Are showdowns popularity contest

[pehiatt]

Are showdowns more popularity contest or real competitions centered on art. I find that the voting is often about how many friends an artist can muster?

From time to time I enter the The Saatchi Gallery Showdown. This website has over 70 thousand members. and close to 1 million works of art. Talk about getting lost in the crowd.

[pehiatt]

This work will also be included in upcoming one man shoe "Second Genesis"

Title: Tuesday

Year: 2010

Medium: Oil on gessoed panel

Dimensions: 30.48 X 40.64

Artwork Description: Wimpy a character from Popeye was contently borrowing money to feed his glutinous lifestyle with the promise that he would gladly pay it back Tuesday. For him Tuesday never came. Well, for all the Wimpys in the world it is Tuesday

Current rating: 8.29

Rated: 45 time(s)

As shown on The Saatchi Gallery showdown site.

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/showdown/index.php?showpic=271526

[Erika Takacs]

Are showdowns more popularity contest or real competitions centered on art. I find that the voting is often about how many friends an artist can muster?

Yes, most are about popularity, especially if there is no jury. The weirdest is a new site called Art Judge, that allows as many works as you want to enter, then cuts the entries down to half each week based on ratings. As a result, you have some incredibly good works in the top 20 based on merit, right next to junk based on friends' votes. I just entered for fun to see how do I fare without letting anybody know about it, the best position I reached was 57th. Not bad out of 600+

Joe's is the fairest I've seen so far on the net, and it was at its best when only members could vote. If I'm not mistaken, the popularity vote is worth only 25%, the jury's votes decides the winners which is pretty fair I think.

[Erika Takacs]

Your latest reminds me of the latest oil spill more than anything. And by the way you got my vote on Saatchi.

[pehiatt]

I did it in response to the current spill. Saw the cloud in an AP wire photo and thought it was right up my alley.

[BYart]

Patrick,
This is just incredible work, so riveting! I was already amazed with your work, given it's execution and subject depiction...but this one is my fav. of what I've seen of your work thus far...your work is always such a enlightenment and thought provoking experience. BRAVO!!!!!

[pehiatt]

Ended up with 980 votes and a 7.93 rating

I looked at all 1995 entries. There was some very strong work with scores of 9.9. Still the finalist left me cold.

Final Round here:

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/showdown/

One benefit for entering. I had a jump in website hits.

[ArtConsultant]

Yes, most are about popularity I wish they would just display the art with out the names of the creators and see what art actually wins then
ing out the actual winner. I have seen some horrid art win in my days.

[Erika Takacs]

That's better rating than the current finalists'! Not impressed with them either.
I now entered the next round for fun. I could use some more website traffic too.