On Winning BoldBrush

 I was informed by several well wishers over the weekend that I had one the Best of Show in the BoldBrush online competition. However , I was so focused on my Jim's Memorial on Saturday I did not check until Monday morning. It was hard to celebrate as my Father In Laws passing was a very emotional ordeal. I think I got too close by producing a 14 minute iMovie Documentary of his Life. It struck me how much he had accomplished in 87 years and that he was a very faithful man. His wife Letti was sick with cancer for 14 years and Chaplain Jim was a model man of God who stood by his wife and went to the ends of the earth to get her well. I do plan to paint a portrait of him although I did do a magazine cover with him and his wife Letti years ago.

 Years ago , winning would probably have gone to my head. In fact , I know without a doubt it would have. The years have rounded the jagged bristly edges of my pride. There are so many good artists and paintings produced that I find it amazing how one can chose one over the other. Often times at the end of the competition I look at paintings that I thought were excellent not even make the top %15. The jurors taste plays a big role in the decision making process. In fact , this is one of the portraits that I have painted where the sitter does not like it. He has not told me so but I could tell when he looked at it he was not delighted.

 I want to thank all of you who  sent me emails to congratulate me. I am moved and honored that you all would take the time to let me know. What a blessing.

 I guess one of the benefits is making new friends and I want to thank those who are reaching out to me now. I called Rich Nelson , who congratulated me by email , yesterday and talked for awhile. I've admired his portraits and the skilled color nuances he achieves in the flesh color. He encouraged me to keep on entering shows and if possible to attend the Gala Event sponsored by the Portrait Society of America in Atlanta this spring. I hope to attend if possible. But what struck me is how the Internet has changed everything and how competitions  allow artists to compete and see the entries and how  there are opportunities to many outside the localities of the event. Also , meeting other artists via the internet is such an exciting thing. I don't have to produce art in the solitary confines of my cave. Our lives can be revealed to any level of inspection that we feel comfortable. I mean , in FaceBook you can either let your friends only look at your pics or can let everybody look.

 But my point in writing today is really about not giving up. My mother once told me as a child that " Frank Ordaz does not give up!" and that motto has stuck with me to this day. Even when I feel that its no use and there is no point to entering ONE MORE TIME , my mothers voice can be heard ... Frank Ordaz does not quit.... Frank Ordaz does not Quit ....

 Competing sharpens the sword. Sporting events all collide on competition. Whoever finishes the race first  wins. Quiters can't win. They have bowed out. There was a stretch in the BoldBrush competition where 3 months in a row I had failed to gain the attention of the judges in the top %15, even those that I had admired....... and I felt hurt and dismayed. But heck ... Frank Ordaz does not quit. I keep entering and I plan on keeping in the race to my last breadth.

 At the end of the day , the winner gets some attention until the next winner is chosen. But winning feels that you are on the right track and getting recognition from your peers is a very gratifying thing. Oh ... and the money ain't bad either. Thanks Clint Watson for creating an opportunity for artists to show what they are up to!

blessings