I am an artist.   I have been drawing ever since I have been able to pick up a crayon, or a stick, or whatever.  I have been trying to do my best for almost two decades and I go to college to further my skills and learn more about fine art.

  I draw, I paint, and I sculpt.  I've spent hundreds of dollars on art supplies in the past year alone, and I have bled, been burned, and I even suffered through a year of hives for my art.  I brought ice packs to class to bring down the swelling in my hands enough for me to properly hold my materials.  I once cried through an entire interview about my art to a stranger.

  I'm really into it.

  I know there are a million other people like me, who have spent their lives practicing to be the best they can be, whether it's traditional or digital art.  

  And each artwork has a lot of time put into it.

  Michelangelo didn't paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in twenty minutes.

  Hours are put into everything, hours that could've been used to, you know, go outside and be social, or even sleep.

  And if you think you can just come along and claim someone else's work as your own, without consequences, you are very wrong.

  Isn't it better to get praise for something you worked hard on?  Isn't it better than a hollow regret when you know you didn't do it?  Why take someone's work when you can study how they did it and try those techniques on your own?  Are we, as a society, so lazy, that we'd rather have a false sense of pride with little work, than have a full, glowing pride in your own work?

  Christ, when I look at other people's work I want to practice and be on their level.  I want to know how they did it.  I appreciate it.  If I want it, I go buy a print of it or something.  I don't slap it on my dA and pretend I did it.

Give credit where credit is due.

I give links to all of the websites I have my art on because then you know without a doubt that I'm being honest with you all.  If you see something fishy please email me or something and I'll answer any questions you have.  

MY EMAIL: melissa.starr.11 (at) gmail.com

Actually email me about anything I need social interaction

The world lies enough.  Hell, I lie enough to my parents.  We don't need art theft crap.

Now I'm going to go take a nap because I'm angrier than a bull on steroids being taunted by a hundred matadors with ugly clothing.