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Have you ever lost touch with why you paint? I did recently.  I forgot I do not paint to compete. I forgot I paint because I love it. All my life, since I was small I have drawn and painted. I lost touch with that "inner artist" in this competitive world.  Recently, I was not asked back to a plein air invitational. Artists were asked back on the basis of sales and how much $ they brought in. I was extremely disappointed. Plus, a person (not an artist) who worked the show had made disparaging remarks about my work -- I also became slightly depressed.  So to fight it, I took a glass of wine out to the garden. I sat for hours watching butterflies, birds and flowers and orchids in bloom. Slowly and surely inspiration and revelation returned! I remembered I paint because I love it not to please others. I paint en plein air because it is a spiritual, emotional and meditative connection with nature. It has nothing to do with competition. All of us as artists need to accept rejection and disappointment. Perhaps it just wasn't my audience at that event. I recently installed many of my plein air pieces in a local gallery. 8 were sold almost immediately and sales have been happening at a regular basis. Competition was not involved.   We all need to remember to paint for ourselves and the rest will fall into place.