Recognizing Themes

Sometimes it is hard to find the themes or the undertones of ones own work, and it is helpful to have others review and critique your work in order to fully appreciate areas of development you may have otherwise neglected or not even noticed.  In a recent group critique my work was called "transcendent", "mystic", and was said to have "haunting secrets".  I find that these elements resonate with me as the true purpose behind my work - with the color choices, context, and media being secondary.  I have a more clear understanding of my own work as a result of third party evaluations.  This is the real benefit to group critiquing.