Hyperborea - what's wrong with your English? Seems fine to me! draculaz - first off, you seem to be missing the point of the Bryce contest. Or rather, the point as I see it. For me, it's just a bit of fun. I'll take up the challenge and knock something out just for people to look at. I don't spend 20hrs on it (I barely spend 2hrs) but it's just a laugh. I think all the entries are great - some better than others, but who cares? I don't! I think I've a realistic idea of how good (or otherwise) I am at art, so the fact that someone might pass up on some quick "sketch" I did in favour of shiny balls over water doesn't perturb me in the slightest! Each to his (or her) own. There's more to art than complexity. I agree, of the two images you posted, yours is the better one. But having said that, it's not really a piece of art, it's more a showcase, as you suggest. Nothing is really happening, it has no focus, no message, the POV is bland, the colours so-so. In other words, have you considered that perhaps the critic decided he found more meaning in the other picture? Although it was less technically accomplished, maybe he just liked it more? I can (just) see your point regarding critics, that being that some people wouldn't know art if it kicked them in the ass. But so what? This site doesn't claim to offer pure and professional critique. It's a community. There are some exceptional artists here and there are beginners and everything in between. They all have a right to comment (as long as it's a genuine comment and not a troll or a p#ss-take). If you want to improve via critique, why not just look at who comments on your work and either ignore the comment (if it's say, from a newbie and you don't think it's helpful) or take notice of it (if it's from an experienced artist). My last attempt only drew 2 or 3 comments, but as one was from Roobol I didn't much care that few other people had commented - I'd got the helpful feedback I needed. Having said that, I take notice of ALL comments on my work, because at the end of the day, artists rarely produce work solely for OTHER artists to enjoy, they do it for general consumption.