Kids and comets, commissioned work
Mixed media: Base of coloured pencils, lots of post-scan work in Photoshop

Sometimes an image doesn’t make it to the final product. In this case, the image underwent a couple of changes but ultimately, didn’t meet the expectations and won’t be published. It’s okay, it just didn’t fit for this specific project.

Sometimes these things happens. It gives me the opportuntiy to make this post into a blog article. Let’s talk about an important issue that many young and unexperienced artists fret about:

How to deal with rejection as an artist

Every artist will experience it sooner or later. The first time it happens, it will hit home really hard. Everybody (usually family and friends) praised your work work highly. You built up enough confidence to accept commissions and all goes well. But then it happens: you spend hours on an image and when it’s finished, your client backs out. The result is not what they expected and they cannot use it for the purpose it was created for. Enter: Emotional Turmoil.

Here’s my two cents after many years of painting commissions: If your work gets rejected, never take it personally. It’s (usually) never about you but just about your work. Yes, I’m aware you identify with your work. Yes, I know you are passionate about it, it’s what makes you an artist in the first place. But see rejection not as a personal insult but as an opportunity to learn. You didn’t waste your time, you grew as an artist while you were creating something meaningful. Just because the outcome doesn’t match with the client or the project doesn’t mean the end of the world.

Take the criticism and see whether there is truth in it. Be absolutely honest with yourself. If there is truth, take it with you to your next project. If there’s no truth in it, let it roll off you like water off a lotus flower. Sometimes things don’t work out.

Yes, there may be disappointment, and yes, there may be frustration but your hard emotions won’t change the situation. Deal with it in a professional way by acknowledging this. It’s something you always have to be preparared for as an illustrator. It’s part of the industry. Try to make a distinction between professional work and private work. You get paid for your professional work and in return you offer your skills; it’s a contract. Nothing more, nothing less. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t enjoy your professional work, on the contrary! The more you put your heart in it, the more it will show in the result.

If you’re working in the book-, software-, or similar industry: Just keep in mind that you and your team work towards a common goal and alterations and changes are a necessary part to achieve the best possible result. If another artist does this specific job better than you, don’t fret. There will be another job soon.

Just see to it that you get paid the agreed price for your hours, no matter whether your work gets used. Because it not only pays your bills but it’s paramount for your self-worth. You offer the most important resource for the job: your own lifetime and you deserve to get paid. Never let rejection stand in your way as an artist; never doubt your own abilities or your calling.

TL;DN: Never take rejection personally. If you fall down, get up, learn and carry on a bit wiser. Learn and evolve.