Amateur or Professional?

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Hang on Studio Wall
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I entered the SAA Artist of the Year Competition this year and was really pleased to be a Commended Finalist in the Amateur Still Life category. However, I have since found out that some winners in the amateur categories are selling their work and some even teaching. That doesn't strike me as being an amateur. I am definitely an amateur as I have never sold work nor do I profit from my art in any way. How would you view what an 'amateur' means when you enter a competition? The SAA say in their competition details that they leave it to the individual to place themselves in either Beginner (painting under 2 years), Amateur or Professional category. I wonder if they check the status of people who enter? I may be totally misunderstanding the meaning of 'amateur' within the context of painting competitions, so if someone can enlighten me I would be grateful. One likes to think that it is a level playing field, but I can't compete with teachers and established artists with websites selling paintings, prints and cards who call themselves amateurs.
No, water-based oils have nothing in common with acrylics.  You'll be extremely lucky to avoid issues with this painting, although it may take a while to show.  Look out for bubbles and blisters appearing on the surface - in time, the whole thing can blow, or more likely you'll lose patches of paint in flakes or strips - or both.<div> </div><div>Well, console yourself that we live and learn......</div>
Make it into an abstract collage sort of thing?
Such an obvious thing to do - SO obvious that I didn't think of it for a second!  Well done landscapeart!  And Rainbow, you can still post the picture on the Gallery, too.  <div> </div><div>I was forgetting this was the age of high quality reproduction and the internet.... bit of a snag if anyone asks you for the original of course.....  &quot;Well, I'd LOVE  to sell it to you, but I just couldn't turn down the Duchess, who's just pipped you at the post.  Can't name her, of course; work very valuable; a matter of security - know you'll understand!&quot;</div><div> </div><div>But of course, we don't do that sort of thing.  </div>
Used to use a similar technique for 'Craquelure' effects,before commercial crackle-glaze etc became available in reasonable quantities.In time it may start to look like that old garden gate you sometimes see on allotments,or on an old master. Nice effect,and could last for years,but not desirable in paintings
Robert, you put it so very well. Lol! . Eddie, I appreciate the suggestion and I wonder whether a forger of old masters would use that technique or would that have been easily detected? Blood axe thank you for your input too. Think that I will go back to watercolours for a while and de stress ;-)