Hey Chear up, The most important thing is being happy in what you are doing. There is no one on earth that is going to please everyone. I bet you could look at some of the works that the critics made of your art, and something about it you may not like. Thats the way the world is.

Look at the bright side. There was a group of people looking at a piece of fine art analizing it. "Wow, what debth, what insight." A guy comes up and says, "Yes, my pet monkey is quit the artist." 

Strive to do your best, And be happy you have the tools to work with that make you happy. I'm sure the judges that gave you a bad grade, so to speek, wouldn't want you to look at some of there work they had done sometime. 

I remember when I just got out of Art School, I was the second best artist in my class. A girl in honesty was better than I. I went to apply for a job as an Illustrator. Which I really had no clue at what was involved in the real world. As I was sitting waiting for the interview, the boss was chewing out one of the Artist. I can't remember what it was all about. Then he called me in. He was expecting to see someone with experience and a major portfolio. He glanced over it and said, You call this art. At the time I felt bad, but I had a positive attitude. I told my self, I know I'm good. 

I went to an Art School and Got a job at a Major TV Station in my City at the time. When I looked back and thought about what he had said. He was right in the since that I wasn't ready for the big time then. You will chuckle about it one day. Just smile and be happy, life is to short to let someone get you down. Good Luck!