If you can't handle criticism, don't become an artist.

I've said this more than once in my life, and will likely say it more in the future. A lot of people who delve into this field cannot take a lick of criticism, whether good or bad. In the context of Second Life, I've seen merchants who would rather shut down their businesses and remove themselves from the grid entirely, than taking criticism gracefully and working to improve. Many simply ignore the criticism and do not improve, nor change (and then complain about the fact that they don't sell anything). Others cannot come to grips with the idea that no matter what they do, there will be someone, somewhere, who will dislike their work.

These two particular facts can be spread like Vegemite across all mediums:

1. There will always be someone who does better work than you.
2. There will always be someone who hates your art.