Which is directly to the point. I've never shied away from fire (I'm a red headed aries, and was born on april fool's day. Sorta started off playing with fire...). But I'd like to know just how pervasive that kindling is. If I'm going to be waltzing through a bonfire, I'd at least like to know how thick the asbestos suit mentioned earlier should be. "...It's an art. Not being a science means there are no hard and fast rules and techniques that can be quantified and passed along to others..." This is a mixed bag. I agree that critiquing is an art. A good assessment may be utterly worthless to a specific artist, but it might not be to another -- it will depend on how close to the original intent of the artist the critic comes in their observations. That's part of the trick. However, I disagree that there are no hard and fast rules or techniques. There are always several ways of doing something, perhaps, but it is the act of doing it that is what would be offered principally. And that is usually hard and fast. It's unlikely, for example, that I would comment on renders that seek to achieve utter realism. For one, I do not see it as an artistic challenge so much as it is a technical one. Which is not to say that realism shouldn't be involved, but that there is a point where the act of trying for photographic realism moves beyond the goal of art as I see it. Given that, I'm unlikely to comment much on those aspects. Someone who's perception of that goal is different from mine would be more suited to an assemssment than I. But that's part of the point of an "art community". It's to help each other improve and grow as artists, not to simply pat each other on the back and say good job. Sometimes you need a prickly sort to step up and say "hey, it's not bad, but you could do it better this way". Someone who wants to improve their work, be it a hobby or a trade, is going to listen. Listening is not the same as acting, of course -- I expect plenty of my comments to be off the mark from the intent of the artist. It is unavoidable -- I am not the artist, and did not make the piece. But would they find value in my comments? Well, we'll have to see. I've dabbled a bit thus far today with a few here in this thread already. I too, am an artist. It stings to for poorly done crticism to be given. But I do listen to all of it. (sometimes perhaps too much, othertimes perhaps too little) I've benefitted from it, however, more often than I have not. And I'd like to be able to return that favor. And byrdie -- brace yerself, gal...

thou and I, my friend, can, in the most flunkey world, make, each of us, one non-flunkey, one hero, if we like: that will be two heroes to begin with. (Carlyle)