You never know when an opportunity to "get your work out there" will come along.

Recently my very dear friend from the Jacksonville, FL, area, Dianna Lawrence, sent me an e-mail about a wine label design competition being sponsored by a national restaurant group promoting the release of a new Cabernet Sauvignon. The group is promoting "wine as art," with which I happen to agree, and will have the winning label design be the label for the new wine for about 6 weeks in the spring of 2010 through out the United States. That would mean a great number of people will see the label, and hence, see the art work of the creator. Wow! What an opportunity.

So I have entered the contest.

What are my chances of winning? Slim, at best; however, you never know what will catch the eye of the judge for the contest. As an artist, I have learned to never guess what my viewer will see in my painting. How could I possibly know what will draw the viewer in. My responsibility is to continue to create art with passion, with craftsmanship, and with ownership.

So what if I don't win the design competition. I now have a very nice piece of art that someone will want to enjoy. It would never have existed if Dianna had not sent me the contest notice.

So, at dinner tonight, I will open a nice, rich, Cabernet Sauvignon to share with my husband as we savor the warmth, and hearty flavor of our beef pot roast with seasonal vegetables. I guess I am a winner after all.