[Kimberly Dow]

Allan -

If you get a good response - you're not going to change it are you? This isn't about competitions having a problem with 'reactions' to your work - it's about the artist getting help with the piece. Whether it is loved or hated, it is still mine. If I get comments that are geared towards getting me to fix parts of it - and then I do fix parts from someone else's guidance - then that is where a competition could have a problem with it. It is the area of ownership - who created this work.

And I think most would agree - even small changes from others critiques does not change the fact that it is your painting, but what if you run into a judge that disagrees? It is not worth taking a chance.