Thelma, please do not let one bad apple ruin the pie! Whoever it was that im'd you(and I for one would like to know) needs to have their head examined. Your work is lovely and has earned the right to be in the Hot20 as people have voted it there! Surely this person has some clue as to how the Hot 20 works??? One thing I tend to do when I get a nasty IM is check the senders gallery... if they don't have one I delete it and just blow it off... If they don't have enough nerve to post on here and let others view and comment on their work then I'm sorry, they shouldn't comment on other's work in a negative manner. It takes courage to place something you love to do in front of hundreds of people and wait and see whether they like it or not. People obviously like your work or you wouldn't be in the HOT 20 and have such an outpouring of comments asking you not to leave :) I seriously hope you reconsider your decision to leave. I for one would miss your lovely comments on my work and looking at your fantastic work:) hugz&cuddlz~jen P.S. Vote so you get another one in the Hot 20 and rub it in the persons face, lol :)

Please don't let someone who didn't have the gonads to post the comment ruin your day and everyone else's enjoyment of your lovely work.

Thelma, this is gorgeous, and I for one am going to vote for it. Do not let anyone say anything to make you leave. I think he should be reported to the mods. Just ignore him and keep posting your gorgeous fractals hon!

Please do not go away. We need your good influence here. You make this a better place.

Dear Thelma,I always look forward to your work. Please don't let the creep win, go on with your work and let people enjoy it, as you do yourself

Well,Lol! As you can see they (above) Love your work enough to beg you to stay, and let me tell you, that you are not alone with these condemnations..I have been through it myself and others that I have talked to here also, and I think it is childish and rude and just one of those things we have to put up with. But leave or stop posting? NU! You just keep posting in spite of this imature spoiled ignorant person Thelma, because we love your work!Patt

I think that all the above responses and pleas speak the truth, and the facts are obvious. There are always going to be petty, spiteful, hateful little no-talent trolls, that want to cut people down because they are such miserable wretches. To even give them a second thought, is really a waste of your time. It is however understandable that your feelings would be hurt. So the next time some tiny gnat bites your ankle again, simply do this, read this page again and your heart should sing!

The fact that this person didn't post his/her comments in a public forum speaks volumes, Thelma. Don't let an insensitive lout, who hasn't even got the guts to express his (wrong) opinion out in the open, make you leave. Never give the rotten people in this world a victory like that. Take your courage, and your wonderful art, and post it for all to see. Your work is wonderful and the vast majority of us love and admire it. You be the winner, okay?

DON'T LEAVE!! I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHO SENT YOU THE NOTE. I GOT A SIMILAR REMARK!! A WISE MAN ALWAYS HAS HAS SOMETHING TO SAY. A FOOL ALWAYS HAS TO SAY SOMETHING!! WE ALL LOVE YOU HERE. HE WILL ALSO BE JUDGED BUT NOT IN OUR TIME.

Its my turn - I just recently received a nasty IM too - and made me feel so low that I thought I wouldn't post here anymore either, so I found your comments refreshing to know I'm not alone. But you know what, I woke up the other day, watched a TV program about an artist that has no arms, still painting with her mouth, and she said she was glad to still be able to do what makes HER feel good. That made me sit back down at the PC, and render some more. I wanted to get back at the person who sent me the IM, but then I thought, I should be putting that energy "back into my art" and well, I'm still posting. I figure life is to short to let someone else try to control my self esteem. Now if you want to do whats right, let us all know what their sign-in name is so we can see their art and decide for ourselves if they even rank as a critic or as a beginning artist (age 16) that has not learned the ways of life yet!! As you can tell, so many people want to still see your art so what do we have to do, get on your private mailing list?? There is more I could say, but common descency prevents me from yelling it out! :-)

I leave aside the comment of this work for that I believe at the moment that it won't be the I finish, you should continue announcing, the artists that are inside the Hot 20 are there for that have been chosen by all us. I believe that you should continue announcing, don't be allowed to conquer for that reason, there are people that regrettably they are obsessed with the Hot 20 and they don't measure the consequences that take place in the other ones. I say goodbye with a strong hug and I wait tomorrow to see new his works. =)

Thelma, I've watched your skill in crafting flames grow from the first time you posted here and you are definitely a "Primo Polygon Pitcher"! :>) I still remember how happy you were when you finally did make it to the H20 and how tickled I was for you. Reminded me of my first time. Its how we all still feel no matter if it happens once or 10 times. Rendo can suck people in, though, and become a too huge part of their life and they feel like this is all some big competition. Its not! Our only competition is with the programs we choose to learn. I know of a few who've gotten nasty IM's and even one who had her web-sites trashed. But they've all decided that this is just too much of a fun and rewarding experience to just hang it up and just lowered their shoulders and pressed on. The moderators of this site can help you if someone is violating the TOS with nasty IM's. We've all become like a close-knit online family around here and you are a VERY important member of this "family" not just for your cool flames but also for your cheerful personality that helps set a positive tone around here. I hope you will reconsider because WE NEED YOU! Oh yeah - Awesome flame, dudette!

