Dear Dakota,
I am so sorry to hear that you were left upset by the Pesso experience. I hope you will write about it at some point, if you feel it would help.
On a separate note, I love your flower photos. I don't care if they are far from the "cutting edge." Cutting edges are not always where I want to be, to tell you the truth. Sometimes I just like to be with beauty and gentleness. (Guess that's why I am not a famous artist.) Love, Mrs. W

My very dear Dakota,
You are entitled to your anger and its process in and through you.
And we continue to love you and your photos-- of flowers, windows, walls, doors, dolls, masks, sky, or whatever you choose to point your camera and attention to.
As an artist myself, I can only hang my head at the deep feeling of recognition for the terrible forces of criticism that course through us and burn holes in all our innocent happiness. They seem to have a demonic life of their own, cutting down all in their path--even the simple joy of creating.
At some point though, the self-loathing rage left in its wake, like a wind, changes directions and gets directed back *outwards* against all those demonic sniping voices. And then you can reclaim your basic human right to just Be and Do Whatever the Hell You Want (esp. without regard for fads and fashions-- and that's all the cutting edge really is).
Hoping for a shift in the wind for you,
fondly,
D

Ahem. Perhaps you have reason to be angry. Wallow=parental injunction=don't have your feelings.

Personally, I like your flower pictures, but perhaps BB is looking for something more, um, expressive?

-A

Thank you for your eloquent words of comfort Mrs. W and D, I must save mine to write about this -- Anon, I only have one lion photo, absolutely no gargoyles, and several dead fish... decisions, decisions.

I so appreciate your support when I am swept away by forbidden feelings. Gushily D