- Posted
- Dec 26th 2005
- Mood
- Passionate
- Music
- Good Times, Bad Times- Led Zeppelin
Okay, I really wish my art were better. In general, yes, but also because this rant is about artistic competency and it's going to sound like I'm whining because my art sucks.
Maybe I am. But I'm whining also for all those other sub-par artists out there. I just hope that it doesn't seem like I'm just talking about myself, since I'm really not.
It's just come to my attention that aggravatingly often, when I get a watch from someone, I visit their page and if their art isn't really that good, they have about 2 watches. It doesn't matter that they watch a bunch of people and are really nice and polite to everyone. People won't watch them since their art sucks.
I remember what that feels like. Back when I joined Sheezy, my art was terrible. It's still pretty bad, but I've improved quite a bit, too. I remember the sting of watching someone and receiving a mini grin and quick 'thanks'...if there even was a response. Oftentimes artists with amazing work wouldn't even bother to acknowledge the little guy who'd added another name to their watch list.
That's just disgusting, really. Someone having crappy art is NO reason not to watch them back. Basically that's like saying 'your art sucks and thus I'm not going to give you neither a chance to improve, nor a chance to be my friend'. Since that's what a watch is, right? Keeping tabs on someone, that's the first step to making a friend on a website, isn't it? It's really hard to become good friends with someone you watch who doesn't watch you back. It just feels really unequal. And it is.
If someone watches me, I -will- watch them back. I don't care if they update 5 times a day with stick figures. I might not comment on all the stick figures, but it costs me nothing to just watch them, since it's giving them a chance.
Chances are important. I know that well. Some of my best friends here are incredible artists who gave me that chance initially. There's no way an artist can improve if everyone spurns them cause their art's no good yet.
So god, please just watch someone back if they watch you. It never hurt anyone, and it's so important for the artist who receives it. If you have a serious problem with someone, that's different, but don't brush someone off simply because their art isn't great at the time when they watch you. Chances are they'll get better, and your watch will be appreciated. Which is more than it'll be for some pro artist with a million watches who doesn't even check their comments. Dewatch them later, if you have to. I've dewatched a couple people for various reasons, myself. But just give them that chance.
You never know the good friends you might be pushing away. Artistic bigotry never earned anyone anything, and friends can sometimes be hard to come by.
Yeah, okay, I'm done.
;
Sana Says:
I totally agree with you Rai (not just because I'm a lack luster artist either) There are lots of chances for friendship that go unappreciated. Also, there are some great artists floating around thew sheezy-verse that are absolutly AMAZING, but since they don't really do anime style or what's considered the norm here, they go unnoticed too, that's a real shame.
I'm glad you had the nerve to post this, you really should speak your mind like this more often. You really have some important things to say.
sakuraheart Says:
i'm with you Arrow...i've noticed this behaviour myself, i try and support any artist who may not have as much talent as these 'Super' artist. i was lucky enough to be given the chance by my now great friends. and i'm trying to improve as much as i can and i like to watch other's inprove as well!!
and just for the record...i love your art dear!!
d R A c LI tH Says:
I try to do so
I do watch many artists whose art is not that great, but there are some who watch me that I don't watch back, simply due to the fact that I don't have time to go through all their things without feeling mildly guilty that I'm not responding to half of them....
Dendy Says:
I completely agree with everything you said here. Just because someone isn't a splendid artist doesn't mean they wouldn't make a great friend - this iss what I like about places like SA. It gives you more opportunities to socialize with other artists, and that's great for people like me who are practically internet hermits.
lemurcat Says:
Hmm, I would give exceptions for some people whose art is so great that tons and tons of random strangers watch them, but I can totally relate and I have an always-watch-back policy. Plus I try and not only watch people who are better than me but also watch people who might not be as good (although really it's hard to judge, I kinda put everyone on my level who is above the stick figure level) so long as their art is interesting or cute or maybe just appeals to me because we share fandoms... oops, I forgot to conceal my shallow fangirlness.
shiroihikari Says:
Excellent rant. I wholeheartedly agree. Anymore, I don't like to +watch superartists because...well, most of the time they don't give a damn about you, and why should they if they have hundreds of people watching them already
I always try to +watch people back that +watch me, but sometimes I forget >_< People don't +watch me anymore really...and less than half on my list +watch me back.