If you leave, the other person wins...not you. You have one comment against sooo many positive ones. I think that you can check mark so people cant vote, but they will still be able to see your artwork... Please don't go, I like looking at your creations. :)

Thelma I hope you are still looking at these comments. You are the third person I know of that this has happened to here and although it it hard to do, you just have to ignore them and silently tell them where to go. Most of the time they don't even have any images posted! Other sites I've been on have the same thing happening now and then, I've had it happen to me (not here). Never give up, you do beautiful work and are always kind to everyone. It is never worth leaving over, no one gives any credence to what one imbecile has to say. As for the Hot 20 it seems to cause a lot of trouble in most of the galleries. Jealousy and hard feeling I suppose. Lots of people think their art is good and everyone else's sucks so you just have to ignore them. At least try too. Looks like you have plenty of support here so I'll see your new work in a little while!

Keep your chin up and your art here:o) Echo all that have commented prior. Your fractiles are some of the loveliest.

Thelma, I know this has happend to more then you so I agree Dirk, I think this should stop !!,maybe everyone needs to see it and know who it is!!, Your art is beautiful and your talent shines!!V

Great image, Thelma! Love the coloring and the presentation! This has happened to more than one person here at Rend. The real shame is that this is probably the work of the same coward who seems to only be man enough to pick on women! He is obsessed with the Hot 20. He puts the other people down so that they will leave and his images stand a better chance of getting in the H20. Anyone reading this message will probably recognize him by the fact that he doesn't have the nerve to even comment on this image!!!! Figure it out for yourself! Speak up and put an end to this nonsense!

Thelma, you were one of the first ones I added to my favorites list ... and it wasn't because your work didn't deserve it ... it was because it did. Your images are so creative, so unique and so full of life. You have always deserved to be in the hot20. In fact, I would have been surprised if your work hadn't made it there. Then that would have been the injustice ... I agree with Dirk ... name and shame ... even though I can see that as being difficult to do. But there are a lot of people here who would love to tear a strip off this person (myself included) for their nasty and underhanded way of attacking a person who in no way deserves it. Let them say it in a comment and see what happens. However, cowards work alone, and under the safety of anonymity. I have seen this happen so often ... fabulous artists getting flamed by people with substandard work. And, it's always the best artists as well.

I too have had these nasty Im.s and am tired of all the nasty people who abound. Seems if you get any thing in top 20, you are a cheat and a misfit, and told that your work belongs in mix media where all trashy stuff goes, wonder how the people who post in that gallery feel, when told that every one who is not as perfect as the great one who said this thinks all people who in his opinion that photo cut and paste and postworked images should pack up and post in mix media. How rude, And the person who said it knows who they are. Petty and mean. Know how you feel Thelma and it is upsetting. Wonder whose turn it is next.

Dear Thelma! The same thing is just now happening to me! And not only with IM! On my gallery and forum! And I am old (?!) and sick (?!) and this is my hobby and I am not making money of it! Did I "push" 285 viwers on my last image? How funny! Did I forse anyone to like my images? Even more funny! Nobody can say to you or to me or to anyone what we should like or what we should not! I wish you to be back! Always will be nasty people around! But thanks God more people here are nice! Your work is beautiful! Share it with us who loves you! Take a rest and come back! VOTE

Hi Thelma,
don't care too much for the idiots in this world. Those who watch too much over the Hot20 lists should only be sent to the admins here. This is what happened to me with my "Parent and Child" series. Please ignore the shit and don't loose your friends. Friends are more important than ugly beings. Focus on the positive side of this gallery!
I hope to see you soon back!

Dear Thelma,I also always look forward to your work! We all here love your work! And nasty guys are everywhere! Ignore them and stay for us! This posting is so excellent! Special glow for special colors!

Don't leave because some person thought something about your work. Obviously not the majority and there are a lot of artists here that find your work to be wonderful. I love your flames. Hang in there and don't let somebody spoil it for you.

Beautiful colors,as always!!Beautifully done!!Thanks!!

It is really awful that there are such pea brained people in this world....who probably can't make a flame for the life of them. Forget them Thelma! They aren't worth the time of day it takes to write this message. I know it feels awful to have something like that directed towards you....but you have to just keep going!!! Let the moderators, and coordinators take care of it!! Show them that you and your wonderful gorgeous work WIN!! All of us here know that you don't cheat, and we also know who we vote for and why. Please reconsider...I think it would be a shame if you stopped posting!

Just read all the praise and support written above for you Tammy! Post this guy's name and watch a boycott of his gallery! Not to mention a flood of IM's drowning his in-basket, none good. He probably doesn't have a gallery or is just a jealous little boy. Don't get down. Just remember.. ART is subjective! One man's trash is another man's art. I've loved all your images, as have all those commentors above. Hope this show of support wins you back. So post away! Let the numbers speak for themselves! Dave :^>

Thelma, sweetie, you have always been there to leave helpful comments on my images and you have a fantastic talent. I adore watching your posts, they're always lovely, because of that talent. You make the H20, again because of that talent. Please stay:):), pretty please:):)! BTW this has amazing colouring and form. Always like the fuller bodied ones.

Thelma, your work is exquisite! This person is obviously jealous. Please don't leave us hon!

He's obviously a major immature Bozo, who has lost his childhood spark for fun and frolic. what a rip. it would be laughable if it didn't hurt you so much. it's not a competition, right? flip him off with a smirk and keep 'em coming sis!!! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEAASE?

Your flame work shines with uniqueness and great beauty..and you must know it is excellent. Please don't give this cruel, insecure person power over your comings and goings- over your life. He is one voice out of the majority of us who obviously think you and your work are top-notch. I hope you decide to stay. BTW, this image is one of your best, IMO; so excellent!