I like this. The only thing I would have done differently (if I had half the talent to make this in the first place), is I would not have extended the black eroded lines through the text. They are not applied to the text where it it sitting above the phoenix image so it's sort of like the text is sitting in two different layers (closer to you in the middle and further away at the ends). Maybe that's what you had in mind... I do think the blending of the colors of the text with everything else is outstanding and I too rate this as a 9. Very nice piece!
I love the colors. Pleasing to the eye. Not sure I like the Phoenix blurred as much as it is. or the bar going through the middle. I find the bar disruptive to the flow of the pic. I think I'm quite choosey on what I download. Yours WILL be downloaded. Enuff said!
I really like the phoenix (I am so sorry if I'm spelling this wrong) in the background. It really accents the letters. *Phew* now that that's out of the way I can make jokes...oh wait...I can't, it's so perfect...*cries*
There are three things in this world I love, my parents, dragons, flames, and dragonflies. Dragons and dragonfilies count as one thing because they have the same wording...more or less.