This is a cool idea. I've never been to an art competition. I usually think of art as a solitary pursuit influenced by the muses, but a competitive event would likely influence the creative process too.
This painting uses a great technique. It's simple yet full of complexity.
It looks simple, but the truth is that it's not. It's very complicated. The level of detail and how small they are make it complex! I hope you can attend an art contest. It's great!