There is something that has been bothering me a little as time goes on.

When I was growing up, there weren't very many artists and of those artists they wanted next to nothing to do with anyone.  I started going to comic conventions very early and wanted artistic advice.  They refused to give you any except for a very RARE few.

Now days, there are artists everywhere.  Photoshop, and it's brothers have given practically everyone a tool to express their artistic whims with a skill level that blows away many traditional artists.

What I have found is that 90% of those artists, who are struggling, don't want ANY help whatsoever.  There appears to be some sort of pride in saying: "I'm self-taught" as if this somehow makes someone a better artist because they didn't need any help.  Well, I'm sorry I don't agree.  If I relied solely on "self-taught" I wouldn't be anywhere near as good as I am now.  I took what I learned from others and expanded on it.  I have seen what artists are capable of when they get out of college from art schools.

I wished there were professional artists out there willing to share their knowledge and skill with others.  I am an open book to anyone who has the courage to ask.

Sure, no one likes to be told they did something wrong or what they did wasn't good enough.  Criticism is tough to take sometimes.  It's even harder to determine if it's 'hater' or 'jealous' criticism or someone who is genuinely trying to help improve another artist.  

I'm not going to sugar coat it, especially for me.  I feel 110% alone in the artistic world.  Anyone who is better than me could give a shit that I exist, and those whose skill doesn't match mine doesn't want me to share knowledge with them.

just depressing....

/end rant