Still busy, but I thought I ought to have my say on this issue.

It's about the Critique feature that Oh-so-puts-me-off, because I, for one, CANNOT understand the logic behind this - that in order to give a constructive criticism feedback to someone, you have to PAY for it.

And I thought we're an art community where we Share our artworks and Get feedback on it, in order to improve and become better artists next time. Probably, IMHO, DA's pretty much forgotten its main aim/purpose to EXIST as a diverse art community that caters to all.

But anyway.

I find that giving critiques' fun - NOT in the sadistic or downtrodden manner, but it helps to build each other confidences - you as the artist to be able to take crits from others and improve your skills/work, and me as the critic to improve my design sense and judgement, as well as to communicate my opinions to others. It's a good process, I should say.

And (haha) being the nature I am, I only relish in doing so.

So...just a note. That if you happen to find me going around delivering two cents' worth of advice or a penny for your thoughts (especially when you DO see those words), that can only be yours truly It's part of me trying to establish myself as one who CAN give worthy feedback - and I am only more than happy to even give more, if my feedback was considered and the best was when it was taken, and used. I actually felt glad and happy that after so many years as a learning student/artist, what I've learnt and experience, I dispense as advice to others, which people could use

This...phenomenon, sort of occured due to having spent a few years on DA, where not only I see endless HUGE flood of "spam" a.k.a. all those "Oh I love it!" "Great work!" "Awesome!" "EPIC!!!" "Nice" etc. the blardy list goes on - on the artist's artwork's page, the page gets ridiculously long with the SAME repeated message. Build-up of Net clutter, I should say. Not that I'm against commenting or anything, but at the very least, make it a worthy comment, y'know?


Make a comment that lets the artists know how you personally feel about his/her artwork.

If you like the artwork, tell them what bits have interested you, why you are drawn to it, what does it remind you (it's a grey zone, sometimes it's okay and sometimes it pisses me off, it depends), etc.

If you find the artwork needs a bit more work, by all means, state it.

BUT If you find the artwork sucks, it does NOT permit you to go around bashing people. You're given the choice to either not comment, or give a constructive feedback - but DON'T EVER SAY "Your artwork sucks" and leave it at that. It'll leave the impression to others that either you hate the artist, you have no design sense, or you're just plain spiteful.


Which explains why I RARELY give out comments. All this time.

If I like someone's work, I just fav it, so that if ever the need arises for me to look for references (for my work) or I wanna share YOUR work with someone, I say "Hey I got him/her somewhere in my fav section, go look him/her up" and that's that. I do not go around spamming great artists with "LOL NICE!" - I think they would already know. Just that they want to share their great stuff with the world, and be happy.

(this, 'course, does NOT include certain pesky ones who WANTS all that spam - attention whores, I call them. Sorry, but it's true.
And there's two types of these people - the people wanting all that attention in the form of spam-comments (I'll never know the stupid reason why), and the people who GIVES mindless/useless comments/critiques to any Dick and Harry just so to get, again, attention. Again, I don't see the logic in this - and sorry I just can't empathize with these sort of people.)

But when I DO give comments, I make sure they're worthwhile.

And if a person requests a critique/serious feedback, I make sure they're even worth more - honest feelings, no biased judgements (there's some where just because they like the artist, they make a not-so-serious review just so not to hurt the other party's feeling - little did they know that by doing so, you're not helping the artist at all), fairness, etc. So if sometimes my words sounded a bit hard, I do it for your own good, and because I like you as an artist, and would like you to see how far you can go.

Hence, this is the story behind my "two cents' worth" and "penny for your thoughts".



So...you've got any change to spare?