I don’t know who chooses such things, but out of almost 12,000 artists and 175,000 pieces of art on that site (I’ve had my profile up for almost a month), one of my paintings is currently one of the 12 paintings featured on the front page of the Fine Art America site!
extreme happy dance
Totally awesome!
…So, which one is it? 
ETA: Oh, I didn’t even notice at first that you can just mouse over the thumbnails to see the artist’s name. I gotta say, that’s one freaky cool painting.
Oh, right, sorry --brainfart-- Yes, that is the one. Same as my profile picture 
Someone stole your art!
We must find and punish this “Katherine” woman! Don’t worry Opal, we’ll get your art back!
(Grats )
You’re not only on the front page but your painting is the best of them all, both in concept and execution. (I do like the Neimanesque donkey though.)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, that is the best work of art I’ve ever seen by an unknown and unestablished artist, and in terms of emotional impact and resonance (which is primarily what Picasso strove to accomplish), it’s probably the best one I’ve seen short of the true masters.
I hope I’m not overstating the case here when I say that I regard it as a masterpiece of sorts, and I hope you have more of them in you.
I also hope you make a ton of dough with it (though clearly that was not your motive) now that people are beginning to find it. You don’t strike me as someone for whom money is a prime motivator, but it is a way of measuring success and reaping applause. It’s a way of proving to you that your work is resonating with people sufficiently enough that they are willing to part with their own money in order to have it in their homes, and that’s not an easy thing for an unknown artist painting from the heart to accomplish.
Congratulations!
Congratulations - nice piece of art as well.
Being marriied to a professional artist, i know how satisfactiry recognition of this type is.
That is such a beautiful painting. I really like it.
Regarding your profile on that site, can you juggle flaming chainsaws, OpalCat?
(Congrats on the painting.)
Very cool - any sense of how many eyeballs your painting is getting seen by? That’s great publicity - congrats.
Isn’t that the same piece that won a “Best in Show” a while back?
Very, very cool painting, very, very cool news.
Congratulations!
Well than you so much for your amazing post! As for the “dough” at least I am finally able to offer prints of my work, which does expand my audience. In fact that site does giclee prints-on-demand (both several types of paper or on canvas) however those prints are not signed or numbered or anything. On my art site (linked from my FAA profile) I sell hand-retouched, signed, numbered prints which I would expect would appeal to more people. So cross your fingers! Heh.
neutron star: no, chainsaws are too heavy. I do juggle flaming torches, though. They’re fun! My fiancé tend to break them out at parties after dark. 
norinew: yes it is the one that won 2 best in show awards last summer, and this winter was one of 30 finalists in the Fine Art Finals (a competition that spans Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). The original is hanging in a gallery in Cleveland right now. I actually have an entire wall in the front room of the gallery (here) as well as two pieces elsewhere in the gallery. It’s getting exciting!
I still love that painting. I had it set as the wallpaper on my sister’s computer. When I changed it, she got mad at me and made me put it back.
I’m glad you’re selling prints now. I want to get my sister one for her birthday.
Isn’t that the same painting that your professor hated?
Cool painting. I had idea which one it would be even though I don’t know your RL name, because of the amount of blue in it. I almost ordered a copy, but I have to pay the rent this week.
Congratulations! Great painting, but you don’t need me to tell you that.
Consider them crossed. 
I think you have an exciting future ahead. I’m very happy for you.
Bravo, Opal!! Your unmistakable talent has thus been brought to the multitudes…
Well done.
Grats! That’s very cool!
Wait, we have profile pictures? Wow I never knew that!
Congrats Opal, that is a beautiful painting.
Absolutely gorgeous painting. Congratulations Opal!