No steam ScottA, just a little curious fume as to why so many folks seem as if they cannot see much right in this place. Sometimes people here remind me of some extremely nagging wife you see on television sitcoms that babble on so fast you cannot even understand what they say. Yet these same nagging wives, most of them can create such wonders with so much passion and hang them in these galleries for me to enjoy. Yes ScottA, life can suck I suppose. Then you die. Then you return reincarnated as the next forum big wheel and realize all this is not as easy to look after as you thought, nevermind with the utter perfection so many seem to imagine. Kick up my heels? They are kicking alright, better that than pay for the high price of gas to drive my car. I think I will invest in a sleigh or hitch a ride with Santa if he does not charge me. Better to sniff reindeer dung than smell the high price of gas on Christmas eve just so some big fat oil boy can pay for his Christmas time hooker treats. Penguinisto, I kind of figured all that out already, but I do appreciate you filling me in. I was merely suggesting how horrible things might actually be if this place was run by an oil kingpin or similar. Perhaps I should have specified a gallery entrance fee right before Christmas instead of a pay site, which would also make me very upset since I do enjoy looking at all the art here for free. Thanks for that. Happy Holidays

Thank you for your reply. I may be new here, but I am not new to driving and I absolutely detest having to pay more for gas at Christmas. I suppose I would be really upset if the forum folk were to change this all into a pay site right at Christmas, yes, that would really upset me. Happy Holiday

"I wonder why it is that Renderosity wants to play at being a big business, but when something like this happens, they just apologize and think that's all they need to do." Forgive me Sir Legume, for I understand you are the great artist behind all those incredible pieces of humor and contraversy in the gallery here. I do bow to your talents and wit, I enjoy your work immensly. As for the above statement, I have to suggest that if I were to name here just how many "businesses" I have known to DO exactly this, I am afraid my post just would not be long enough nor even shallow enough. With all due respect to heightened feelings around here, and especially to you, Sir Legume, who was so "unfortunatly" in the heat of all this, I do hope people will learn to forgive and comprehend that a mistake was made and a difficult apology of responsibility was followed; not at all something that many cold, hard "businesses" would actually DO. Happy Holidays

Okay hawkfyr, your piano argument convinced me. I choose...ToxicAngel! But will I be hated if I suggest that the pretty beauties in this artists work swayed me just the slightest? I do have a slight sway for pretty beauty, just can't help myself.

Bein a non-artist among this forum I am rather impartial to all of these artists. I would give several years of my life to have a smidgeon of the talents presented here. This all goes to show the quality and substance that has been nourished upon art forums such as these, one can actually see the "progression" within each artists gallery postings over time, something to be very proud of in so many ways. If I have to choose, what specific artist would I choose? Would I be so enchanted by the works of Carles P, be swept away by rohi, be dazzled by ToxicAngel and all that incredible beauty, or would I indeed be overwhelmed by the wow humor and punching contraversy that Legume does offer so many here time after time with such light hearted precision and such fiesta pizzaz. Being a non-artist I do not even know if I have that official right to choose among so much quality here; being someone that truly enjoys the entrancement art has to offer, I may well be too overwhelmed by the sheer contraversy of my own understanding of what it takes to create such masterpieces. Perhaps it is best for me to just stay on the sidelines and enjoy this incredible feast of visuals. That is what I will do.

I think you two really do like one another. It kind of shows, even through all the negativity.

Perhaps you people can get over yourselves long enough to REALIZE what has just happened here? I may be fairly new to this community but I believe one of the "big" people here just told us all that there was indeed an error and even apologized for it, thus taking on full responsibility for it as well. This is not an easy undertaking for anyone, especially upon a site that seems to throw flames and ask questions later; yes, in what short time I have been here I have noticed this habitual far too often. I for one enjoy the ambiance of this ite and would hate to see it destroyed because of lack of understanding and compassion for the basic principals of imperfection. Please have some respect and courtesy. Jack in another thread above has the right idea with his note of "thanks" to this Tammy and I will do the same..."thanks Tammy." Surely there must be countless reasons to really enjoy the many benefits of this site, far more than continue to badger about things such as this that has in fact been acknowledged and apologized for. No one can be expected to be perfect, especially folks that run online forums full of diverse artists and even moreso, so many diverse peronalities. Get over it.

