Going back this year to do art just because I want to. No commissions, no limitations, no deadlines. No worries about not making something new every 30 seconds. I've struggled a lot over the last few years with people looking down on my art in disdain b/c it involves a computer. Although there are MANY people out there that do get what we do with Studio, Poser, and Photoshop, it seems that I live in a part of the world that sees it as just an easy way to make art. If it were so easy, why isn't everything I create beautiful right out of the box? Why did others want me to do their book covers so badly? Yet, I still run into those people that say..well you didn't draw it...so it isn't art. Uhm. But movies and photography are? Oh and people that make sandwiches are artists now too? But not me? I got into CG art because I cannot draw people. I readily admit that when it comes to the human form, meh not my thing. However, I CAN draw and paint other things. Hell, I have a minor in art. So, it's not that I do not posses creative abilities, it's just that what I have isn't right for what I needed. I found myself as an author that needed a cover and this was about 10 years before Fiverr or other sites exploded with cheap covers....also about 10 years before self publishing exploded. You know what happens when you are on the ground floor? Finding services and help is hard! You basically had to learn how to do it all yourself if you wanted something done in a timely manner. Also, again, I live in a tiny town where finding things like artists are hard. I did not want to be bothered with stock art because you never know when someone will try to sue you...or who else bought that same picture. So, I ended up finding Studio and Poser. 30 gigs of stuff later I would label myself as a decent CG artist. I can see the change in my work. None of this was "easy" to create. I even did some 3D modeling of prims in Second Life. Bleah. I had no patience for that. Molding and texturing. Making skins for people. ::Shiver:: So, yeah I buy content. How is that any different than a photographer having a wardrobe on hand for their models? Or a painter buying oil paint? I guess I will always struggle with the people that look down on my art. But I've decided that I no longer need them to validate myself or my art. I still believe this medium of art is not something just anyone can come along and learn. Well, you can learn the technicality of it, but if you are not at all artistically inclined your pictures will be flat. Artists put part of themselves into their works and the CG artist is no different. So, now that I am done ranting. This is a Studio picture made with Keiko 6, Photoshop, and the background was one of the ones I put in my free package when I was making abstract backgrounds. I *think* they are still here somewhere. I find myself loving the new version of Studio almost as much as Poser Pro 2014. When Genesis first came out I got excited and then it was more like disappointment than anything. I actually quit using Studio for a long time. Then the Genesis 2 came out and now the Genesis 3. Also, that download manager thingy. I like that. I own lots of V4 and I don't intend to abandon her, but I have to say I'm impressed with the new Studio program. Here's to a 2016 where art is made for the sake of making art because an artist is moved to do so.....