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Was at an art show, I had entered last night, which brought to mind another I had been in. Last nights show had four judges. There were 19 awards given out. At the award presentation ceremony each judge would give their reasons for why they choose each work for an award. The comments were all very nice. I had entered a painting that had won a second place in the previous show it had been in. This time it didn't place at all. That happens a lot. You can win the best of show in one competition and not even get into the the next show with the same painting. That's why you can't let a rejection get you down, or take negative comments to seriously. It really all comes down to a judges opinion, likes and dislikes. You can have the best painting in the world of a Pit bull, but if the judge hates that breed, maybe was bit by one, they are influenced to not like the painting. Its hard enough to not win an award at a show, especially when you have been in the art game many years, but the show I want to tell you about was when I experienced the most negative public critique of my life. It was a "Plein aire" competition (means to paint in open air). We were to paint outdoors from life for several days and enter our best efforts. There was also a quick paint in which we had 2 hours to complete a work. Each artist was also able to bring three works from home to display in the main gallery, these were not part of the competition. I brought three paintings I had done of old collector cars my husband owns. At the awards presentation there were two judges of vary differing opinions. Another artist had entered a painting of an old car, the male judge wanted to give it an award, the female judge had fought with him, she didn't think the car was art. He won, it did get an award. They proceeded to give glowing compliments to the winning selections. Then my quick painting entry was singled out by the female judge, even though it had not won an award, she made some very harsh negative comments, mostly about how much detail it had. Then she moved on to a sunset I had painted in about 20 minutes. She compared it to another sunset that they had given an award to. She said our paintings were so similar, right down to the same size and black and gold frames, but mine was not chosen because the other artists had done a close up view of the lake while I did the whole view of a sunset over the lake. She said my work was a "cliche".  I had felt I was not in her good favor to start with because of the three cars I had brought. I really don't recall the rest of her comments, all negative and quite lengthy. I was a bit humiliated and insulted to be the only one singled out in this manner, but refused to let it get to me. I knew my work was good, and not overly detailed and I was happy with them. The fallout from this affected others though. One of the other artists has refused to enter this show anymore. Another who had twice rudely  butted ahead of me of in lines to enter art and again when we were both trying to buy frames, was the first to approach me afterwards to tell me my work was very good and don't be upset about that rude judges out of line comments. I had brought my niece, to the show, who was very angry and said she would not enter her art in shows if his is what you can expect. I had to spend time explaining to others that I have been used before as the overly detailed art example in shows. I'm used to it. I'm O.K. with it. I'm going to keep painting the way I do, some judges love my work, I've won lots of awards. You have to let it run off you like "water off a duck" as the saying goes. I continued to enter that competition and many others.