Audre, as a published author that is exactly why I am speaking out in disfavor.

I've already stated in other threads relating to this project that I have never had to pay anyone to be published. Never.

I was lucky, I suppose. I wrote some online articles, and an editor from a big publishing firm asked me if I would be interested in doing a chapter for a book. That led to a long string of books, and eventual burnout ... which is why I'm back to art.

As an artist, I will readily admit that the stills I do are nowhere near "published art book" quality, so I wouldn't pay to enter any art competition. It's a given in my mind that I won't make it (LOL).

However ... I am not speaking out because I don't think I won't get published in this art book. I am speaking out because there will be a lot of disappointed people in this community, those who paid that entry fee with high hopes. Here, in the community, they get lots of "atta boys" and "That image is WONDERFUL!" But they don't get the constructive criticism from the trained and educated eye that will look at this book. THIS is the point I was trying to get at in my previous message, and when I tried to go back and edit it, it was too late.

As I said earlier, this community includes MANY who are just learning. In this little community they are told they do wonderful work ... and so they pay the entry fee believing that those images are the best things they've ever done, and they have high hopes. In fact, their images may show great promise, but they aren't quite "ready for prime time."

That is why I think it's wrong to expect members of this community to pay the entry fee. Many of them can't AFFORD to pay these fees, because of the very fact that they ARE amateurs or hobbiests. These feelings have been behind every post I have made on this topic.

Renderosity is a business. They have more to gain, and they also have more funds at hand than the artists in this community. I'm not trying to speak out AGAINST Renderosity, I am trying to speak out FOR the members of this community.

If that makes me a bad person, then I guess I'll have to be a bad person. 8-)

Message edited on: 02/05/2005 15:20

Message edited on: 02/05/2005 15:27