So, I realize that I'm not the most active person on DA. In fact, I haven't actually submited anything in over a year. I think the problem is that I don't feel like I'm anywhere near the skill of some of the people who do post things. I would like to get better at doing Digital Painting, and be able to take up the Paintbrush Tool in PhotoShop, go to town several hours, and end up with something that looks halfway like something, but I don't know where to start. I've chased down several tutorials, and they mostly either start with "Scan your line-art..." which is not feasable for lack of a scanner, and even more lack of drawing-on-paper ability, or they are pretty silly things like "make a realistic eye!", or "glowing edges!", which doesn't get me anywhere.

So, for now, I tend to browse the site, find artwork that I like, tag it with a and then sneak away silently. I usually don't know how to comment, and sometimes I see people say "Thanks for the Fav!" and "Thanks for the Watch!", and I don't really know how to respond. So, please don't take offense when I don't immediately respond if you thank me, or whatever... I don't really know how to play with the big boys...

What I really wish is for someone with awesome ability, like *jaxxblackfox to pop out of nowhere to impart secret training on me
I don't expect this to happen, of course, so I'll just keep practicing!