Lao-tzu said that the sage is the tree neither bent by the winds of praise or criticism or something to that effect at least. Remember that it is likely that for every one person who raves over your painting, another thinks it should be burnt. When you start believing a favorable critic or an unfavorable one, you are fishing in murky waters where the captains warn us not to go. If you believe in yourself, you have no need to worry about press clippings, neighborhood gossip, or second hand accounts.
