My Failed Portrait

I recently started working on a portrait series for an art exhibit. I chose my best friend's dad as one of my subjects because he has such a unique presence and I thought it would be interesting to capture his essence through my eyes. After weeks of preparation, sketches, and finally the painting itself, the day came for the unveiling. As I stood in front of the crowd, nervously waiting for the applause that never seemed to come, I felt a lump form in my throat when I saw the look on everyone's faces. The painting was... well, it wasn't what anyone expected. My friend and her dad were gracious about it, but deep down, I knew I had failed them. Now, whenever I see pictures of their family gatherings, all warm and smiling, I feel a pang of guilt for not being able to do justice to the man who inspired me. So, fellow artists out there: how do you deal with public failure? Do you take it as a challenge or just walk away from that project entirely?