I agree that you should paint for yourself, even when you get paid for it or do a request, you should do it for yourself to some degree.

If you get into a cycle of using comments to boost your ego and still want to draw for yourself, you're going to be disappointed. I think many 2Draw members have experienced this at some level, I know I have. I think that's what has happened to you and at it's worst. If you truly draw for yourself, like you say you do, comments or no comments won't affect you but it appears that they have, in a big way.

I agree the internet can be a box and limit your growth but no one forced you to experience this, you did it, it was your choice. Some of the comments you've received on 2Draw or DA may not be helpful but bashing others for not giving you the feedback you desired is really weak and insulting. That's a very pretentious attitude to have and makes you come off very selfish. And taking a hit at Dave isn't going to help you either, his comments might not satisfy you but he doesn't deserve to be insulted like that.

If you're looking to improve your skills, you get back what you put in, I know this much. Whether it's comments you want, improving your skills, the sake of creation or whatever your goal might be, ultimately, it's your own personal discipline that makes the difference, not others. Although, I highly recommend having your work critiqued by other artists, it can be critical to your development. Without feedback or influence, progress will be harder to achieve, especially in regards to personal style, which appears to be very important to you.

There are plenty of outside resources to help you improve on your art but don't dismiss the internet completely, especially in regards to digital art. I would even say the best resources for digital art will come from the internet. If you apologize for this crap you've written here and ask me nicely, I can hook you up with some helpful internet resources. If not, good luck with your pursuits.

Your stuff was really cool, though. And I'll miss seeing it here, but if that's what you want to do I won't stop you.

good luck with your endeavors :)

awesome !!!

very interesting , its as if i'm looking at you through a stained glass window but then not qute great drawing

Neat perspective. I like the addition of shadows, they work.

Very cool , could stare at this for ages , the well done shadows bring it to life

thats shuu cute =) keep goinggg

Lolli, if the picture it unfinished, click on edit/delete the mark it finished. click on edit/delete again.. and then u can delete it. If its done for like a few days, ask a mod to delete it. when u memo the mod. add the url and reason of wanted deletion. o.o

Eeee, that's so cute <3

definitely caught my eye, too. Great idea. Perfect colors.

Looks like a dust storm in the desert, nice work.

Great angle, atmosphere and colors.

That is cute, he looks very peaceful.

Adorable. Glad to see you leaped the pond to intermediate. Only thing, his eyes seem zombieish. Maybe some lashes (dogs have lashes don't they?)

I wondered what else I could do to the eyes, but he's snoozin, and that's how it looked in the ref. pic I had

Funky as.

The style on this is AWESOME. Especially the hands. <3

man, thats wicked

Clox, ever heard of Diam? This reminds me of something he would do. Liking it thus far.

How did I miss this! It's full of cubic goodness.

Whoa, hey I didn't even look at this cuz' I had no idea it was yours. This really is quite different.
Love the tonal gradients and the purple highlights are cool as.