Funny you say this, because I was thinking the same thing only for different reasons. I'm trying to get better and looking for constructive criticism. I'm wondering when and how someone decides that a photomanip turns from a work in progress... to art. Sorry you feel so blahh about the whole thing.

While there are some filter fiends out there relying on cheap automated plug-ins to complete their work. You just have to accept it as a different approach to manips. Those tools were there for a reason...to be used. Kittykat creates her vectors with the brush tool in Illustrator if I remember correctly, can you fault her for not using the pen tool? No.

I do feel that the use of a plugin or filter is only sucessful if you can't tell it was even used. (Hope that wasn't to obscure).

I wonder what you would consider those who do more commercial art manips like Furitsu, Basil, Skulpturro, Chopper, Deshone, emarts, and meladen. These guys as well as myself really do appreciate the asthetics behind photomanip and appreciate what masterpieces can be created when basic rules of composition, color, and contrast are considered. Here's a link for you...

rder+" target="_blank">Best Manips in GFX

This is the top scoring manips ever on GFX....seeing the top tier shows that the true art of photomanipulation is indeed appreciated.

Please keep up the good work...I've haven't the time to critique much lately but I assure you I've been a fan since your first post.

-Brett

Hi!
I just joined yesterday, and I must say that it surprises me that there are only "dark" "light" or "none of the above" to chose as manip categories. What is a "light" manip? anything without blood? lol. I think manips can be just as much art as any other form, if done well. The good ones are art, the bad ones are not, and that goes for all art, traditional and digital. Digital art has been a bit of a stepchild though. I hope that's in the changing. btw, you have a distinctive style. I like it!

"Even if much of the Digital Art one sees grows from the tradition of Photography,
it's most important to develop some style of your own to distinguish your work from all the garbage you can find on the net."

i agree. i usually get critiques from some friends saying that i'm always repeating myself and i'm just "yeah right", i don't think i'm that good enough, i try to make new things but well they usually don't like so much as i wanted. but well.... quitting this sometime.

about the categories i agree with  emm, there's should have more categories in photo manipulation or a part that was miscellanous, because there's other kind of art that doesn't fit in 3d or photo manip or even painting because it's a mix of the 3 things.