When opportunity comes, will you be ready?

This is the picture from my first major international group exhibition in Taiwan.

It was one of those lucky breaks that you get as an artist which can change your world forever.

These three artworks were part of a body of work of five handmade paper collages I made for my Bachelor of Visual Arts Honours exhibition.

One of my university honours assessors said my handmade paper was too “crafty” and not really art, so I was feeling pretty despondent about them. I hung two in the graduate exhibition and they sold, so that lifted my spirits a bit.

The other three that never got hung sat in my paper drawers for over six months. Then I saw an exhibition application for the International Paper Fibre Art Biennale. The application form said they were interested in works in a series of three. I had a series of three!

I thought of applying, but it was such a big call, I went through the usual self doubt. What if I fail? But then I thought - what if I am successful?

 So I ticked ALL the boxes on the application form. Yes I was available to travel, yes I could hold papermaking workshops, yes I could speak about my work. 

I waited, and waited, an email arrived asking for more information about holding a workshop. Then another email arrived and another. I held my breath. 

I could hardly believe my luck when the email arrived to say I had been invited to be a guest artist and present my work. An all expenses paid trip to Taiwan.

This was my moment of success and I’ve never looked back.

This exhibition opened up so many opportunities for me. But it took planning and perseverance.

I had a small but cohesive series with a strong focus and story. The works related to each other visually and thematically. I had my artist CV and artists statement ready which I was able to use to address the exhibition theme.

I took the plunge and put myself out there. It was daring but it paid off. As a result of that opportunity I made connections with other artists working in the same mediums, I sourced my first artist residency in France, applied for and was awarded a grant to undertake the residency and have then gone on to hold other papermaking workshops in Europe.

This was not overnight success. I still get rejected for exhibitions, but I still keep looking for new opportunities. Creating consistently and planning for opportunities to find you, are the keys to success.