As you stated, I was NOT implying that your entry was substandard. In fact, I was not saying at that time that any one particular piece was. As for the Christmas Card c'test, I think that, of the top three, yours was superior. But, the fact that the winner chosen was not the "best" out of all the entries (I did not enter this particular contest by the way) displays my point, and yours, exactly. If campaining is what wins a contest described by the sponser as "let's see what you can do", then the means does not justify the end. If the event was to elect an artist, then campaign away. Please accept my apologies if you have been offended; since this was not my intent. I am grateful for your insight into the workings of the contests. I now understand that if I wish to win a contest, my effort should not be placed in the creation of, but in the campaigning for, a work of my making. By the way, your gallery is most original and does display skills rarely seen in the winners of the contests.