The Follow Through

After the rejection, I sat with the disappointment. Not because I thought that show was the only opportunity—but because I had already prepared.

I had already said yes.

I had the work framed, something I’ve historically reserved for small pieces or confirmed exhibitions. But this time, I didn’t wait. I believed in the work. I acted from the version of me who is ready to take up space.

And honestly? The frames look incredible. They don’t just elevate the paintings, they affirm them. This wasn’t about fitting into a group show. It was about stepping more fully into my role as an artist who honors her own work, her own readiness, her own timeline.

The show fell through. But the care I gave the work remains.

That’s the thing about follow-through, it’s a kind of devotion. It says: Even if the outcome shifts, I will still stand by what I’ve created.

These paintings will have their day. Maybe in a solo show. Maybe on the wall of a collector who sees exactly what they are.

And when they do, they’ll carry this energy with them: Readiness. Respect. And the refusal to shrink just because one door didn’t open.