1. Don't look at past winners. Holy cow - these are professionals entering this contest (really - they have professionals and they have beginners and I am guessing that mostly professionals won last year). It kind of intimidated me, but I decided to do this, so I stuck to it, knowing my odds were lower than I originally thought.
2. I hate rushing art. This contest had a deadline. When I decided to do it, I thought for sure that I would have plenty of time to get it done. But, life happened and I ended up having 4 days. Really, it was an hour here, an hour there, and then my one art day which gives me 5 hours. It felt rushed and I felt a little frustrated because there are things I didn't do the way I wanted to. But, again, I had committed to it and really wanted to prove to myself that I could do it, so I did.
3. I have been debating "reopening" my portrait business. It was never really closed, but I don't get to do very many commissions. I haven't really decided for sure, but I did realize that I don't like the pressure and deadlines. I had to drop everything else in my house in order to get this one done, and I am not really in a position to do that on a regular basis. So, I still think about it. I may just keep it "open" for if people ask about it, but not advertise.
4. It was kind of fun to enter a contest. I may actually do more. This magazine has a monthly challenge, and, while I don't think I will do every month, I may do it from time to time.
So, here it is. It is from a photo I took a couple of years ago. I titled it "Make A Wish".
