I totally agree with you. Since i stopped participating in contests lots of stress has disappeared and modelling has become fun again. IMHO, competitions are way overrated as it only means that a couple of people (judges) happen to like your work (or worst, they "give" you an award because they know you); Happens everywhere.
Small progres on details and black. The head need some highlights and bottom of the right leg has only first scatch of future highlights. It is not too visible, it is very dificult to shoot this color.