Quite right Enzie.
The banner on the top of the forum says "A forum for professional portrait painters and serious students"
This must of needs mean that we will see those of all ranges of skill from student to master here - at least that I think should be our hope as it would mean a vibrant forum.
I think we are also a competitive lot and sometimes do not recognize or give credit where someone has come in at one level, and made significant strides and put in a lot of effort to improve. You are certainly such a person and I applaud you and your hard work.