I don't know what retroscoping is, and I don't have an art degree, but I both don't have any secrets here and I don't just "slap" some Photoshop filter on a 3D model. First, I render it. Then, I draw in linework over it both improving where I need to and embellishing where I want to. Then, I color in each part and shade it. And of course, this is after I actually design the whole scene using models. I have no secrets here, so I'm genuinely sorry if you thought I was hiding something that you just blew wide open or something. I've stated my use of models in the past, and I've come to embrace it. I consider modeling an art in and of itself (I'm sure anybody who's seen Restif's work would agree), and obviously drawing is, so I have no reason to think an amalgamation of it wouldn't be. By "ignorant", I am most certainly referring to the sentiment that a few clicks of a filter achieves this look. If there is something like that, I would be interested in it, but I'm not aware of one so yes, it does take quite some time per piece and yes, I do think that was an ignorant comment.
I guess I've had more than a few people PM me thinking that they "got me" or something similar, and I'm defensive about it because it does take a great deal of time and effort, so I will concede that I read some malice into your original statement that you now stated (and I'll believe you) wasn't there. I also don't want you to think I wanted to take back the sentiment in my original post, but it was a bit confrontational and I didn't want to throw something up there publicly unfairly.
Anyway, I do owe you an apology for my insinuation of the circumstance. I'm sorry I was so hostile. I'm also tired of hell in trying to defend myself to people in DA via private message, so when I thought I had one out in the open I did try to bait you I guess. I'm an open book, though. I don't make any money from this and give it away freely simply to contribute, so I obviously have no reason to try to hide anything.
You know what? This is all of a sudden causing me stress. It almost felt like my job there all of a sudden, I'm going to hit pause for a while.