There has to be critics.

Artists try and learn to depersonalise rejection and criticism. We have all been in that situation where we are showing our paintings and some unthinking person comes along and criticises our paintings and it is hurtful.
We take it very personally and if we are not careful it can effect us for a long time.
What we need to do is not take it so personally. I know it is very easy to say, but had to put into practise.
We need to develop coping actions to help us try and depersonalise the negative words.
We first of all need to recognise that they are criticising one painting and not us personally. Yes I know our paintings are very personal to us, but we do need to learn to stand apart from them.
A wise old Artist once said to me, “Some people like Avocados and some people dislike them intensely and voice their opinion. The man selling the Avocados is not being rejected, the Avocados are.”
I know you will say, paintings are different and yes I agree, but the principal is the same. We need to learn to stand apart from our paintings.
Some ways to cope, that worked for me.
* Accept that every painting is not a masterpiece. Boy that takes the pressure off, so now just paint.
* Appreciate those who love your work, because more people love it than reject it and criticise it.
* Don't tell your self that no sales, is rejection. Maybe no one was buying that day, it happens.
* Try and be friendly with those who criticise your work, otherwise just smile.
* Try and win the critics over to liking you. A strange thing happens when people get to know you and like you, often their opinions of your paintings change.
*Learn to smile the critics off.

Criticism is something that we all face. As you all know I now regularly write my blog to Artists and I know every time I put my thoughts out there, I will get some negative responses through, emails, private messages and sometimes in the comments. When ever we put something out into the public space, blog or paintings, we must be prepared for criticism.
The way I deal with it if I get hurt, is to tell myself that so many more people respond in a positive manner to my thoughts and only a few in a negative way.
This you should consider?
I have for my viewing only a personal testimonial page where I keep all the really nice comments that people say to my blogs and if I get down, I go and read theses comments and realise again that the world is a nice place, filled with some very nice people.
Unfortunately we always remember the negative.
Start keeping a personal testimonial page for yourself of all the great complements you get and you will soon see that more people appreciate what you do, than don't.
Never keep negative comments, there is nothing to learn from them other than you don't need them.
Most people are very nice and courteous and say nice things.
Smile off the critics and smile with the positive people.