Just had a HUGE reality check! I've been struck with the knowledge that critique is ALWAYS important to artistic growth, no matter how bad it makes you feel. Now that I'm thinking about things, I realize that I don't feel so bad about the critique that was given, but the fact that I've been overlooking these flaws for so long!!
So for aspiring artists such as myself: if you feel like your at the top of your game, you're sadly mistaken. There's always room for improvement. In the words of Leonardo Da Vinci himself, "Artwork is never finished, only abandoned."