These things are all totally true and I commend you for bringing these to light. Your advice is always appreciated!

As for what to post next, C. Tools of the Trade. I could use that knowledge!

~Yosei (TheDarkAngel)

You're awesome ^__* I 100% always agree with your articles.
I say choice B would be c0ol.

[9.tailed]

Mmm, another article I completely agree with, I love your writing style it's pretty funny but serious you know you're funny but you say your message clearly as well. I've dealt with crap myslef, well I'm not the greatest but yeah all that stuff they do doesn't help. I vote for C because as someone who had to work hard just to get to the level I'm at now I can always use some help and instruction. I still can't color, I'm not great at shading and learning how to use the pencils and paint that do this will be a huge help.

oh my gosh, thank you. i've been waiting for an article like this. :)
i personally haven't sold any of my art at a convention (to be honest, i haven't been to one yet); i'm still pretty young. but i've gotten comments from school quite a bit like the ones you explained about, such as "you didn't draw this; you're a fake", "you got this off the internet", and "you copied this". it makes me so angry, but all i can do is smile and say, "i didn't, and i can prove it". another thing that irritates me is when my classmates think that i'm some kind of art vending machine with the power to magically create a picture to every random person who walks up to me. now, it's a different story if it's a close friend or if it's a teacher asking for me to illustrate something for the school, but for one thing, i don't do people's art assignments for them. >>;

anyways, that's enough of my ranting. i'm going to an anime convention in the next couple of months, and i'm very excited to see all of the art that's being displayed. i sure hope that i'll learn something from that and your article. :)

well, great job on the article, and definitely a great topic! and for the poll, i think i'd like to know about option b; that sounds like a good read.
keep up the great writing (and art!)

for your poll, how bout tools of the trade

I'm not an artist per se but I do enjoy to draw on my free time. I have never been to a con before either but I understand how hard it must be to be there so many hours and still hear people saying that.

So yes, I couldn't agree more with you on this, really. Great article!

I'd like to see C (ha!). It's nice to be able to draw completely with CG, but there are so many other mediums to try: acrylic, watercolor, and tempura paints; pen and ink (Deleter's Saji-Pen Tips and Maru-Pen Tips are love!); pastels. There are so many tools of the trade to choose from, even if you work mainly in paints (my No.2 White Sable brush is my weapon of choice. I use so many liners and spotters). Heck, blending mediums when making an artwork can lead to interesting effects.

Wow, I've never seen any of this happen at an artist ally while I was at a con, but wow thats rude that someone would talk trash about your art.

I'm an artist as well and you have a higher tolerance level than me, your great ^ ^

I vote for B.

I vote for B, Great sources of artistic reference material. =)

I can surely relate to everything you mentioned in the essay, whether personally or observing while this happened to a table-mate or neighbour. Last Youmacon, I agreed to share my table with someone who has a very unique style - basically a love it or hate it type thing. And on several occasions, while he was sitting right there, someone would come up and comment on how ugly or freakish his style is, as if he wasn't sitting right there. I think that something con-goers need to remember if they're going to make comments out loud like that, that the artist is sitting right there, and yes, we can hear what you're saying. It is so frustrating when people come by to look at at your work and act as if you aren't even there.

Also when someone has fanart and someone seriously bitches that they do not have a certain character from a series they have other artwork from. For instance I made a set of key chains and because of time restraints I could only do so many of the characters from that series. I had several people very rudely complain to me that I should have done the other characters. This I think falls under the 'be polite' rule.

Anyway, another great essay Rokuchan. Keep up the great work and I look forward to the next one! =)