Commitment versus Completion

Look Closer, Pastel, Acrylic, Watercolor, 24 x 24 inches, ©Lynn Goldstein, $1500 Included in PSA Exhibition 2016

I got an email the other day that discussed commitment versus completion. I’ve been thinking about this idea of commitment and completion being different ever since I received that email. The writer clearly felt  that completion and commitment didn't work hand-in-hand. Having thought about this, I believe that completion is just a step that we take toward commitment. In other words, one completes chores or assignments in order to reach a goal. That's one way to show commitment to something. 
 
You see, I love completing tasks. I make to-do lists as long as my arm. I enjoy checking off what I have done. When I make a list, I am committed to completing what I have written. Making that list helps me to ascertain what is really important to me to finish, which adds up to commitment to a larger goal. 

Now, sometimes those chores have nothing to do with my passions (the things I am committed to doing)  For example, laundry often lands on the list.  That’s not really a commitment except to maybe living my life cleanly.

Anyway, one of the things that I am certainly committed to is improving my artwork and always doing the best that I can when creating. After working hard, I want that effort to be recognized. So, I have for many, many years worked toward having my artwork respected within the pastel world in which I was living.  For those who know me, you know I have branched out into other media, but I digress.

I had a goal, and the goal was to be awarded the coveted Pastel Society of America (PSA) signature membership. You see, I have tried to get that designation for over 15 years. Needless to say, this was a goal that I had for the long haul, and that, my friends, is a commitment.

Why was it so important for me to get the signature membership from PSA? At this point, I’m not sure. I certainly don’t like to think of myself as someone who needs to have validation from others so badly. Some of the artists I most admire are those that bucked the trends. Think of Gustave Klimpt, Van Gogh, Louise Bourgeois, Emily Carr, or any one of the Impressionists, and you get the idea.

Maybe I did need it for validation. I certainly felt that it was helpful with regard to my teaching as so many of the teachers that I admire have signature status.

So, over the years, I kind of forgot why I really wanted it, and instead just kept working toward it. The goal became almost like my “White Whale.” I tried to gain signature status through the membership jurying process no less than 3 times. Thwarted every time. Curses!

After getting some much-needed advice, I decided that my best course of action was to enter the annual exhibitions. These exhibitions are exceptionally competitive. To give you an idea, there are generally over a thousand entries and only around 180 are accepted. Felt like a long shot. You see, as an associate member (which was no easy task either),  you are awarded signature membership if you are accepted into the annual exhibition three times, and it doesn’t matter how long that takes.

Just so you know, it took me 4 years, and I finally, FINALLY have my signature membership. 

Commitment paid off, but so did completion. Without completing what I did, with commitment, I would never have reached my goal.

Thanks for coming along on this ride with me. Do you agree? Do completion and commitment go hand-in-hand? What milestone did you reach by completing tasks to a bigger goal? Let me know in the comments below. 

Layered Individualism, Pastel, Acrylic, Watercolor, 16 x 40 inches, ©Lynn Goldstein Sold
Included in PSA show in 2014 and was selected for an award