I know my art isn't good...I'm not really an artist, I'm more of a writer. That goes over reeeeal well on this community.
Also, I like anime and stuff but gawd, am I sick of fanart. Naruto this and Fullmetal Alchemist that. What about original characters? Or at least fanart of more obscure series or something...
Sorry, I went off on my own minirant there >_>
Veestah Says:
My motto has always been to check out people who watch me, at least once. Generally, I only watch because I REALLY wouldn't want to miss anything they did. So I don't have many people on my list.
Not good. Keep it simple.
Go away for a weekend or something and have about 100 messages and images waiting for you....
That's my stance. >.> I MUST BE A BAD PERSON LOL
Lynxy Says:
I can whine about my art too. About how cutesy it looks when all I want is to get that bitter little torture scene down on paper. About how I do too many static pieces, not enough dynamic ones. About how I never seem to draw backgrounds, but really should. About how I can't get the bloody folds in clothes right to save my life. ...And several other things.
Those relatively few watches don't always mean their art's quality is the only thing sub-par. Sometimes they lack fullness in their commentary. Sometimes they don't even comment at all. I used to be a compulsive counter-watcher, but I've grown rather selective. Several seem to have noticed that there are people that will do this, and they will watch just for the sake of getting that attention-boost in return.
I also know artists who will say nothing with regards to their art. A "..." or a quick sentence. And they don't reply to much, popularity level regardless. ...But I've also seen those same artists turn around and make the most passionate, most involved of statements - and with the utmost respect for the people that we would otherwise think went unnoticed.
Sometimes it's not about being overlooked, ignored, or forgotten. It's merely a lack of priority. Sometimes they are just too busy to reply. Sometimes they have nothing to say to smaller uninvolved comments. Sometimes they notice that these people watching them are giving no further input of their own and don't want to give the time.
It works in more ways than one. Thorough and heartfelt comments are far more appreciated than a single sentence, and more still than a single word or emoticon. Some of these people do notice, they just don't have enough to say in return. Also, a well-worded well-executed comment means a whole heck of alot more than all the favorites and watches in the world. ...Okay, so that's an exaggeration - but given the quality of that comment it might still be true.
I haven't said much at all. I'm really not as art-community involved as I ought to be. I have several things I could post to share (and should really get the rest of TW up), but haven't. I haven't given a decent comment in a long while. And I did the blasphemous fave-without-commenting recently on deviantART. Personally, I'm a traditional media whore. I'm an anime whore. Show me one, the other, or both, and I could care less about the quality. I have drawings from seven year olds in my sketchbooks that mean a whole fucking lot to me. Because I've influenced those kids. They've seen what I've done and tried to mimic it - and for kids their age they really didn't do that bad. I'm proud of them, I'm proud of their creations.
To quote Koishii-Kitty (on dA, Dragon of Hope on Sheezy) "Being an artist means sharing what you do with others...after all, you got where you are because others shared with you." That is why I post. That is why I thank the people that comment on my artwork. And that is why I respect and love the little guys even if I don't always get around to mentioning it ._.;; For the most part, they're younger. They haven't even had the chance to become great inspiring people yet - but it doesn't take a watch or favorite to guide them along.
In essence, I understand what you mean and where your argument is directed - but I can't say I agree with it in the least. I've been given random comments by people that don't watch me, that I watch that are more popular and/or more skilled than myself, and they're truly special people regardless. Some of them do feel their watchers are special to them, no matter how little indication they might give. I recently got pissed off at someone that had returned the favor. Favorites and watches are no sufficient means of showing someone how much they're loved.
Tell me, and be honest, would you rather I watched you - but never said a word to you - or didn't watch, but commented from time to time with a paragraph or two? Which would be more endearing to you as the recipient of that feedback and why?
-----
Aside. Yes, I've been reeeeeaaaaaally lazy ._.;; I still have a bunch of posts in my updates box that ought to be checked... e_e;; I've gone as far as to open several of them, just havent had said anything yet. Which means I'm prolly somewhat qualified as one of the assholes at which this journal is directed, ne?
Pardon the language in there ._.;; And sorry for the lack of feedback, because I really should give the only decent commenter of mine a piece of my mind on their art, ne?