I think that people who can't accept fantasy art as a valid subject are close-minded (sorry to insult your father Char, but it baffles me that an artist would be so discriminatory). They need to learn that art is about getting an individuals thoughts and emotions on a page, not about creating something pleasing to their own eye. It's a shame people view it in such a narrow-minded fashion.
That's one of the things I like here: a lot of people's works or styles I don't particularly find attractive to my eye, but I accept, critique and encourage (hopefully) all the same. I receive the same in return. Oftentimes I've wondered at the validity of my work here, I'm not nearly as fantasy based as most of you. I wasn't really brought up that way, I just developed in recent years. However, only rarely have I ever felt like my art was not really appreciated.
I find painting a very emotional process - I tend to be introspective, irritable, slightly stressed when I'm in the creative process (for days, not just WHILE I'm doing it). Having somewhere I can post my art and I get accurate criticism, yet encouragement helps me to grow as an artist and at the end of the painting I feel so much better for having created something with that emotion, and enjoy seeing a good result because you guys keep me right (even if I don't always like hearing 'constant' criticism - though I'm the one asking for it!!!!!).
Thanks guys and girls.