It's great to read some more positive comments about our GD - thanks for that support, guys.
Many of the other forums have had quite a negative attitude I'm afraid...some very cruel comments about the level and quality, which doesn't help anyone I think.
Of course, it's true, I agree, that our OZ GD is at a lower level than many of the other GDs around the world, but maybe I can offer some explanation, from my perspective.
I think the main problem is depth: there just aren't quite enough painters here in australia, and in addition, quite a few of the strong painters did not enter seriously, or not at all, this year, for various reasons. So that means that the 'solid' entries can end up being spread a bit too thin over the categories.
And the second part of thsi problem comes from the format of our GD, where we have 3 'rounds' of competition. As tomaz said, the first round occurs at local GW stores, and some independant stores also, all around the country on the same day. Everyone goes to their local store with their GD entries, and then it's like a mini GD - the top 3 entries for each category are selected, and put through to the next round, 2 weeks later. Round 2 is the 'regional' round (like a state round), where the same process happens again - the top 3 from each category are chosen, and then progress to the 'national final' in sydney, 3 weeks afterwards- this is like the real GD.
The whole idea of this, is to allow more access for people to enter GD from around the country. As I'm sure you know, australia is BIG....it's pretty much the same size as the whole of Europe. So it's very difficult for many people to enter GD if it's held as a traditional gamesday in Sydney; not many people are willing to fly to Sydney for the chance to enter, when they don't think they have a chance of winning anything. Of course there are a few people who would always fly in, but they tend to be the people who are already known painters - so the new format is meant to be better for attracting new painters, as well as more painters.
Of course, there are negative sides to the new format also. In the context of what we are talking about at the moment, with the quality of the competition, I would say that the big negative is the fact that this format pretty much takes away any chance of having international visitors entering GD. It's just not possible - you have to be at the first 'local' round in person, if you want to enter...but who is going to fly in for that, and then wait around for 5 weeks for the real 'final' GD? And besides, it is quite a distance to travel to Sydney, regardless!!! Plus there are all the crocodiles, snakes and sharks lying in wait when you arrive, ready to feast on unsuspecting visitors...
Anyway, the main point I want to make is this: I have travelled to a few GDs in Europe, and some other competitions, and in my opinion, the main difference between GDs around the world comes from the 'superstar entries'. I feel like most of the big GDs are defined by those 4 or 5 entries painted by super top painters - these are the most memorable entries, the ones that stick in your mind when you think of a particular GD. And often, a couple of these entries can come from international visitors, who have made the trip to compete. Generally, the visitors can often boost the level of a competition quite considerably, I think! They can add a lot of depth to the categories. But if you take away this top group of 'super entries', most GDs are of a pretty similar level I think.
This is what is lacking at OZ GD I think. We don't really have those 'superstar' world famous painters in the competition - as I said before, it's impossible for any international painters to visit, which is part of the reason. So that, in combination with the fact that we are quite a small country, without so much depth of painting, is the cause for the level of the competition I think.
However, we are trying hard to develop our painting depth at home! That was the main idea of creating the 'oz painters' forum - it's an attempt to combat the problems of the huge distances in australia, by creating a stronger online community in order to develop australian painting. And I think it's starting to work - new painters are emerging...a perfect example is Jamie Dalzell, who painted that giant - and also the dwarf lord...really fantastic work! And he is fairly new - a very young guy who is really starting to become a great painter.
Well sorry that was so long, but hopefully it was something a bit interesting to think about.
What do you guys think, any thoughts about that?
You might not admit it, but you surely are, and quite deservedly, one of the very best painters in the world!