thanks!....
i actually didnt trace those(of toph, katara, and raven). i looked at the pic and drew it..and shaded. so it really was more of an exersice i guess....one that took along time....but it helps. and those were from a year ago and they still look good to me. so yeah...i've learned alot from copying from Avatar...it helped me with annatomy alot...and i was actually pretty sucky before. but i would like to add that that what i just wrote is not an excuse, but an explanation. i belive there is a difference between the two.
but once again..thank you for the encouragment/advice. as for the art collage..i dont think their were really places...and it wasnt even offically an art contest...just a small "craft" contest...so its really not that big of a deal...just that i never win. so yeah. thanks!