This is a great reminder that success is 95% hard work and perserverence.The other 5% often comprised of connections, networking and a dash of luck can't really be counted on, but hard work pays off.

20 years of rejections from the same competition has to be hard to take without giving up!

I also found your statement ..."He could have given up on his dreams years ago, and no one would have blamed him,considering his success was being thwarted by some very influential artists"  very telling.

Artists are so often very giving and generous but it's no secret that as you rise in the ranks there is infighting and cliques of influential people just as in any other business or industry.  That's why this post is such a necessary reminder to believe in yourself and cultivate a small group of trusted associates to help you along your way.

Curt Walters has my deep respect not only for his fabulous paintings but for the strength of character and inner fortitude he has cultivated throughout his career.

Curt's persistence is more than admirable, but it is his insistence that all of his paintings be of the highest quality which puts him head and shoulders above the rest.  And on top of that, he is a genuinely humble and generous person.

Thanks Steve for this example - somehow it's comforting to know that even the best artists had to work really hard to get where they are.

The point that keeps getting driven home, at least for me, is that the better our artwork is, the more likely we are to succeed, and so much of our time needs to be spent on raising the bar in the way of quality - which takes a lot of time, education and effort, but is so worth our efforts.

Thanks for the reminder through Curt's experiences. And thanks to Curt for hanging in there and contributing to beauty through his artwork.