Cloth, Paper, Scissors is my favorite art magazine. I've been a subscriber for many (many! 10?) years. It always delivers a variety of mixed media techniques as well as interviews with artists and of course, new product reviews (who doesn't NEED more art supplies, right?) It’s a happy, happy day in our house when my CPS magazine arrives and I can truly say it shapes my artistic style over the years.
In each issue they also offer a Readers Challenge. They ask for submissions from readers usually within some sort of theme; hand stitching, city-scapes, recipes, or portraits, for example. Each issue I admire the readers submissions and shyly wish that I could/would submit something. I sort of react like a deer in the headlights and draw a complete blank when faced with creating something based on that issue's theme. I am also a little afraid of rejection. Until last Spring.
In each issue they also offer a Readers Challenge. They ask for submissions from readers usually within some sort of theme; hand stitching, city-scapes, recipes, or portraits, for example. Each issue I admire the readers submissions and shyly wish that I could/would submit something. I sort of react like a deer in the headlights and draw a complete blank when faced with creating something based on that issue's theme. I am also a little afraid of rejection. Until last Spring.
Last Spring 2018, I submitted a photograph of Genevieve for CPS's Mixed Media Portrait Challenge. I figured if there was any time I was ready to put myself out there, it was with this piece. I love Genevieve and had a wonderful time creating her in a few hours of focused work. She truly seemed to flow from me in a sort of magical way (sounding kind of woo-woo, I know). When that sort of creativity comes along, you just have to open up and let it flow and so I did. Fast forward a few weeks and I am notified that Genevieve made the cut! CPS wanted to publish her in the Fall issue of the magazine. I was one of 9 readers who were accepted. My husband likes to point out that I was the only artist west of the Missippippi chosen (geography geek).
I mailed off the original art, and waited for my Fall issue of the magazine to arrive. Only it didn’t! In all of the many years I’ve subscribed, this was the first time my issue was not delivered. Ah! But how could this be, when this is the issue I’m actually in?? I was left with having to buy the issue on Ebay (I actually bought two because I was so excited.) Guess what? The Fall issue didn’t contain the mixed media portrait challenge. It had the results of a different reader challenge. So, I thought I’d just have to wait until the Winter issue. What seemed like the very next day, I received a notice that Cloth Paper Scissors was ceasing publication effective immediately and the Winter issue would be it’s last! Seriously? I had JUST renewed by “prescription” for another 2 years. And, what about my reader challenge? Would it appear in the final issue? Well, yes, yes it did and that is bitter sweet. It is so thrilling to see my work in my favorite magazine and yet so disappointing that the magazine is ending. I guess the lesson is, enter the damn Readers Challenges early, and often!
I’m working on putting myself out there more, and it’s paying off. More on that later…
I mailed off the original art, and waited for my Fall issue of the magazine to arrive. Only it didn’t! In all of the many years I’ve subscribed, this was the first time my issue was not delivered. Ah! But how could this be, when this is the issue I’m actually in?? I was left with having to buy the issue on Ebay (I actually bought two because I was so excited.) Guess what? The Fall issue didn’t contain the mixed media portrait challenge. It had the results of a different reader challenge. So, I thought I’d just have to wait until the Winter issue. What seemed like the very next day, I received a notice that Cloth Paper Scissors was ceasing publication effective immediately and the Winter issue would be it’s last! Seriously? I had JUST renewed by “prescription” for another 2 years. And, what about my reader challenge? Would it appear in the final issue? Well, yes, yes it did and that is bitter sweet. It is so thrilling to see my work in my favorite magazine and yet so disappointing that the magazine is ending. I guess the lesson is, enter the damn Readers Challenges early, and often!
I’m working on putting myself out there more, and it’s paying off. More on that later…
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