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#1: Lollipop (lollipop) on Jul 1, 2017

I'm looking for a clever title, humour, a recognizable image, that aha moment, or preferably some combination. Many of the comments to the tons of these puzzles out there that you refer to are that they are an unrewarding waste of time, or have an outcome not worth the effort. Sorry, I vote no.

I kind of agree with Lollipop,but I'm willing to give it a shot. Just be warned anything from me could be way out there.lol. :)

Noted. I just want to say that the way Lollipop said what she said was hurtful and uncalled for. When an artist says that they really like their work, it is not kind to say that they wasted their time. Furthermore, everyone was fairly warned. I made sure to put abstract in the name, so if people can't appreciate the beauty of abstract art, they can just avoid it. There is less logic involved in that line of reasoning than there is in an easy paint-by-number. But I'm a bigger person than any naysayer who puts others down. After all, if Lindsey Stirling listened to the judges on America's Got Talent who said nothing would come of her particular art form, she never would have reached the level of brilliance so apparent in all her music videos today. And all the impressionist painters were told that their work is ugly and looks incomplete. But Monet and others' work is loved by many who have come to appreciate their artistic vision years later. So I will continue to do what I love the way I love it and nothing will bring this artist down. So because I am going to continue to fly high, I will not let myself be weighted down by hurt feelings. Lollipop, I forgive you.

Lollipop was referring to the comments that have already been made on abstract or pattern puzzles (of which there are thousands). She didn't call *your* puzzle a waste of time; she merely pointed out a trend regarding comments already made about existing puzzles.

I invite you to try my puzzle #25032, "Is it random?" (spoiler: it isn't)

I welcome your invitation, Kristen and appreciate your kind explanation. I think I got a little worked up about it because I get attached to my work. If I didn't love it, I wouldn't even have posted it, after all. I will leave a comment to your puzzle after I complete it. ^-^

So here's my revelation in response to Kristen's link. I learned something from her puzzle and the comments left in it. You solvers are tired of random dots and color. I'll be honest, I don't like them much myself. Her puzzle was different. It looked like random color until the end when you could see the artist's intentions clearly. She happened to pick a detail of a painting by a famous artist. (I apologize if this is a spoiler to those who have not solved it yet.) If one were to look at my puzzle, one could discern that there was clear artist intent. It may not depict any sort of recognizable image, but it certainly is not a headache on the screen. Every pixel was precariously placed on purpose to create a work of art. Therefore I rhetorically ask you, what is the difference between art done by a famous artist, and one who is not famous, but has the talent? I maintain that my puzzle is fine for being abstract because it is certainly not random.

Work of art? Yes, I think it is a nice artistic expression.

Good puzzle? Hmmmm. Well, check what Jan says makes a good puzzle, and read what other solvers say what makes a good puzzle, and read the science behind what makes a puzzle satisfying, and they all will say, "The aha! moment when a visual image is recognized." That's what gives us that "fix" of dopamine in the reward center of our brain.

If this were a contest of abstract art, I would give it high marks.

A challenge of webpbn puzzles of abstract art without the aha! reward will probably not be very popular.

Aurelian, I hope you don't take this personally or feel too defensive. Like Lollipop, I am only giving honest feedback, as you requested.

If you look at the scores on your previous puzzles, you will see what others like: small color images or larger B&W puzzles.

Keep creating; keep solving; keep accepting constructive criticism. Don't let feedback bring you down; use it to help you improve your adapting your artistic talent to puzzle creation. :-)

For too many people, "abstract" means "random," which is what results in many of the so-called "abstract" puzzles being annoying to solve with no reward.

This puzzle, while abstract, is decidedly *not* random, and I enjoyed the solving process with the way the color logic worked. Since it was fun for me to solve, I don't particularly need that "aha" moment at the end.

As abstract images go, this is a nice one, and reminds me much of the doodles I used to make in my notebooks in school.

Thank you Wombat. I really appreciate the validation. Teresa, what you said is fine. I got the sense of constructive criticism from you. I got biting hate from Lollipop. She could have stood to use some tact, which you did well.

Read Kristen's comment again. Lollipop is a fair commenter and we value her remarks. You solicited opinions about your idea for a wave of abstract puzzles, and that's what she did. She made reference to a group of puzzles generally, not yours specifically. Obviously not anything to be taken personally. I hope you can see that.

I would like to officially end this here and now by stating plainly that I apologize. I am picking up on animosity that I never meant to create. If there is none and I am the only one perceiving it, that is wonderful. But if some of you are as frustrated with me as I think you might be, I am so sorry. A lot of opinions were stated here that could not be accompanied by body language and tone that come with face-to-face interaction. I could not look at Lollipop's comment objectively and was therefore perceiving it as a personal attack, which I would like to assure everyone, confused me. Her comments in the past were always so nice. I know she's not a mean person, but sometimes we all say things the wrong way. But getting off of that because I really do forgive the lack of tact, I want to focus on the fact that I have been wrong too. Again, I am truly and honestly sorry. I was hurt and now I see with more insight that I did not have at the start. I have learned some things that have been going on on this site for a long time of which I had no previous knowledge. Now I know and everything makes more sense. I also want to apologize for my strong language; I have also failed to use tact. Specifically, I want to say sorry for accusing Lollipop of speaking with biting hate. I should have used unoffensive words, or else not even brought it up. Whatever damage has been done, perceived or otherwise, I hope can melt away in time. All of you have been so nice to me so far and I promise, I don't forget that. Are we all good?

Wise words spoken with grace. Brava!

((virtual hug))

((virtually hugs back.)) :D

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Thank you, Andrew, and I agree with you. I have come to learn all of this since this conversation ended. Honestly, I am rather ashamed of my reaction, although it could have been a lot worse. I took the first comment as a personal attack when it wasn't meant as one. But how could I have known? I was so new to making puzzles.

As for abstract versus random, I *never* do random. There is always a purpose in what I do, and if I don't personally love it, I don't make it. If I, as the creator, am not attached, why would I put it out?

And there are plenty of folks who enjoy a good "puzzle for puzzling's sake." The longer you stick around, the more tips you pick up. Like, "what do you think this is?" or "edge logic exercise - no picture".

AG, I'm glad you decided to put up with a bunch of introverts who don't always express themselves very well. ^_^

S'all good. I'm introverted, too. ^-^ I think I'm more feely than most people here, though, as the very nature of the site draws more logical minded folks than emotional minded. Even still, I'm not the first to get upset over a misunderstanding, and I won't be the last. (I've come across quite a few arguments in the comments of older puzzles that were much worse than this.) We'll take it as it comes.

that is so true! There were some...clashing personalities.

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