The words you don't like to read when opening an acceptance letter or email from a juried art show are as follows: not invited, not accepted, not selected, declined, denied, no, refused or just not having an x or check mark in the accepted box. Last week and many times before I have gotten the dreaded "Not Invited" letter. I have asked around to many of my students who I had encouraged to enter the TWSA exhibit and I have heard back from many that they too have gotten the not invited letter.

I'm here to tell you not to get upset, feel too bad, feel like you are a bad painter or come up with some kind of theory as to why your work was not accepted. The reality is that it's almost like a lottery and the odds are very much against most that enter. The TWSA this year took in 700 entries and only 80 will make it into the show. Then there are the famous artists that everyone knows that stand out because of their distinct beautiful styles and they will have an edge over the beginners because their work is just plain beautiful. At this point, I'm guessing we are talking around 50 out of 700 odds. Then depending on what you paint you may be going up against many other artists that also do the same type of subject matter and style and that drops your odds even more because the judges are looking to put together a well-rounded show and for instance they don't usually pick a show where every painting is a landscape. Most judges will pick a well diverse show with many different styles along with many different subject matters.

I'm guessing that out of 700 paintings from an international show there probably aren't many bad paintings. Most artists put in their best work so for the judges to pick out 80 from the 700 painting is one heck of a task. So if you don't get accepted don't feel too bad because 620 other paintings also didn't get into the show.

If you didn't get in this year keep your head high and try again next year. Then when you do get accepted just think how honored you can be knowing your beautiful work made the cut.

The 2 paintings I entered into this years TWSA show are the 2 large paintings shown in this email, the one above is named "My Dad's Army Buddies" which was Not Invited and the one below is named "Wabash Crossing Adams" and it too was Not Invited. I was a little excited and hoping to show off the army buddies painting if it got accepted but that didn't happen so I am showing you now. 

Like the Cubs use to say before their big win... there is always next year!