Looking at a lot of the art on deviantART, I see that there is some really good stuff. There is an outrageous amount of outrageously talented people. An incredible example being Escape Velocity, by Rahll. It's graphite. Yes, that drawing - THAT drawing - is just graphite. And there's Radojavor, there's artume 2-4, there's Osnotropp... and the list goes on.

I'm not on that list.

...

...I have long held the opinion that if an artist will not one day create something truly beautiful, enriching the world - not filling it with sub-standard artwork - then they should not be artists at all. Art is meant to be shared, and if the art never improves, the sharing is without meaning.

...I have a lot of things going on in my life now, good things, that I'd like to give the utmost priority. If I was to create *good* art, I'd have to give that the utmost priority. I'd have to spend a lot - a great deal! - of time on it. Spreading one's time and energy over a broad array of goals and activities may result in the good, but never the best. And I do want the best.

So I can not, in good conscience, continue actively drawing. I'd like to do every single thing I do whole-heartedly, and there are other things that, right now, are more important.

So! deviantART has been great - is great. Lots of very nice people, lots of amazing art, the community is, in general, very good. So thank you, everyone, for granting me the privilige of being a part of this community. It has been very nice.

Best of luck to all the dedicated artists, yeah?