Sheep fences on Rutland Water by Barbara Taylor-Harris

This should make them accept your work Barbara. It is very good, good luck and I know how you must feel.

Thank you. I think I will be black balled forever. I am going to write a letter of complaint to the society. they have no published membership limit but usually accept between 6-8 once a year. They accepted 70 applications so they knew there would be lots of disappointed fellow artists. They did not inform applicants of the number of applications so they could make an informed decision as to whether to make the effort to take their work and be prepared for possible rejection. In this digital day and age they could reduce the number by reviewing on line, saving artists time, effort and money. They only wanted 4 paintings with informal guidance that they should be all similar style, media difficult if they just don't like the style! They have a policy of no feedback and the rejection letter is 3 line pre- printed with your name written in biro! Artists put their soul into their work and can feel vulnerable when they open it up for critique or assessment. Artists should respect and treat fellow artists with more dignity and compassion. Not all artists are confident and robust and can be devastated by such callous treatment. It's a society that considers themselves professionals so it's appropriate to expect more of them. A whistleblower on the selection committee told me my work had been described as craft, and that had I entered more traditional work I would have been accepted. I had entered 4 of the paintings from my 3d printed pen mixed media portfolio...cutting edge contemporary, and good quality so basically it was don't like them. The whistleblower told them that as a mixed media artist I can paint anything but to no avail. It's a professional issue. I am a Professional artist exhibit and sell, and am a Professional Associate for the SAA. I have concluded that I really would not want to be part of a group that behaves like this. I know some of the artists that accepted so hopefully they can question, change and improve practice.

I am beginning to wonder - it's not a Leicester based society is it?

Oh dear frightful and best of luck.

Thanks. I Doubt the letter of complaint will get anywhere...it'll be convenient to shelve it as sour grapes. I know some of the new members and hope they will seek to change its practice from the inside. A good thing it has made me think about my responsibilities as a member of other societies, clubs... Being an artist is hard enough without so called 'professional societies' behaving so poorly to fellow artists! Knowing what I know I would not want to join them in their current form. So I shall continue on my journey and enjoy the company of people worth knowing.