ATTENTION GALLERY USERS

[Pat_61]

Hello, I have been talking with Sam and Tripsis(and Shiny sort of) about getting the Gallery back in action.

 

Do you want to have more people here?

More people learning how to do graphics?

More C/c on your topics and more for you to post?

Contests like POTM, SOTW, and more again?

Maybe even prizes from Tip.it for winning the bigger contests?

 

Well help with this topic. The game plan on getting the Gallery back on track is as follows:

 

1. Update the resources with detailed guides and tutorials for ANY program you use for graphics. GIMP, PDN, PS, Inkscape, Illustrator... ANYTHING. The guides need to range from absolute beginner to some higher level ones. These can be made by you or links to websites with them.

2. Make a "Gallery Etiquette and Rules" topic outlying basically what the core values of the community is. ex: All ways post a c/c with your post not just "Well Done".

3. Tripsis will make a Global announcement basically telling people about the Gallery and that anyone that is interest in art can learn from the people in the Gallery and that never to get discouraged by a bad design and just stuff like that.

4. When we see a decent amount of people joining the Gallery again, we will be restarting the contest like "Picture of the Month", "Sig of the Week", a photo contest, and a LP contest.(Which ones to start will be based on a poll/suggestions)

5. Keep it moving

 

So just post below with what you have, any suggestions on other things to have and such.

 

Lets bring this back,

Pat

[Shiny]

Sorry about not PMing you back. I'm game! Competitions like custom ranks will be boss.

[tripsis]

I'm looking forward to hearing your guys' ideas :) If you are interested in prizes please let me know what kinds. The typical Tip.it prize is a custom forum rank but we can't really offer that for every single contest. It's something we could give out maybe once every 3 months at the most.

[Myu]

Well, free trade is coming, so a million cash is an option. :mellow:

I admire the wish to have good discussions and good critique posted, but I'm guessing you're not going to get artists in without allowing encouragements.

If I can be bothered, I'll make a tutorial of sorts on how to draw something.

[stevepole]

In response to 1. & 2. - http://forum.tip.it/topic/36346-the-gallery-rules-faq-and-resources/

 

I'm curious to see what you guys come up with, as you'll be fighting an uphill battle, because keeping people interested in The Gallery is a huge task in itself and the hardest one your going to face.

 

@Myu we can't exchange for RS gold as that is considered real world trading.

[Pat_61]

Steve, thats why I said update/revamp... those topics need to be cleaned up.

[obfuscator]

Rule two will kill this place - I realize I'm not a hardcore gallery user but disallowing people from simply showing their appreciation for work that has been done - basically leaves you with no casual art fans.

 

As I've said before - I know next to nothing about the aesthetics of art, I've no Photoshop experience, only briefly dabbled in photography. There are much more qualified people here than I to give c/c, so I feel most comfortable (as do other casual users) often simply praising someone for something I like that they've put time and effort into.

 

In a real art gallery, you don't disallow those who aren't professional art critics. This should be no different, or this place will just become deader than it is already (unfortunately).

[stevepole]

Rule two will kill this place - I realize I'm not a hardcore gallery user but disallowing people from simply showing their appreciation for work that has been done - basically leaves you with no casual art fans.

 

As I've said before - I know next to nothing about the aesthetics of art, I've no Photoshop experience, only briefly dabbled in photography. There are much more qualified people here than I to give c/c, so I feel most comfortable (as do other casual users) often simply praising someone for something I like that they've put time and effort into.

 

In a real art gallery, you don't disallow those who aren't professional art critics. This should be no different, or this place will just become deader than it is already (unfortunately).

 

Agreed, and from what I've notice thats been more of a recent trend that I've personally disagreed with, which wasn't in place back when I was more heavily involved in The Gallery. We were a bit more friendly to new comers I feel. It scares off new users so when I see folks here crack down on others for not critiquing properly or w/e, and I instantly think that person isn't going to be coming back.

 

Also I advice to aim for minimalism in new guides and lists so people don't get lost and confused looking though everything and well organization. Also look into creating a system of canonizing tutorials in The Gallery.

[Pat_61]

Yes, but the point of the gallery is to get better at art, not just have someone say oh thats cool. C/C doesn't mean find something you dont like. it can be something you really think they did well with. It is just giving them a direction to go.

