Hi Patti - you make some VERY pretty flame images - I like almost all that I see. But, even if I thought they weren't very good, it wouldn't mean that you as a person weren't "worth a little something". Some of the most obnoxious artists make wonderful pieces but just because their art is good doesn't mean that they are worth squat as a human being. You are who you are and your art is what it is and being good or bad at one doesn't mean you are good or bad at the other. This is how some artists become defensive over any slight criticism of their work and, by being "thin-skinned", might miss an opportunity to learn something from another artist or progress and improve their work by changing something.

It's like a person becoming emotionally invested in one's opinion during a debate of an issue. Even when presented with overwhelming proof of the wrongness of their opinion or belief, their ego says, "I CANNOT be wrong" and they persist. What suffers is the truth and they never find it. They want to be RIGHT more than they want to learn the TRUTH.

Don't worry overmuch about that gallery thing. Fractals, especially Apo flames - even ones as good as yours - are the "stepchild" of the digital art world which is in turn the step-child of the "real" art world. I'd be interested to know what site you are talking about. All major art fairs and shows are "juried". Juried means that you send them examples of your work and they are then judged for merit by people who, supposedly, "know" art as to whether or not they will be allowed into the show.

One problem with places like Rendo is that the encouragement/comment thing can give one an amplified sense of the worth of their art and even of their "self". I was invited to the DragonCon Art Show recently held in Atlanta. My samples passed the jury. Since my work is very well received here, I figured I was a shoe-in, would kick major butt, and proceeded to spend well over $1000 for giclee prints, matting/framing, gas(!!!! - lol ) and 5 days in a motel to do the show. Nobody there knew "Rykk" from Joe Blow and I didn't sell a single one. Hurt pretty good for a bit but then I realized that my art isn't ME. It is sometimes an expression of my emotions at a given time but whether someone sees it as "good" or "bad" doesn't mean I as a person am good or bad or that I didn't have great joy in the creation of it. That is not to say that the encouragement I've received here hasn't spurred me to greater effort but one has to not let it "go to their head".

Just let the art you create flow from you and be thankful for the gift of creativity (many people either don't have it in much abundance or don't let it out) you've been blessed with, feel the joy of doing it and discover that your "worth" is something that comes from within and not from some faceless stranger's opinion of your images. I know, easier said than done - even by me who be de one who done did said it - lol.
Flame on!
Rick

Message edited on: 10/08/2005 16:17