_ I am working on the next book in The Shy Artist Guide series. I haven't settled on the title yet.  For now I am calling it The Shy Artist's Guide to Answering Those Annoying Questions. It is filled with all those questions and comments that artists and crafters hear all the time. You know, like, "Did you make these?"

So, I was working on the chapter dealing with the comment, "That's the most hideous thing I have ever seen!" I have yet to come up with an appropriate response to this comment. And, I think it is probably best left alone. Here's an excerpt from the book. See what you think …

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I had left my booth to go use the restroom. As I was coming back, I was following behind two ladies who were headed for my booth. One went straight up to one of my favorite pieces and exclaimed in a rather loud voice, “That’s the most hideous thing I have ever seen!” Her friend was mortified and tried to get her to recant. As I stood behind them she continued her rant. Eventually, they walked away never knowing that I heard the whole thing.

My immediate response (after picking my jaw off the floor) was surprise at how tactless this woman was. How could she say anything so negative about my work? After all, it’s my artwork and it’s beautiful, right? OK, time for a reality check. Not everyone has the same taste as you. Face it, some people will love your work, some won’t notice it at all, and a few (hopefully, a very few) will hate it. It is probably not worth the effort to try to get someone from the latter group to change their mind. (Although, if you have nothing better to do, then it may be a good exercise in people skill building.)  Just let it go, maybe get a laugh out of it, and move on.