[tripsis]

I completely agree with the above and there's a recent topic that's very applicable here. Everyone has their own opinions of what is visually appealing. Someone who is not involved in art in their every day life will probably have lower standards. So someone will come in and post "Wow this is really awesome! :thumbsup: I love it!" Then other people almost bash the user, asking him to post C/C instead of just "this is awesome" and claim that the artwork is in fact not awesome and that the user was wrong in thinking so.

 

That kind of attitude will drive people away. Yes C/C is helpful but not everyone is able to give it, and while it should be encouraged it should never be required and users should not be attacked for not posting it. There is a difference between spam (i.e. "Cool") and someone who just finds a piece visually appealing and doesn't know what else to say (i.e. "Wow this is really awesome! I love it!").

[obfuscator]

Yes, but the point of the gallery is to get better at art, not just have someone say oh thats cool. C/C doesn't mean find something you dont like. it can be something you really think they did well with. It is just giving them a direction to go.

The point of the gallery is to show off your art. That's always been the point of art galleries and here is no different. I can understand your attitude, because you're someone who obviously does know a fair bit about art, and will always have useful c/c. Not all of us are like that. As much as it may annoy you (and others) that some people who use the gallery prefer to compliment rather than provide c/c for the majority of their posts, well...if you really care about seeing the gallery prosper, that attitude has gotta go, because it's going to kill the place.

 

Personally, I think being complimented is always nice, even if you're looking for c/c.

[Ember]

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[greenslime89]

It is just giving them a direction to go.

How very arrogant it seems to presume to be in a better position to decide what the artist should do than the artist himself.

 

Surely you can see that if you've put any amount of effort into something you're going to quite like it and view it through rose tinted specs! A third party is more likely to be brutally honest about your work. That's my thought.

[Myu]

It is just giving them a direction to go.

How very arrogant it seems to presume to be in a better position to decide what the artist should do than the artist himself.

 

As a rule, people have a harder time noticing and improving their own faults than other people do. As long as it's valid, It's not rude. Artists who can't take it when someone critiques them should think again. It's only there for the artists to improve.

 

 

 

As for rewards, If some cash is not allowed(I remember contests with cash rewards), There could be a "featured" gallery, showing all the winners in a spotlight along with links to where you can find the artist. small custom stamps almost like small signature images could also be an option. I'm sure some people would appreciate them.

 

Also, Here are some resources:

http://www.pixelovely.com/tools/gesture.html'

http://www.posemaniacs.com/

http://www.itchstudios.com/psg/art_tut.htm

 

Here's a link to a good read about how to hire an artist:

http://www.thejonjones.com/2010/08/09/how-not-to-hire-an-artist/

[Hawks]

I've been lurking the I don't know... Past four months, 'cause I haven't done anything remotely legitimate in terms of art and don't like photographs, which seem to be all that's been posted lately.

 

I feel like more loose/specific guidelines on what to post would be good, because some people are afraid to post 'odd' things like minis and other random stuff which may or may not be considered art... I know loose/specific is weird, but I mean to say that we should say that pretty much anything is legit, including photos, digital, traditional, sculpture, minis, pixels, blah, etc.

[Pat_61]

It is just giving them a direction to go.

How very arrogant it seems to presume to be in a better position to decide what the artist should do than the artist himself.

 

Learn to use the word arrogant?

 

1: exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner <an arrogant official>

2: showing an offensive attitude of superiority : proceeding from or characterized by arrogance <an arrogant reply>

 

Neither of those applies to my comment....

 

@Hawk, I agree. I will accuse myself of not liking mini's and stuff, but truly it should be allowed. Everyone is good at something and have to start with something before they get good.

 

@AllTheCommentsAboutC/C I agree with you now. Okay, positive comments more than spam(as stated above) is fine, but it would still be nice if you could give something that you would like. On the other hand... comments like "No sir, I don't like it." that was posted on one of my threads... that shouldn't be allowed. If you don't like it, there is something specific you don't like.

 

@Myu, good resources.

[obfuscator]

I agree - if you're going to give negative feedback, giving a reason is good, and not too much to ask. Positive feedback should be sufficient in and of itself, and allowing it will help make this a more active place.

[Nadril]

To be honest I've just sort of (personally) gotten tired of being "the bad guy" when it comes to criticism. I think that it (having a bad guy to "prove wrong") is really important for critisim and helping an artist grow... but you usually get too much [cabbage] for doing it or the artist just gets too discouraged.. Of course you need a good dose between that and "Keep it up!" posts, but yeah, I don't want to be the guy going through a billion negative things about an image.

