Well, you know you must be getting big when you've actually got HATERS!
I was actually kind of amused (and, dare I say, excited) when I found a posting with several of my pieces under this thread on Something Awful http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3269404&userid=0&perpage=20&pagenumber=282
It's definitely never what you want to hear or see; however, I wasn't upset by the fact that Mr. Zellus called my artwork "horrible." He is perfectly entitled to his opinion, and I actually agree with him. Those were never my best pieces, and, compared the majority of my work now, they're nearly laughable (granted, of course, this thread is well over a year old). This does, however, present an ideal opportunity to bring up a very significant point.
I'd first like to say that while one never wants to hear that their work is sub-par, I will never get angry if you tell me, with good reason, that my work is bad. I love getting feedback, whether it's positive or negative. If positive, then yay! I'm very happy I could please you. If negative, then PLEASE suggest to me how I might improve in the future. I very much appreciate constructive criticism. I know that my work has a glaring amount of faults; I'm not a born artist. In fact, by nature, I'm a scientist, which is one of many reasons why I'm doing an astrophysics degree and not an art degree, so any help in making future pieces of artwork even better, and correcting current pieces, is more than appreciated. While I try, in every new piece, to improve one thing from the piece before it, I know I often fall short. Don't just say to me "Your art is terrible, I hate Neimoidians!" As I said, you're entitled to your opinion and your right to express it (just as I'm entitled to mine, and my right to love Neimoidians); however, a comment like that helps neither of us, because I don't know what faults you see (other than Neimoidians), and it just makes you look like an ignorant ass. If you instead offer me feedback along the lines of "I see a lot of faults in this piece; the ______ looks strange, and the ________ seems lazy. Maybe next time, you could ______ to make it look better," it's much more helpful, and I'll be more than grateful to you for your help.
This here is a short but brilliant little guide to effective critiquing, if you'd like some more information, courtesy of *akreon from deviantART: http://akreon.deviantart.com/art/The-Hitchhiker-s-Guide-to-Critique-287120707
My next point is slightly more serious, and concerns my view on cyber-bullying. Now, I haven't explored that thread thoroughly; however, the gist of it was sharing strange artwork with the community. I see no problem with that, in theory, but more often than not, these threads turn into flame threads, where art is only shown to be made fun or or hated. I got that impression that that's where that thread was heading, and I can't say that I ever support that type of activity, regardless of one's right to express an opinion. There's having an opinion, and there's being a bully. I think I speak for both the internet and real life when I say that if you've got something to say to me, say it to my face; don't sneak behind my back. I know things rarely work out this way in either circumstance, but it does not stop it from being cowardly and, often, destructive. I suppose I have to give some kudos for posting under a username and not under the dreaded "anonymous;" however, to use a name, you must be prepared to own it. I, for one, am proud of the work I have done, regardless of artistic skill or content, and proud to have my name attached to it, and nothing will ever change that. If you think it arrogant of me to say so, then that's fine too! Every artist starts somewhere, and I don't think it's ever right to knock them for it; if a person enjoys something and it doesn't hurt anyone, then so what? Just as importantly, if you don't like the content of a piece of art, then don't look. No one is forcing you to.
And as a closing, I'd like to remind Mr. Zellus from Something Awful that my "horrible" artwork has been published twice. For every hateful comment I have received, I have easily received 200 comments with praise and support, not to mention an interview. Sir, if you would kindly view my gallery now, I would love to have your opinion on areas I can improve on in the future.
I was actually kind of amused (and, dare I say, excited) when I found a posting with several of my pieces under this thread on Something Awful http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3269404&userid=0&perpage=20&pagenumber=282
It's definitely never what you want to hear or see; however, I wasn't upset by the fact that Mr. Zellus called my artwork "horrible." He is perfectly entitled to his opinion, and I actually agree with him. Those were never my best pieces, and, compared the majority of my work now, they're nearly laughable (granted, of course, this thread is well over a year old). This does, however, present an ideal opportunity to bring up a very significant point.
I'd first like to say that while one never wants to hear that their work is sub-par, I will never get angry if you tell me, with good reason, that my work is bad. I love getting feedback, whether it's positive or negative. If positive, then yay! I'm very happy I could please you. If negative, then PLEASE suggest to me how I might improve in the future. I very much appreciate constructive criticism. I know that my work has a glaring amount of faults; I'm not a born artist. In fact, by nature, I'm a scientist, which is one of many reasons why I'm doing an astrophysics degree and not an art degree, so any help in making future pieces of artwork even better, and correcting current pieces, is more than appreciated. While I try, in every new piece, to improve one thing from the piece before it, I know I often fall short. Don't just say to me "Your art is terrible, I hate Neimoidians!" As I said, you're entitled to your opinion and your right to express it (just as I'm entitled to mine, and my right to love Neimoidians); however, a comment like that helps neither of us, because I don't know what faults you see (other than Neimoidians), and it just makes you look like an ignorant ass. If you instead offer me feedback along the lines of "I see a lot of faults in this piece; the ______ looks strange, and the ________ seems lazy. Maybe next time, you could ______ to make it look better," it's much more helpful, and I'll be more than grateful to you for your help.
This here is a short but brilliant little guide to effective critiquing, if you'd like some more information, courtesy of *akreon from deviantART: http://akreon.deviantart.com/art/The-Hitchhiker-s-Guide-to-Critique-287120707
My next point is slightly more serious, and concerns my view on cyber-bullying. Now, I haven't explored that thread thoroughly; however, the gist of it was sharing strange artwork with the community. I see no problem with that, in theory, but more often than not, these threads turn into flame threads, where art is only shown to be made fun or or hated. I got that impression that that's where that thread was heading, and I can't say that I ever support that type of activity, regardless of one's right to express an opinion. There's having an opinion, and there's being a bully. I think I speak for both the internet and real life when I say that if you've got something to say to me, say it to my face; don't sneak behind my back. I know things rarely work out this way in either circumstance, but it does not stop it from being cowardly and, often, destructive. I suppose I have to give some kudos for posting under a username and not under the dreaded "anonymous;" however, to use a name, you must be prepared to own it. I, for one, am proud of the work I have done, regardless of artistic skill or content, and proud to have my name attached to it, and nothing will ever change that. If you think it arrogant of me to say so, then that's fine too! Every artist starts somewhere, and I don't think it's ever right to knock them for it; if a person enjoys something and it doesn't hurt anyone, then so what? Just as importantly, if you don't like the content of a piece of art, then don't look. No one is forcing you to.
And as a closing, I'd like to remind Mr. Zellus from Something Awful that my "horrible" artwork has been published twice. For every hateful comment I have received, I have easily received 200 comments with praise and support, not to mention an interview. Sir, if you would kindly view my gallery now, I would love to have your opinion on areas I can improve on in the future.