My apologies if what I am about to say maybe steps on anyones' toes or causes anyone any form of grief. Although I might agree with the passion for members wishing to vote on their favorite artist of the year, is this not perhaps taking things a little to extremes? My goodness, I cannot believe the bitterness a possible little err "can" make; it does not take much to get folks aroused around here at all sometimes. Has the spirit of the season left everyone, or am I just imagining the ignorance here? So many are all very quick to defrock this place over something and make a bigger hackjob out of it all than it ever may really have been, and yet, have any of you ever thought that you all sound just like the "contraversy" you seem to accuse this place of? I have seen "instigators" in action before but some members here do have their very profound expertese. Although I can comprehend a concern in one way, I also believe that this might all well be a little far streeeeeeetched for entertainment value and motive based for a few at the sites expense and a bit of credibility bashing factor. Is this a delightful thought at Holiday Time or what?? Such goodwill among a forum full of otherwise creative, passionate, sensitive and sharing artistic members is almost too hard to swallow..give them a break will ya? I will not even mention what this does now to all those nominated and, "heavens", the outcome winner of all this at the end; nothing like taking away the feeling of "pride and joy" right from those that would deserve all this honor if that honor wasn't now so "undermined" and laced with contraversy for the benefit of some that seem to look for ulterior hanky panky. I suppose I did mention it, oh well. I ask you to think about how all these nominated artists must feel now, nevermind the site, now that all the signifigance of this contest might be reduced to a bag of wind to many rather than the sincere honor it all should have been. For so many artists, the ability to inspire seems to be very lacking among too many; if anything this kind of stuff can suck the inspiration value right out of any artist, or contest. This stuff would have been much better all done via e-mails or behind the scenes rather then openly devalueing so many and such an incredible honor.

Melissa, I really don't think the "real talent and skill" remark is warranted at all. Although artists may have various styles and/or originalities, often times exactly THAT which makes them "unique" enough to "stand out in the crowd" and be the "winners" among us all; to fashion, create and establish the works of a Legume can take the same amount of passion and effort and inspiration as that of a ToxicAngel would; they BOTH do have a very unique statement of quality in a very different way and should actually be appreciated for that stimulation of unequaled value their talents seem to arouse among so many members enough to vote for them so vigorously.

Welcome commitee..?

Thank you cooler. I am now a troll expert thanks to you. I believe I have met quite a few trolls, and still know some. Now I know what to watch out for and no more bad dates.

Trolling, what a weird term. So in other words if someone actually has a comment that may be anything other than beautiful and lovely they are condsidered a troller? Trolls are such ugly creatures, I wonder how this came about? Wonder why they did not call this a goblin or gremlin? Why do people not want to be told how to improve their images? And then they call names like troll and spite those that may offer some advice by getting them back which would then make them a troll too? I don't understand. I looked at the top twenty and cannot understand myself why so many images are similar. Some are absolutely great, others are so, so, and it is the fact some are not at all the best they probably could be that I wonder about. Should these not be the best they can be? I am not an artist myself so I may be flamed for this because I have no work to share. I just happen to enjoy art galleries and art forums and like looking at the visuals they offer on display. If a non artist like me can see mistakes or art that is not better than many in the gallery that perhaps should be on the top twenty instead, then maybe there is a problem? Does anyone else feel this way too? Will I also be a troll now for saying this? I hope not.

My goodness. Does stuff like this actually happen here? People can be so competitive, but why? I thought this was a forum full of artists, not a football game site or wrestling arena or even worse, gladiator combat. Artists generally do get along and respect one another from what I have known in the business and hobby side of the artistic world. If anything, a community forum such as this should be a team effort by the members that frequent here, not one of casino tactics or mob mentality. This place should be bound by the support and compassions of inspirations grown, learned, created and shared here. I had no idea artists could be so petty and devious towards each other, not when they thrive on so much creative caring. This all seems so cheesy.

From what I have read hereabouts I think some of this comes from this Legume person and his pink pony stuff, although the longterm effects of the color pink is more apt to drive people crazy as witnessed in padded cell mental studies.

She really does look like Granny. Does she bake cookies?