It's nothing bad, so no one needs to worry.

We've been getting a lot of really good works in the group recently, which is always good. But I've noticed a serious drop in beginning artists submitting to the group and it worries me. This entry is aimed at those beginning artists but everyone is welcome to read it.

#BlacknWhite-Artists has never been nor will it ever be one of those groups that denies or accepts something because of its quality. We're not elitists and never meant to be. I did begin featuring some of our best works, but not to discourage beginning artists from joining or submitting. Those people worked very hard on their work(s) that have been featured and it really shows. I meant it less as a "look how good they are" and more of a "look how much they've improved over the years".

No one is born with a drawing utensil in hand and the skill of a master artist. Some may pick up the art skill faster than others but everyone starts out drawing stick men that are cursed with potato heads. Some of our stick men are still like that (*cough*mine*coughcough*). And guess what? If you've just drawn an epic stick man battle and you're proud of it, you can be sure that as long as it follows our rules it will be accepted. (Please don't be a jerk and submit that if it's not at your true skill level. I'll check.)

Another thing we have never been is a group to help you learn, which personally makes me sad. I do hope you can learn something from our kind members and by studying the works of others in the group. We weren't founded with the intent of teaching you what you can do better, we were founded with the same basic purpose as most other groups. That being said, I (~MlleKohaku) am more than willing to try and help you as much as I can. I don't pretend to be a fabulous artist, photographer, or writer but I will help you if you ask it of me.

So, please, don't be discouraged into not joining our group or submitting to it because you feel like your skill is below that of others in the group. We're happy to have you no matter what your skill level is and we won't judge you because of it. Whether you believe it or not, I'm proud of all of you. I'm proud of you for being brave enough to get your stuff out there. I'm proud of you for working hard on what you enjoy. I'm proud of you for how much you've improved, even if you don't think you have. I see it in the submissions I get every day, you are improving. You're getting better every day and I'm proud of you for doing so.

Don't give up because someone says something mean. Don't give up because you see people who are more skilled than you. At some point they were in the exact same place you are right now. And above all, as you get better and grow, remember how you feel right this instant. Be kind to the people who aren't quite as skilled as you and try to help them. Because they'll remember that and will be grateful for it.