The Quest for Feedback.

(On DeviantArt)So what can you do when you want people to actually leave comments on your art, but you usually get two or three comments tops, and that’s after you blatantly ask for them in the picture description.
 
Am I honestly hoping for too much when I want people to not just drop a fav but a comment as well? I personally value comments more because the person has to actually think about why they like your picture and then type that out, and that takes time.

It’s hard. I usually only get comments on fandom stuff or if it has boobs in it. If not that, I’m unlikely to get anything at all.
 
Now, if we’re talking mostly deviantart, put your art in groups. If you can submit it, theres several groups for it. There are also lots of critique groups and people who go out of their way to help make sure people like you get some feedback to improve.

On the other hand, how useful is most feedback from the average… art-viewer?
 
Getting to know other artists who are willing to be brutally honest (and not expecting them to actually help you fix anything) is the best way I’ve found to get good critique.

@Background Pony #FEAE
 
 
How did you find these brutal people? And yeah, I should know better. DA isn’t the place for good critque. Though I guess a part of me desires praise as well. And DA is good for that.

DA does have the “Artist has requested critique on this artwork” display option, you know.
 
And for good reason, it’s needed too!  
Some people like to fish for compliments, or faves. (Cool pic! Awesome! etc.) Others would prefer if their comments actually said something meaningful.  
Some people enjoy critique; (you did the waist much better than in your last pic; it would look better if you made the arms longer from this perspective; have you tried using software X etc.); other will BLOCK you (and yes, this has happened to me) if you even as much as mention something you think could be improved.  
Even following somebody is not so easy. I want to shower artists that I really like with praise and feedback (and corny jokes), especially if they don’t seem to get much recognition. But some artists are shy or would prefer to be followed by X crowd only (X meaning some social group that is not you).  
So you may even scare them and unintentionally seem stalker-ish or unwanted.
 
So it doesn’t hurt if you out it in your journal, put it in your DA settings, that you LIKE receiving comments or that you WANT feedback on something. People will respond, believe me.
 
Now, as for simply being FAMOUS - that’s a whole different bowl of rats. Naturally if you are well known you’re gonna get more comments (including idiotic wants) and vica versa.  
If you are not that good at art yet (not that I know), then you can make up for it by being sociable and going out of your way to interact with people.

@Vree
 
 
Only people who give DA money have that option. I’m too poor to go premium.
 
As far as the desired type of comment. I’ll accept the whole spectrum though I’d greatly prefer something meaningful, something that will help me improve. But I know that kind of comment is rare. As far as I’m aware, DA won’t allow you to put stamps in your journals or profiles unless you’re a premium member…which is total bs. But let me try it out, maybe it isn’t that restricted.

@Vree
 
 
Ah yes. It worked! I forgot that I can pretty much put whatever I want in my DeviantID. Thankyou for the idea.

Sometimes you just have to appeal to the desires of your audience. Marginalization of your own standard seems to be required to break the ice. You have saturation to contend with.

@Background Pony #AA37  

 
Animators are BRUTAL to eachother.
 
We take eachother’s artwork and redline everything the artists got wrong.

@Pikapetey
 
Hmmm…Then I’d better go make a friend out of an animator somewhere.
 
It’s an odd feeling of dissonance really. Like, I know people see my art. But when the comment section looks like a desert I don’t feel it. And it’s starting to have an effect on my art.
 
On DA It’s kind of gotten to the point where favs mean nothing to me, yet favs vastly out number my received comments.
 
So I’ve made it a goal to write more comments myself. Usually when someone drive by favs a picture in my gallery, I’ll go to theirs and leave a comment (and a llama) I’ve noticed a slliiight increase in comments for my own art which is my goal. But I honestly don’t know how to further this without looking like a beggar.

What do you want?  
Do you want random strangers that youve never met to write empty comments on your page?  
Or do you want to make better art?  
Choose one or the other because the animators wont take you seriously (and thetefore not help you) if your fretting about measly comments.

@Pikapetey
 
Well of course I wouldn’t walk up to one of my betters and just say “Hey I want more comments on my pictures can you redline my art work please?”
 
That would just be silly. But I don’t see why I can’t use one to achieve the other. Improvement is improvement regardless of my intentions. I do honestly want to improve, and I could one day be 100% better and still get no comments, but at least what I draw will look nicer.

@Background Pony #AA37  
Its a mentality we pick up on.  
Artists that take it seriously and want to improve. Or people who more like the idea of them oneday creating art.
 
When confronted with the latter we all tend to say “looks great! Good job” even if there are GLARING anatomy and technical errors in the peice. Eventually condemning that artist to a path of bad habits and workflows.

@Pikapetey
 
But I’m often asking for people to tell me if they see errors. I rarely receive that kind of feedback.(Because I rarely get feedback at all) Thought it might simply be because my viewers are as ignorant as I am.
 
I think it’s dishonest to not point out flaws when you know they’re there and the person is asking for help. I mean, whats the worst the person can do to you? Block you? Well if they do that they weren’t worth your time anyway and you can move on with life, right?
 
But if you are guessing this mentality how are you actually sure?

Because when help out another animator or artist, and all we receive is “excuse excuse excuse argument argument argument” to our critique.
 
then that artist isn’t worth my time

@Pikapetey
 
Understood. I guess you’ve had bad experiences with DA people in the past. But I’m not like that. I think. I wouldn’t know. But I don’t think that I am! It would be embarrassing as fug for me to spout all this only to be a whiner who won’t listen.

@Background Pony #AA37  
then step up to the plate bud, come off anon, post your work up here, and i’ll red line the shit out of it.

@Pikapetey
 
 
Wow this is weird. I can’t leave replies anymore.

@Background Pony #AA37
 
Uh..weird. Nevermind then!
 
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