Recently I applied for two grants, one group exhibition at a major gallery in London, a residency, and a prize. So far I have been rejected from all but the prize which hasn't been announced yet. I applied for grants and residencies over the past few years, probably 3 or 4.. I did not get any of them. I want to show the actual process of this journey of making painting your career. There is a lot more rejection than there are wins, you just have to keep going. First, let yourself feel the disappointment so that it passes out of you. Then when you have more energy, try again. When you have the energy again, assess who did win the opportunities and check to see if you were indeed aligned. Adjust your game plan where you can. Ps. I've added more to the gallery "lesson" in the classroom

I am currently in communication with a new gallery after a decade of strictly representing myself. I made a new "lesson" on the classroom where I will share the process with you. I would have loved to get this info earlier in my career, and I hope that my experience will be helpful to you. Here's what I have up so far: Felicia Works with a Gallery - Initial emails about possible representation - Contract and negotiations regarding it

Highlighting what's in the classroom. Today we look at the philosophy behind this membership. -Technique Systems and structure should be utilized until they are out-grown. The artist can remain ever evolving, curious, and empowered. The journey > the product of the journey. Meaning, your experience and exploration is more important than any one painting. Don't be precious or fearful. Allow mistakes and experimentation. Use what you learn to propel you forward in self directed growth. Felicia's painting methods are direct and strategic. She will teach you to utilize curiosity and the structure of various limitations over time to grow dynamic problem solving skill and dexterity in your medium. With this balance of structure and flow you can build a painting practice that you love. - This membership offers written lessons and demo videos for you to partake of at your own pace. You can receive live feedback on the lessons from Felicia in the monthly Critique Club meeting. - Join live workshops with Felicia each month to learn something new. -The Artist's Inner World Our inner world is the most important part of everything we make and experience. Clearing fears, habits and beliefs built around old pain will shift your perspective. A perspective shift is EVERYTHING. You will begin to see possibilities that were not available to you before. Felicia offers coaching both one-to-one via her website, and in group form with Creativity Club here on Skool. This work focuses on: - Building a painting practice you enjoy by breaking through limiting beliefs, and learning to support yourself instead of looking for permission from outside of yourself. - Utilizing curiosity, self awareness, and intuition to set and meet goals. When you set goals based on your true desires you have the energy to follow through. - Finding your voice and the audience that naturally connects with it, instead of fearfully or naively trying to force yourself into the shape society suggests.

The classroom is dense with information. Allow me to bring some of it out and highlight it for you. Here is how to utilize my lessons. The 4 Core Lessons Felicia has broken down the methods she used to evolve her own skill and shares them with you while offering presence and encouraging guidance. You will get access to one lesson per month. Practice each lesson until you perfect it. Get help from Felicia in Critique Club. 1. Step by Step Drawing - (Lesson 1) 2. Big Picture Quicksketch- (Lesson 2) 3. Step by Step Portrait Painting (Lesson 3) 4. Still Life Painting - Milk and Water (Lesson 4) These four lessons are the foundation of how Felicia taught herself to paint well. Repeat each of these lessons until you perfect* them. Follow along with, and master the steps until the process is second nature. - Lesson 1 - you want to perfect* likeness (shapes), value, and edge. - Lesson 2 - you want to perfect* your shapes, and color/value choices. - Lesson 3 - you want to perfect* likeness (shapes), value, color and edge. - Lesson 4 - finally, you will learn to strategize your approach within Felicia's step by step method for the added complexity of the still life lesson. You may vary your subject as you repeat these exercises. - Paint from life. - Paint self portraits or have someone pose for you. - Paint master copies. Let the variety in your subject keep you engaged as you commit to the strict process until you master it. After developing these processes Felicia utilized them unwaveringly for approximately 5 years -until they offered no more challenge. She then began to explore new processes or the abandonment of processes altogether . * Perfect doesn't mean that you make an exact copy of Felicia's demo unless that is your chosen goal. You must eventually decide for yourself how much realism you wish to portray with the mastery of these fundamentals. Precision can be found in any aesthetic. Perfect is when you are thoroughly satisfied with your efforts and don't need to be told by anyone else if it's enough. It may take time before you know where that line is. Until then... enjoy the study and the structure of Felicia's lessons and her guidance in Critique Club meetings.

And done! Definitely a labor of love- started in March. I may look at it in a few weeks to see if I missed anything, I have a few questions...but too done with it now to make any more decisions. As of yet untitled, oil on linen, 48"x60" I'll get a good picture of her once I'm sure she's completed. Goodnight 😴, feel like I've been swimming all day in childhood! A good tired. What are you all working on?