>This person is your potential competition, and because her
>inquiry is "cold" (you don't know him/her), motives might be suspect.
>Friendly advice and sharing is one thing, but this person is overstepping
>the boundaries, and 'pumping' you for hard earned experience.

I have received a number of letters from people that read my books, many like
the one Lynn shared. I believe that every one deserves a reply -- there
are far too few of us with a true passion for illustration. I do not
always give a lengthy reply -- just pointing to GNSI and this server,
as others have suggested, is enough to show that we are a community and
that we welcome new members.

When I read that letter to Lynn I had two responses:
1) This person could talk your ear off for hours, and I don't have
the time (with a tinge of 'what's in it for me?')
and
2) Boy, I wish I still had this unquestioning, all-encompasing enthusiasm
for artwork!

Letters such as this help us forget editors and deadlines, and cats that
walk across paintings, and focus again on what we love. I, personally,
cannot ignore them.

David

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
David S. Goodsell                        The Scripps Research Institute
Assistant Member                        Department of Molecular Biology
                                             10666 N. Torrey Pines Road
(619) 784-2839 tel                                  La Jolla, CA  92037
(619) 784-6860 fax
[log in to unmask]                http://www.scripps.edu/pub/goodsell
-----------------------------------------------------------------------