grippedchimp said:
Not been impressed by my work so far, C_E? Gee, is it that bad, or are you really difficult to please? Anyway, I can't be that bad. 2000 members in a 2 year old Yahoo! Group can't be wrong!
Well, I have been in the biz for 2½ years, and have encountered quite fierce criticism in the past. Up until now, I've kept them quiet. Seems your my biggest critic for now, but that's OK. I've been improving all the time I've been here, and will continue to do so. I know I'm a man of my word, so take heed. That said, I admire your honestyand initiative. Just remember, I'm not taking any of this art too seriously.
No need to get defensive, I was just being honest, and if what I said upset you I apologize. Your ideas are great, excellent even. But as an artist myself, I am judging your work based mainly on artist skill, talent, and detail. On a scale of 1-10 you would get a 8 or so for your ideas, and a 6 for your drawing skills. I feel thats a fair estimation, and I base these opinions on the skills and ideas of the other artists here and not on how long they have been here or how many members they have (since such things don't figure into it or effect it in a direct way. I myself have only been around since october, and yet I have 1,100+ members myself, and do very little advertizing. I want to stress that reputation, time spent, and member count have nothing to do with it, which I'm sure you'd agree on).
One of the problems, that may make me seem like your biggest critic is that I'm saying something outloud about it whereas everyone else says the same thing in a round about way and aims only to make you feel good. I feel there is a certain level of bias in your favor because of your status. If people were truely judging your work based on artistic skill, there would be more like me, I assure you. And they are here for you and me and everyone else, but as I said, they say nothing outloud so you only have one opinion for the most part to work with. I consider such a thing good and bad at the same time.
It may be that I am difficult to please and that I'm comparing you to me and what I would expect from me. But you and I are totally different people with different priorities when drawing the pictures, and we both have vastly different styles. Something that makes this fun an exciting to judge and comment on.
I have no doubt you will continue to become a better, more skilled artist as I have since I got here.
I'm sort of like the Simon Cowell (American Idol) of the TMF artists- I'm brutally honest, frank, and won't hesitate to tell you something you don't want to hear if I feel its for your own good.
I'd like to think I'm doing the right thing. Some may feel I'm provoking you, but I don't feel thats what I'm doing. At least, thats not my mind set or aim.
As I said, your previous works really didn't "wow" me, but this update did. So congrats and props to you. I'm not saying you need to seek my approval, because I'm not better than you, and your not better than me (although some on both sides would say otherwise for any given reason which would also be a respectable opinion) but you should also pay heed to what I or anyone else says to you in reference to your work. If its something you didn't expect, you should accept it anyway, and make some good of it somehow. That would be the classy, tactful thing to do, and as an artist, it makes you appear more professional to be able to deal with varying opinions and/or critcisms.
As far as the seriousness of your art and how you take it, thats up to you. But remember one thing- it will definitely show.
- Damien
