So...
It's high time I wrote something in this space.

First, I find this site a little disappointing at times. I've had work on here for 3 years, yet at the time of this writing, I have had only 162 pageviews.
The only real reason I continue to come back... is because there are so many incredible artists to discover. I literally can browse for hours. I have had some very warm reception from a handfull of people, and for that I'm thankful.

Ultimately, the art is what's important though, not how popular you are on some website. When I was in art school, I wanted to do illustration. Now I see the competition, and the styles that are popular in that field, and I wonder how well I would do. My paintings don't come across well on a screen. I usually paint large, and anyone who could compare would agree that they are more impressive in person. Maybe I should try the gallery scene.

I have begun to take my visual art more seriously (again). I realized that playing music was going nowhere, and I felt a sense of stifled creativity. So I started painting again.
Since then, I stopped using acrylics and switched to oils.
Not that my style really changed much, but I have begun to evolve more. With acrylics, I had to work fast or the paint would dry. With oils, I can slow down and pay more attention to detail. Also, there are better layering and blending options.

The important thing, is that I have improved. Each painting is better than the last. Once, I did a painting with the intention of making something that would look good hanging on the wall. I hated it, worst painting ever. But, others liked it, and it looks good hanging on the wall of the friend I gave it to.
If you make art, it's important that it make you happy. For me, I feel the need to progress. I want to get lost in my work, not only while creating it, but afterwards as well. To me, a painting is finished when I can stare at it for several minutes, enjoy it, and not find anything else that needs doing. The ultimate reward is when I watch someone else stare into it, and I know that they are seeing it the way I do.