I submitted a painting to Art In The Parks Mendocino a few weeks ago. While I worked hard on the piece, I had not been to the site in months, so I had to work from a preliminary sketch and some photos. I am a desert painter, not an ocean painter, so I was expecting a rejection notice....and low and behold, the painting got in. I am delighted. I have set a goal to apply to many shows this year, as I think it helps me hone my skills. (And it helps me deal with rejection!) What a nice surprise this was.