art to become famous. But, in the end, none of the reviews matter. What matters is that you "Get" your art. That you're satisfied with it. That its very creation nourishes your soul, enhances your being. When you don't cater to the critics, you create art authentically. You aren't pandering to public opinion to make a sale. You are true to your craft. You respect your artistic vision.
I know it's easy for me to say. We all need or wish to make a living from our art. And I will be the first to admit, I don't make a living from my art. Not yet. I rarely make my $213.00 rent for my small gallery each month. I do make sales and they are increasing. I have a small following. But none of the financial aspect of art ever impacts the creation of my art. If I were to panic and try to predict what the buying public would like me to create, I know that my art would suffer. How can you predict what art buyers want? A case in point: The art piece that I think is not my best work or I find inferior in some way--the very one I'm not sure if it is good enough to display---invariably, is the one that sells every time. (And with much smugness I wish to note for the record, the pieces that my husband hate---and he expresses so unsolicitedly and quite vocally--- always sell).
I have had several pieces featured in my gallery that sat there for a year or so. And just when I was going to take them home, that's when they sold. A great lesson I learned: just because your art doesn't sell quickly--or what you deem as quickly---doesn't mean it is not good or that someone won't love it.
The same can be said for juried art shows. If you are rejected for this type of exhibition, it is tempting to be particularly wounded over this exclusion. The jurors, after all, are credentialed, are expert in art judgment. Still and all, it's only their opinion. Your art might very well be rejected for one juried show and accepted for another. It's all a matter of opinion, educated or not. That's all it is.
If you don't buy the above opinions, just think of all the famous artists throughout history whose art was rejected during their lifetimes--- only to be highly acclaimed after their deaths. What if they had ceased making art because of their poor reviews?
What if they had listened to the critics and never created another painting? There would be no Van Gogh and "The Starry Night". There would be no Monet and his delightful water lilies.
The only time I take heed criticism is when I'm a student in an art class and the instructor is offering constructive criticism regarding technique. Critique is part of the learning process and is not the same as rejection.
So, if you love your art, "Get" your art...that's all that matters. Because I guarantee you, if you create what you love, someone along the way will love it too. Love it so much that they have to have it...and will buy it, no matter the price. How do I know this? Well, the one single person who did not give me an unfavorable review of "Fluxus & Fear of the Number Five" actually loved it. He "Got" it! Loved it so much...he bought it!