Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Ouch! Negative Comments Can Sting!


I had a very kind follower offer me this amazing compliment about this wardrobe.

"Hands down - the best makeover yet ( in my opinion ). Your pieces of furniture art evoke certain feelings, moods, even memories. That may sound flaky, but it's true, none the less. This piece feels like a stormy sea meeting the shore. Better yet, well worn blue jeans over a pair of much loved boots." 

I also received this one...

"I can't! I truly can't say anything...I'm speechless! I can see this piece in a beautiful ranch home in Wyoming. This piece is SPECTACULAR!"

This was beautiful to me. Many more sweet and encouraging comments were written to me about this wardrobe. Then, this happened...

"It used to be gorgeous. Now it looks like it was fished out of a swamp. So Sad!"

"It WAS beautiful! How could she?"

"VOMIT. You ruined a great piece."

Etc... Etc...

Well, those last few DID NOT feel well! I'll be honest.  I've never had that happen, not to that extreme. I've heard, "That piece looked better before", or "You ruined a nice piece of furniture", but not that my work made someone want to vomit. OUCH!





Once I let it settle in and gather my thoughts, I started to reflect on all of the pieces I "didn't buy". The pieces that sat for months in an antique shop...solid wood and perfect. Yes, we've all seen them and admired them and walked away from them. Either they weren't what we were looking for, weren't in our price range or were NOT going to benefit from being painted. Do I know the difference? I've always thought so...and I still believe I do. 

Take this wardrobe for example.  It sat in a thrift shop ( yes, thrift shop ) forever. NOBODY wanted it in it's current condition.  I walked past it as I do pieces of furniture all the time. I say to myself, "If it's still here in a month, I will buy and paint it". 

Now, most of us understand that just because a piece of furniture is painted doesn't mean it's permanent ( enter paint stripper ). Some folks think that by painting furniture, we create a cardinal sin...committed a unforgivable crime.  

Seriously?!??! I adore furniture of all styles and design, unpainted as well as painted. 





I think the difference is this...

I see myself as an artist and we all know that an artist's work will be interpreted differently.  That's the beauty of art, isn't it?

However, these negative comments were more about me being "one of those furniture painters that keep ruining furniture". I know you all have heard similar comments or objections to painting furniture. I don't think they were necessarily hating my paint techniques.  Surely they can appreciate my originality, my unique style I'm creating and my blending of colours to create texture and depth.  I'm a person eager to please but on a personal level, I'll have to grow thicker skin and realize my art is not for everyone to love or appreciate but for me, and me only.  



Lastly, this is my professional business, my career.  I search for unwanted furniture and try to create something new from something that lost it's luster, it's desirability. That can't be a crime. It can't be so bad or I, like so many of you, wouldn't still be at this rough and tumble profession of painting furniture. We love it, don't we? 

So, I'm taking the good with the bad because I choose to. I choose to take their negative comments and throw them in the trash.  I have nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to regret. 

Oh, and I have haters now!! I hear that means I'm doing something right. 

I want to thank those of you who came to my defense today...I love having your support. 

This wardrobe is available to purchase on my site, www.theturquoiseiris.com.
This base colour is Feathered Nest from the Heirloom Traditions Paint company.  I also used Steamer Trunk from Vintiques and the Aurora Staining Gels in the shades of Goldilocks, Snow White and Island Paradise. If you haven't tried these gels, you really should.  

If you liked this makeover, you may also like THIS ONE or THIS ONE.


Have a wonderful day!

Dionne




29 comments:

  1. Bravo! It's a beautiful piece with heart and soul. It's so very disheartening to see how people treat others. Particularly behind a keyboard, I think some folks forget real people are on the other end. Art provokes emotion and some people just aren't emotionally healthy! I always enjoy your pieces and your blog. Shine on sister! XO Michelle P

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    1. Thank you so much, Michelle!! I really do pour my heart in to my furniture. Thanks for your support. xo

      Dionne

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  2. Yes we love what we do. Your work is always wonderful. Can't believe someone would say that. If they don't like your style then move on.

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  3. Wow I'll never understand mean people. I love your work. And if I didn't, I would definitely not be rude enough to trash talk it. Like you said, you must be doing something right since you've attracted haters. Continue on & keep making beautiful works of art!

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  4. Your work inspires me to get out of my comfort zone and create my own unique pieces! Keep singing your own song and ignore the ugly folks who can't carry a tune!😉

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    1. I love this! Thank you, I will keep singing!

      Blessings to you,

      Dionne

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  5. Hi Dionne! I read this post right after I woke up today, and I couldnt believe what I read! You are a true artist and I love your work. You have the guts to do something that I have never seen anywhere else! It is truly inspiring! A got an awfull comment a while back ago on a MCM secretaire desk I painted. Some woman hadthe nerve to tell me that I seem to ruin everything I put my hands on! Can you believe some strangers tells you something like that? Fortunately I had lots of support from customers and followers, but this really made me second guess my self. And that shouldnt happen. Someone allso told me; If you have haters, then you are really doing something great!
    So keep up your great works! I love looking here for inspiration:)

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    1. Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry...that was an awful thing to say. We can all learn from this type of negativity. I do believe their comments are more about them thatn they are about us. Good luck to you and your business. xo

      Dionne

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  6. I love your work and would be so proud to have any of it in my home. Each piece you do is more beautiful than the last.

