I'm also a "frequent lurker". I really enjoy the forum and stop in once or twice a week; it's intelligent, the work posted is very good,( often excellent), and it's nice to visit a forum of dedicated, trained artists. There's a different attitude amoung the members - it's serious and professional. I have no issue w/ the process of jurying in members, I beleive it's what keeps the integrity of the forum intact.
I've been a serious art student for several years on a part time basis, and just recently went to full time study. I just started studying the figure and portraits in the past 6 months and I don't beleive I will focus entirely on portrait work, so I don't see myself as a canidate for membership. Many thanks for having this forum - it's great, even for the folks who aren't registered members.
Materese Roche
www.ghostwoodstudio.com