"people like frazetta, boris vallejo, alberto vargas, etc dont qualify as artists, since all they do is pinups." Illustrators, I'd say. It's a fine but real distinction. And there's nothing in the world wrong with being an illustrator. It's like the distinction between Louis L'amour and William Faulkner: L'amour's sold more books, is loads more fun for most people to read, but you wouldn't call him an artist. Genre/formulaic work rarely crosses the threshold into capital "A" Art. Raymond Chandler the obvious exception. Not trying to pick a fight here--I admire lots of what I see in the Hot 20, and wish I had the time/patience/talent/tablet to acquire the truly amazing postwork skills often on display there. And Blackhearted's MP stuff is firts-rate, A+. I joke about the Hot 20, but I've learned to take the whole thing for what it is, mostly--a big ol' ass-kissing contest. Which is fine.