Failing and Celebration

There have been lots of celebrations in my art and owning my own business. Some have been big strides, others small stepping stones to get to bridges and different paths.

This most recent fishing trip reminds me to celebrate the losses to make the wins that much more memorable. And sometimes those celebrations are wins for others too.

I'll start with the first with the celebration of disappointment, failure, and just falling short. It's happened a lot this year in my art, but I am grateful.

Applications had opened for juried work, I complied what I thought was a pretty solid body of work, artist statement, and biography. I felt good to have that courage to hit the submission button.

Two festivals I had banked on for my business and planning my year had opened. Again, I felt pretty good about having all of my items together and submitting a competitive application.

Some mural RFQ's came through my email that aligned with my business mission.

Submit.

Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit.

I started this year off with a solid schedule in mind and well....schedules can be funny like that. I learned that the strength to be flexible was more important that a solid and strict schedule.

Following the Submit, Submit, Submit. There was a ...Declined. Rejected. Unfortunatley. Regret to inform you, and many other let downs that filled my inbox. And while I took a moment or a few days to allow myself to process and analyze, I welcomed it. I welcomed the opportunity to see areas for improvement in myself and my work. Most of all it allowed me to sit back and celebrate others.

Seeing my friends and fellow artists thrive and accomplish their goals truly is a moment to celebrate. However big or small maximizing a moment with others carries so much.

Okay, back to fishing. I knew this was our year on our annual girls fishing trip. This was the year the Tarpon were going to make an appearance. For those of you who don't know what a Tarpon is, it is a large sport fish (<- that is how I'm going to put it). Young fish average thirty inches, fifteen to twenty pounds, crazy cool box shaped mouths, large glistening marble glass eyes, and giant silvery slim scales. If anything they put up a great fight that becomes a dance of reading the tension in the line and direction of the fish. Full grown Tarpon can be monstrous and easily fourty plus pounds and much more.

Well, not long into our early morning there it was, the screech of the line on the reel. Again, and again fish on. I want to say we landed multiple Tarpon those first few, but we didn't. And that was okay because we needed those losses to really celebrate the wins, mainly to listen and learn.

Feeling the dissapointment and emotional frustration in the boat, we were ready. Then there it was, the screech of the line. Everything in me wanted to grab that pole and reel. But my friend got there first, and I am so glad.

That first Tarpon was beautiful. My friend did such a great job in her fight, focus, and dance. It was a win for the whole boat. I would be lying if I told you I didn't want to land that first one.

My friend was VIP of the trip. Showcasing multiple Tarpon, large Snook, and so many more types of fish. Celebrating her wins were so important, I was more than happy to be a supporting act. Seeing the happiness, accomplishment, and sharing the joy of celebration was completely worth it. And we made sure to celebrate!

While I have many take aways from this fishing trip, I am going to roll it back into my art practice for this year.

Remeber some of those "regret to inform, unfortunately, and declined " responses. Well, they became wins and reasons to celebrate for others. I watched my friends get accepted into elite programs, juried into prestigeous events, check big wins off their lists, and get accolades of recognition. And you know, I was so thankful for them! Happy and still happy to celebrate their success, wins, joy, and growth!

Something feels good about lifting others up, showing up, supporting, and sharing the spotlight. It's not just their succcess, it feels like community and group success when celebrated together.

Like the fishing story and many positive and fun ones from that trip, I am grateful to celebrate and learn from others successes. I have never been a parent, but a mentor in this lifetime, so I imagine the pride a parent feels is much like seeing others find joy and succeeding after coming through many trials.

If I didn't try, fail, and learn I would not have had the experience, growth, and focus to push forward. My vision is clearer, my practice is more intentional, and my time is fine tuned into being better.

*I encourage you to follow up this blog with my 31 in 31 practice and entry. Early 2026 was rejuvinating, refocus, refining, and rest that was much needed in the studio and in my business.

Thank you for reading along!

Kellene Turner