I just got back from the USA where I was attending the 23rd National Space Symposium as the featured artist. The Space foundation was using a piece called Luna as the backdrop. The whole build up had me really wound up and nearly caused me to jack it all in. Hence I deleted my gallery here and decided once it was all over I was packing the whole art thingy in. But the response I recieved in Colorado was quite the opposite to I expected. I've always been pesimistic in my outlook in life , and expected it all to go wrong. I'm pleased to say now that things have changed, and the success of the event has given me the incentive to push ahead.
I thought I'd share some images of the event for you.
The event was held at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs right at the foot of Cheyenne mountain and is attended by the very highest people within the civil aviation, military, and space industries. The opening ceremony was attended by 3000 people and my art was displayed on giant screens and banners all over the place. It was an overwhelming experience to see this.
Highlights included seeing Buzz Aldrin, meeting various astronauts, and on the final night getting drunk in the bar with Neil Degrasse Tyson. Also the posters I was there to sign ran out on the first day, the printed up some more only for them to run out. They told me that has never happened before.
Finally I'd just like to say sorry for rambling on. and sorry for deleting my gallery and thanks to everyone here.

Must have been great to see your work in use like that I know it gives me a buzz to see mine used. 

My avatar is from an animation of a dancing door used by our company presentation team when discussing a product called DOORS that we use - gives me a kick every time I see the little dude 6 feet tall and dancing or doing martial arts on a big screen

Wow! I am without words right now. It is impressive. Wow and congrats!

Way to go, Orbital!!!!  I want your babies......er.....well....maybe not your babies........Many congratulations anyway. We were wondering where you'd got to.  ;-)

Congrats.  I think you needed this trip to find out what we all knew all along.  Your art is awesome!

I think I just sprained my Thumb......Huge Thumbs Up Pal!!

"...and nearly caused me to jack it all in. Hence I deleted my gallery here and decided once it was all over I was packing the whole art thingy in." Put it back - NOW!
I put you on my favourites for a reason!
(grin)
very big congrats!

Congrats and well done! Your artwork makes the stage look really impressive. I can fully understand why your work was so popular!

I think I'll be just putting up my favourite images for now. Or do an archives like ICM did. Anyways thanks once again everyone.

I wondered what happend to the gallery was it soemthing I said. It must be very cool to go to see your work used like that.

thank goodness I downloaded it one pic at a time..;)

It's quite common for people to sabotage success when they get out of their comfort zone. Don’t! Your work is truly extraordinary. Who will we have to look up to if you step down?

Whoooooohooooo hoooo!  Way to goooo!

That's excellent news, you must feel like you're floating.

Couldn't happen to a more deserving artist.

Now go put the pics back... or else!

Congratulations, what a feeling it must have been to see your work up there. Glad you are posting again.

All artists are like this, I forever want to burn my stuff, and start over. The lack of confidence doesn’t help, hopefully the positive response in the “real” world will bring home what that your stuff is quality.

Couldn't believe it when I saw you'd posted a new pic....and it was your first image!! Sorry to hear you felt that way about your art, but please, if you get to that point again, let us all know here first so we can talk you out if it! :-)

Your art is special - there is a sense of peace and magic in your work that really suggests there is something more than what we, as human beings, have  - something just out of our grasp in some way; something wonderful; a better place. I've only been using Bryce a little over a year and it was stumbling across your gallery here that inspired me in the first place to take up the challenge and learn Bryce. Your work is truly inspirational - it brings such joy.  As well as your entire 'balloon' series, there was one particular piece called 'Amongst The Clouds' that really struck a chord with me - as well as inspiring me to learn Bryce, it even inspired me to write a piece of music! There is just something so wonderful about that piece - its like being in the perfect place; Utopia.

The amazing work you did for the Space Symposium is continuing testament to your skill as an artist. You've been blessed with a gifted imagination and I'm sure I speak for everyone here in saying we'd love for you to keep sharing it with us!

I think we all have that feeling that our art is bad, where as I Know my stuff is rubbish :crying:

Now this is impressive; congrats orbital!

I'm sorry you felt that way, it must not have been very pleasant ...but I can be impulsive like that as well so I understand...it is such a loss though, your gallery was awe inspiring to me, and gave me something to aspire to...not that I'll ever be even remotely near as skilled as you...

congrats on your display at the Symposium...although I'm not in the least surprised that your posters sold out...hoping this was just the first of many opportunities like this for you...

Like many others, I too find your work inspirational. I look forward to seeing your gallery up and running again. I think we artists can be way too hard on ourselves.

**Sorry you did that!  I'm going to miss those wonderful balloons, and all the exotic places to which they've transported us over the years.  Congrats on the Symposium, sounds to me like it was a smashing success. 

Do not underestimate your talent, nor the power your artwork may have on the imaginations of others!  I think many of the great minds in the world's space programs (and other careers) have found their inspiration from the work of science fiction and fantasy illustrators such as yourself.  You have a marvelous imagination and also the gift of expressing it incredibly well in the visual media. 

Best of luck with your new works/worlds!

I'd be a pessimist, but it probably wouldn't work out, anyway.**
**
:)**

congrats , orbital, thats quite a spectacle you got going.

"I'd be a pessimist, but it probably wouldn't work out, anyway."

LOL!

I woudl take my gallery down but I am also lazy so that is working for me. So my gallery remains at the behest of my own sloth.

Congrats! So you are making real money with art? That's awesome!!

It is a GREAT feeling to see one's art, which began in the small confines of the mind reproduced by others on a large scale.  Nod nod nod....

**Congrats!

I have periods where I just delete random images from my gallery. Usually when I've made something aweful and i'm a bad mood about it.
I too sell my work as prints, run my own publishing company and hope to soon have an exhibition of my work in a local museum. So it can be done!

Don't ever give up, no matter how low or rubbish you think your work is.... Somebody will always like it.

If we all liked the same thing it'd be a very boring world.

Anna**

Yes, remember Pollock and his worms in paint, argh!

really sorry to hear about ur past gallerys jo! or should i say SuperStar Joe :) Your famous now buddie :) ..... i cant believe you thought of giving it all in.... but to be fair mate I have been like that for the past 4 years! totally hit a HUGE mental block.... but its now passing and getting very inspired again :)

Mega-congratulations Joe! This is a real feather in your cap, and a prestigious accomplishment!  Colorado Springs is me Mum's home town, and Nikola Tesla did some of his wildest experiments there.  I hope that we Yanks treated you right and made you feel at home. Everyone has moments, or periods of doubt, no matter how beautiful, or talented they are; even Jesus did. I hope you put your pictures back. They serve as inspiration to the present and future generations of Brycers.

Congrat's, woah, that's some HUGE Bryce print!

Wondered why this thread had resurfaced again, and see it's because of the return of the wonderer Tricksta! Just a thanks for the new posts on this. Seems like a distant memory now, and not much hope of a repeat as most of the guys I worked with have moved on.

Still it was cool work and I enjoyed looking at the thread again!

Superstar!
Now put your bloody gallery back up. Or else.

Congratulations.  I love Colorado Springs and hope to get back sometime.  It looks great at night from Cheyenne Mountain.