Quote - I thought artists created art for their own pleasure, not the amount of 'hits' they get  shrug

Of course not.... only an amateur does that. Artist create art for others to enjoy and if you show your art in place where no one seems to enjoy it, show it somewhere else.

LMAO
DO you really believe that? Posting 'art' at Renderosity does not make you a professional artist. Selling your work and being published does. Generating hits in these galleries (which are not known for their high standards) does not equate to any kind of professionalism at all, it just means you're smart enough to use an upload form.

Art isn't a popularity contest. Art is that primal urge within you that needs to be expressed.
By all means share it with whomever, but less hits doesn't make it less worthy of your vision. I'd prefer my work to stir one single person emotionally (me) rather than get 100 'hits'.