I'm currently painting a mural at an absolutely marvelous school. Sometimes, you just win and find yourself in an amazing situation. This is the first time I've ever worked on a project when every student in the school - all 650 of them - participated with a mural. And, each time a group of students comes out to paint, I'm introduced as the "world renowned muralist who has painted all over the planet, not just in the United States". I guess the introduction could go to my head, except I know the truth. And, truth is, I'm the most "non-famous world-famous artist" anyone has ever met. Yes, my art is used by teachers all over the planet. Yes, my 55 murals are in 25 countries (so far). My art has been spotted on T-shirts in a mall in the Philippines. Other people I know have seen it used at an orphanage in Cambodia. An artist I met in Moldova told me he learned English in school from books with my illustrations. I even found my drawings used in an archaeological museum in Belize. And, my images are all over the Internet if you've ever done a Google Image search. Yes, my work is known around the world. And, no, nobody knows my name.
I guess there is a chance, if I really believed the introduction and heard it enough times, it could possibly go to my head. Possibly. But, I don't usually have art diva moments. I don't think I could create community murals and be an art diva. There's just too much sharing and caring in a community project. And, if kids splattering paint, accidental spills (major and minor), and painting outside of the lines bother an art diva like I think they would, it just really would be the wrong career choice.
I'm fairly sure that all artists have moments when someone criticizes their work. It's never fun. I certainly don't like it. Fortunately, it hasn't happened to me very often. I remember long ago, in another life at a publishing house, my boss described my cartoons as "grotesque". I never forgot or forgave that. And more recently, at what was supposed to be my next mural, the powers that be didn't like my art at all. Their suggestion for my mural design was to remove all of my cartoon characters and try adding flowers and mountains. Okay, I confess, in the privacy of my office, I had an art diva moment over that. Then, I politely replied to the email and suggested they find another artist.
Sometimes you lose.
But, sometimes you win. And, sometimes, it's a big win. Most people who follow my blog and clip art on Facebook are familiar with the PromoWest and Columbus Makes Art 2018 Exhibition and my portrait entitled "Aztec Sun". You had to be judged on talent to make it into the top ten. But, to make the final four, it was by community voting. In my mind, that really means the final four came down to a popularity contest. It's not that huge of a contest in Columbus. It doesn't really have that much publicity. So, those with the most connections were most likely to have the most friends go to the website to vote.
Okay, I'm the first to admit I'm not all that connected in Ohio. But, if any of the other nine entries were well connected, it was news to me. I never heard of any of them and didn't find all that much when I searched for them online. So, we were all in the same boat. Well, honestly, nine of them were in the same boat and then there was me. I networked a little in Ohio. But, my network is much more global than normal. I only wish the people at PromoWest and Columbus Makes Art could see where my votes came from. I had huge support from Africa and Latin America, especially Brasil. But, my network stretched across the United States to Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
I said that I was the most "non-famous world-famous artist" that any of you will ever know. Maybe there is just a little bit of truth to that "world" part. My support came from all over. I don't think anyone else in this particular competition had that same claim. And so, yes, I'm so very happy to tell you that my art was voted into the top four in this 2018 competition. Thank you all for your support. It is so very appreciated.
Who knows? Maybe as a result of this a few people in Ohio will actually learn my name?
I guess there is a chance, if I really believed the introduction and heard it enough times, it could possibly go to my head. Possibly. But, I don't usually have art diva moments. I don't think I could create community murals and be an art diva. There's just too much sharing and caring in a community project. And, if kids splattering paint, accidental spills (major and minor), and painting outside of the lines bother an art diva like I think they would, it just really would be the wrong career choice.
I'm fairly sure that all artists have moments when someone criticizes their work. It's never fun. I certainly don't like it. Fortunately, it hasn't happened to me very often. I remember long ago, in another life at a publishing house, my boss described my cartoons as "grotesque". I never forgot or forgave that. And more recently, at what was supposed to be my next mural, the powers that be didn't like my art at all. Their suggestion for my mural design was to remove all of my cartoon characters and try adding flowers and mountains. Okay, I confess, in the privacy of my office, I had an art diva moment over that. Then, I politely replied to the email and suggested they find another artist.
Sometimes you lose.
But, sometimes you win. And, sometimes, it's a big win. Most people who follow my blog and clip art on Facebook are familiar with the PromoWest and Columbus Makes Art 2018 Exhibition and my portrait entitled "Aztec Sun". You had to be judged on talent to make it into the top ten. But, to make the final four, it was by community voting. In my mind, that really means the final four came down to a popularity contest. It's not that huge of a contest in Columbus. It doesn't really have that much publicity. So, those with the most connections were most likely to have the most friends go to the website to vote.
Okay, I'm the first to admit I'm not all that connected in Ohio. But, if any of the other nine entries were well connected, it was news to me. I never heard of any of them and didn't find all that much when I searched for them online. So, we were all in the same boat. Well, honestly, nine of them were in the same boat and then there was me. I networked a little in Ohio. But, my network is much more global than normal. I only wish the people at PromoWest and Columbus Makes Art could see where my votes came from. I had huge support from Africa and Latin America, especially Brasil. But, my network stretched across the United States to Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
I said that I was the most "non-famous world-famous artist" that any of you will ever know. Maybe there is just a little bit of truth to that "world" part. My support came from all over. I don't think anyone else in this particular competition had that same claim. And so, yes, I'm so very happy to tell you that my art was voted into the top four in this 2018 competition. Thank you all for your support. It is so very appreciated.
Who knows? Maybe as a result of this a few people in Ohio will actually learn my name?
It's not going to be just my imagination. The illustration will go up along Huntington Park sometime next month.
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