To Cujo,
I recently experienced the "Why am I doing this?" crisis that every artist goes through. What's wrong with my art? Why do I bother? How did that image get to the top 20? I was completely frazzled wondering if I am just a no-talented hack that is posting up images that nobody really likes. The competitive nature that is unintentional, but inherent nonetheless brings this home even more. I don't know if it's the fall or what, but it seems many artists are feeling this sudden doubt. You aren't alone.

The good news is is that the crisis is part of the road to self-realization, a road leading to an oasis. Many things you discover in this time will make you a better artist later on and will help you shed that baggage. For me, it was the following...

1> Don't try to compare your work with those of the ring of pinup artists as you don't have a prayer of winning that game until you learn all their techniques. These artists have found a genre that they excel in and are comfortable in. Fortunately for them, it happens to be the kind of work that is popular as sexily clothed women will beat any medium everytime.

For me, I am too creative to get hooked into a particular genre and after trying two or three, I realized that I didn't want to be a pinup artist no matter how popular it was. It just wasn't what I enjoyed. No offense, but I find the whole medium to be nothing but moving mannequins in front of backdrops. While the post is spectacular, it still lacks (at least for me) the innovation and emotion that I demand in my own pictures for me to feel they are worthy of showing. That's not a dig at those artists, just my own personal observation of what I have realized.

2> Explore different styles until you find one that suits you. I am still on that quest, which is why my gallery is a hodge-podge of different things. Don't be afraid to try something that is not in the mainstream. Maybe it won't do as well, but it's very satisfying to create something that has never been seen or is seen in a new light.

3> Learn all you can about the work you want to do. Often I study the artistic qualities of those that I am interested in. Curious as to how this was done or that was done. Many artists will offer to extend info to you if you ask them or point you in the right direction. I've found many I truly admire to be friendly folk, willing to lend a hand. As thip said in another post to shadownet, there's great books on art that one can use to take up the slack as well.

3> In the Poser gallery, though in others as well, the top 20 and page views are little more than marketing and cliques. So much behind the scene hyping and friendship circles go on that these can only be warped, and have little to do with the quality of the work they represent. I've seen the most exquisite works that didn't even come close to the top 20 or to the views you'd expect. My advice, get over it. If people say they like your work, then that's all ya need. How many people saw it isn't as important as what they thought of it. Try to fight the urge to compete, as art is expression, not competition. Look at the recent "fake thumbnails" experiments. 200-300 views, no picture or a bogus one.

4> Critique is not equal to hating your work. This one took me a bit to come to grips with. A comment can sometimes hurt one's ego, but I realized that everyone sees a work differently and as the artist, you don't always see what is right in front of your face, so it's good that people point it out to you. Most times, when they care enough to comment, it is because they find the work to be promising, but just off in some way. It also does not mean that all suggestions are valid for your picture. They should be weighed with what you, as the artist, are trying to portray and whether you feel the comment is of use. I feel as though I ruined one of my pictures in trying to live up to every suggestion, and so I'm more careful as to what I do with the suggestions I get.

The bottom line here Cujo31, is to stay true to yourself and to your work. Enjoy the quest, the learning, the fun, and the community of artists here and relax. You'll find a much less stressful existence once the realizations set in. Hope this helps...