It is always a difficult job awarding achievements for fine art, for competition is not the purpose of art. However, there are great benefits to acknowledging particular levels of achievement. More difficult still is judging a show with a wide variety of subjects and styles. I have produced a wide variety of works during my career, utilizing a wide variety of subject matter and styles - so although I have become known for my realism - I have also produced non-objective abstractions, and do not inherently value one over the other. It has been my experience that striving to produce abstractions strengthens one's representational efforts, and vice-versa. So how does one rate an abstraction against a representational painting? My process is to largely set aside subject matter and stylistic approach, and take things on a more visceral point of view: mood, atmosphere, emotional impact, etc.. Overall strength of design and handling of media have a great consideration as to awarding of effort.