 

I just haven't been posting here much at all and there hasn't been a ton I could really critique. I can only say so much about a photograph and other things I feel like saying something negative just gets to a point of nit-picking.

 

I will say that I'll probably be posting a lot of content coming up. Senior project this semester plus a photography course. I would get involved in contests too if there were custom ranks offered :P.

[tripsis]

I would get involved in contests too if there were custom ranks offered :P.

Oh yeah, I know you've been dying for one for ages :lol:

[rangeor]

We should have more fun contests. Rather than just signature/photography/large art contests, we could have tutorial contests, t-shirt design contests, funny art contests, video contests, etc. Or collaborations. Just something to get everyone involved.

 

Or maybe workshops where we get a group of the more talented artists to create a competition, and announce the competition globally to the whole forum. Then the artists critique the entrants as they work on their pieces.

[Pat_61]

All good idea's guys, but the first steps aren't to set up contests... there is no one to join them. So be gathering resources.

 

@Nadril, most of your critiques are to the point, which is what they people that have been doing it for a while want to hear. You do get a lot of crap XD

[tripsis]

There are some great ideas for contests available but unfortunately I think people need incentive to participate. I don't know what we can offer other than a custom rank, and as I said, we can't offer one for every contest. Sure there are custom signatures and under banners but I honestly think that those are kind of old and under appreciated (and oftentimes go unused).

[Ember]

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[Pat_61]

[hide=Quote Wall]

How very arrogant it seems to presume to be in a better position to decide what the artist should do than the artist himself.

 

Learn to use the word arrogant?

 

1: exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one's own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner <an arrogant official>

2: showing an offensive attitude of superiority : proceeding from or characterized by arrogance <an arrogant reply>

 

Neither of those applies to my comment....

I have, thanks.

Either of those definitions conveys exactly what I intended to express, and your response embodies them. You've apparently assumed that you not only have a firmer grasp on the language than I do, but a better idea of what I meant to say as well.

While they may not fit what you wrote, they do fit what I read; my apologies if I've offended you. Frankly, I read "giving them a direction to go" as dictating style to artists who are obviously incapable of developing without your hand-holding. I do realize after some consideration that you likely did not mean to evoke such imagery.

 

 

Nothing about my comment was personally-directed, nor was any of it deliberately offensive. Rather, it was to draw attention to the subjectivity of art as self-expression and highlight that one must have an understanding of what the artist meant to do before understanding, let alone criticizing to any constructive end, objectively how they failed to do that. Having the end result come closer to what was intended is improvement, and criticism which is useful to that end should be well-received. Any suggestions whose implementation would serve only to align the artist's work with the critic's stylistic preferences are better distinguished from objective truths. One can objectively note that a figure's anatomy is off without claiming as fact (or even believing) that the work would be better with anatomically-correct figures.

 

 

Surely you can see that if you've put any amount of effort into something you're going to quite like it and view it through rose tinted specs! A third party is more likely to be brutally honest about your work. That's my thought.

As a rule, people have a harder time noticing and improving their own faults than other people do. As long as it's valid, It's not rude. Artists who can't take it when someone critiques them should think again. It's only there for the artists to improve.

Of course I can, and I hadn't meant to say that all criticism is a display of arrogance; rather that "giving them a direction to go" seems to imply that the critic is in a position to have some better idea than the artist how the artist should bring his own ideas to life.

 

 

Having reviewed several threads, it seems a small few posts left an exaggerated bad impression.

Here's one:

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Really Great work dude!

It is posts like this I despise. Not only is it barely true, but it isn't telling anyone how to improve.

i like his work, so what... and btw I don't know what to tell him to improve on because I'm not experienced in graphics...

GodTrickstar seems to say something like "Hey, this is nice. Don't change a thing!" and that is met with, in essence, "your post and its ilk are a blight on this board. Your opinion is wrong, and you haven't said how this could be better."

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[/hide]

 

Please get off the subject of c/c. All you are about to do is start a flame war. The first step of this isn't the rules and shouldn't be discussed yet. We need good tutorials and all the ones in the resource thread organized.

[Ouchy]

I'm more than happy to do my fair share to help it get active. I'll try and post some resources or something.