I see your point, and these guys knows about the business, thats for sure! However, when it comes to artwork (paintings, drawings, CG, sculpturing, you name it), whos to say that "this is right", "this is how you should do this" etc...? Sure, Valejo is a master of fantasy, but that doesnt mean he knows anything about (for instance) scifi, right? Whats the point of having your work disected by someone who perhaps doesnt know crap about the genre? That would make him a "layman" in my eyes! Ive been working in the advertisement-business for almost 14 years now, and ive encountered a great deal of people getting an education at fancy artschools/design schools. Far to many of them have been thaught by professionals, to basically copy someone elses work, and not many of them have the ability to create some own material! Why...? The Pros have been telling them "how to do this", "how to do that" etc This is in fact the standards youre referring to! Now, as ive stated before, i speak only for myself, but the last thing im going to do, is copying others! Feel free to critisize my work, i dont mind to hear an opinion, but im creating whats inside my head, and not whats inside others! This is what Valejo and others are doing right now... But i really wish you good luck! You create great stuff and someday youll get there! :)

Rudolf Herczog
Digital Artist
www.rochr.com