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    1. That's so kind of you! Thank you for your support!

      Dionne

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  7. Maybe it gets easier as you go along. With each layer of paint, each insult, that's how the skin becomes smooth and characteristic, like buttery leather. I love your work. Wish I had your skill.

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    1. Thank you, Susan! Like in life, we all need to learn to take the positive from the negative, don't we. Rough as it may be, I insist on being a shining light.

      Blessings to you,

      Dionne xo

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  8. I have to say, there are always purists who argue for not painting anything. However, your technique and design for this and other pieces makes them look richer. You can't please everyone. I thought that was one of the most striking pieces I have seen in a very long time. Don't get frustrated by nay-sayers. Keep doing what you do. I love it!

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    1. Thank you, Lisa! I really appreciate your comments and you're right. There will always be that person who says a piece is better in a dusty storage shed than painted and given new life.

      Blessings,

      Dionne xo

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  9. Dionne, you are amazing and you are evoking an emotion in people. Good or bad your work is thought provoking. You are a rockstar!

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    1. Oh Allison, you always say the perfect thing. Thanks, sweet friend! xo

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  10. The haters should "put their money where their mouth is" as my mother would say. They were probably the kids who colored in the lines and got A's, as opposed to those who felt an inner soul and made new lines. Why do we let the negative rise to the top and leave the positive in the weeds? I'm sure they do admirable work-opening up a spray can and pushing-so everything looks bland and uniform.

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    1. Mom's always say the BEST things, don't they? Thanks for your continued support...means so much! xo

      Blessings,

      Dionne

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  11. You said it yourself - you have nothing to be ashamed of or regret. It takes courage to make yourself vulnerable by putting your creativity on public display. I don't know why people can't politely disagree or just quietly move on but I think we can agree that the vitriol-and the vomit - is their personal issue and not about your work. Which is brash and creative and something truly unique on the 'furniture painting scene'. Congratulations!! People are jealous of your success. Here's to that much more (success)!!

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    1. You're right, sharing my work with the world definitely creates vulnerability. Thanks for the words of encouragement!!

      Blessings,

      Dionne

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  12. Hi Dionne,
    I've admired your work for a long time and just wanted to pop over and give you a bit of encouragement. As a professional furniture painter, I get the hateful comments too from time to time, and was spurned to write a similar blog post on my website this past winter -http://heirandspace.blogspot.com/2016/01/on-painting-furniture.html
    I agree with you fully. The pieces that we snap up to reinvent are orphans, are unloved, and through the refinishing process, they are re-born. I suspect you draw more fire than most because you don't toe the line of "farmhouse chic".
    Sometimes scrolling through instagram I feel like I've seen every possible way to upcycle a serpentine front sideboard, and then I see your version, and it stops me dead. Your work is art; it's brilliant and challenging and fascinating. It doesn't just reinvent the piece of furniture, it changes the way we look at it entirely. You are, in my extremely qualified opinion, the best furniture painter in the country, and I don't say that lightly. Keep going, screw those jerks that judge, they're welcome to buy ikea furniture and live mundane lives. You're doing everything right, and then some. Thank you for being the amazing artist you are, and providing so much inspiration for our community.
    Warm Regards,
    Kate

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    1. Oh my goodness, Kate! This was a such a treat to read. Thank you for so eloquently blogging what I wish I were able to say, write and repeat! I do not have your knack for speaking my mind, at least not so intelligently. BRAVO, my friend, BRAVO!!! Your words of encouragement mean so much. I've enjoyed following your work on IG and admire your watercolor skills, also. You are a beautiful artist and as an art community, we have to continue to support one another.

      Many warm blessings,

      Dionne

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  13. Dionne, My first year as a principal (yes, it's true; this picker used to be an educator) I tried to please everyone and quickly realized no one was ever satisfied with my hard work. You have to be you. Love you and do the best you can. Not everyone will appreciate or understand it, and that's ok. Your artistic expression is awesome! You are awesome! No hater can change that.

    Always in awe of your work,
    Crystal

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    1. Thank you for your support, Crystal. I'm positive the education system misses you. I need to come in the shop soon!!

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  14. I just wish the haters would scroll on by . We all have different tastes and never understand why people seem so keen to voice their negative opinions in solicited. You seem to cause quite a stir with a fb group of chalk paint haters! Take it as a compliment that you are featured on a regular basis

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    1. Thank you! Your very kind for commenting.

      Blessings,

      Dionne

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  15. When I seen this piece, I just was in awe. It was the first thing I had seen of yours, now I am a "FB follower" ~ When I seen it, and after looking at your other offerings--I called my husband and said "Now this is an artist!" ~ Keep up the great creative flow--you are amazing!

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