On-the-spot painting competitions are fun, but, due to the time pressure imposed on the participants, the products are a result of speed and spontaneity and are far from the perfection of carefully-executed sculpture, embroidery, literature, and food. They are, typically, works that lack layers of reflection. Like sketches and children's drawings, they are either boring or bear too many slapdash strokes and mannered swashes that scream, "Yoo-hoo! I'm a Fine Arts major!"

I had many a day sketching portraits in school fairs, of course. Today, whenever I observe such competitions, I cannot help but think that they are a desperate attempt to match the speed of photography.