Agreed. That's why I'm not posting all my stuff here, no real push to do so, since I barely gett comments about it, just faves and no interaction |3

I'll be more than happy to comment, half the time I didn't even think artists read them. Just kind of 'oh, 1347 comments? Nuke.'
So... you'll be my exception now. Cuz you're awesome like that.

Aw I hope artists don't do that. I always read, and am so happy and grateful for every comment I get. Not even in an ego rubbing way. Just because I feel like it's interaction with other people. I've made some really awesome, and now close friends, that started by leaving comments on their artwork.

Then you are one of the few artists it seems that actually appreciate their fanbase. As an example, most artists I've seen on here have no problem replying with the top 20 comments, then just drop the rest. However long that list might be. Quite an interesting thing to study though, from a distance at least.

I can't lie.. I have done that. Started responding, and then ran out of creative responses. Not because I don't care, but because my brain can only be cleaver for so long. But if I see someone make an effort to leave a comment. I try and respond if I can.

I know that feel. A fav is nice, but a comment to let you know why, is so much better.

id rather someone comment then fav. Favs are nice of course, but a comment lets me know you have an opinion. =D

I will admit, that I for the most part no longer leave comments simply because of all the people that tend to like jumping on people for posting one. I don't know how many times I have seen people torn apart in a comment on someones art simply because they said that they really loved the art work, but that something looked slightly off to them.

Or even those that just compliment the art, and someone takes what they said the wrong way and attacks them.

This doesn't happen all the time of course, but I have noticed it does tend to happen more and more then it once did. Before it was actually pretty friendly.. now I see more trolls, attackers and I HAVE TO BE FIRST TO POST and rub it in your faces type deals.

It's.. kind of discouraging -.-

Wow.. I guess I missed that stage of it when I was away for a while. That is really upsetting. It's find when people point out things. As long as its done so a nice way. I don't mind. Cause other people can maybe see something you couldn't see. And it helps to improve. Trolls are killing the internet.. so sad.. u.u.

Agreed. As an artist, I really don't mind if someone points something out, as long as it's done in a nice way, but even I have had to hide comments on my art because someone pointed something out and someone else attacked them for it...and the person was being NICE the whole time. o.0

I think I've been here for five? years now, and it only seemed to have turned this way in the recent year.

Thats sad. I guess fans just feel like the person is insulting the artist by pointing something out. I mean, some artists can't even handle that. Hardcore fans are probably worse. So I guess I can see that. Best one can do is ask their fans to be more respectful.. or hide the comments.

So agree with everything you said - I have rarely make any comments anymore related to the actual artwork on THIS site. Now on SoFurry, I do not get that feeling....YET.......

I rarely comment because i feel I have nothing much of value to offer. Being someone who cannot draw, I feel I am not in a real position to offer any kind of critique. Sure i can say "I like this" or "That looks good" but beyond that, there's not much of substance I can offer an artist, at least in my personal opinion

Well that's an honest opinion. ^-^

I am trying to post more.
When I'd comment before I actually got ignored a lot of the time so I just stopped and most of the artists I had tried to talk to or comment on photo's of theirs seemed to be egotistical assholes so eventually I just stopped.

But you can only do nothing for so long, I need interaction with people.

This is also true. I can count the times where I want to say something cleaver back, but my brain draws a blank. As a commenter.. I guess 9 times out of 10.. I don't expect the artist to respond unless I go into deep detail about something. But I hope even if I say "This is sooo beautiful", it makes them smile.

I normally now at least let them know that I like the art they posted as well as favorite it.
But sometimes I'd actually like to talk to them and it just seems like they want nothing to do with you.

Some are shy, yes. And I know it can be hard to personally interact with fans if they have a lot of fans. But I don't think they ever want nothing to do with you.

Well that is good to know c: some artists just interact so little it starts feeling like they just don't really care but I've never taken I to consideration the number of fans they have and now I honestly feel a little silly.
It's just nice sometimes to feel like you are appreciated, for both the artist and the fan.

What always gets me is the ratings on images that are like... 500 views, 60 faves, 2 comments.... Seems a bit off when you look at it like that.

I mean... Its hard to respond to comments that just say "Hawt' "Sexey" Or some crap like that. But then again I think... I've gotten maybe 10 comments worth responding too on art I've posted recently and it makes it me feel really shitty so I just focus on making the commissioner happy and don't give a crap other wise> its awful to think this way but after years of receiving such few amounts of comments I've gotten used to this. (Oh one thing that KILLS is when I see the exact same person fave every single thing I post but has never once commented on anything)

So I can agree I too miss the interactions between other artists and other people.

I too, see that going on. Not just with me, but with other artists too. Picture gets like, 150 favs and just 3 comments? That why I was starting to thing this was becoming like a tumblr, detached typed mentality. Where you just click something, and move on. Cause it's the internet.

With commissions, yes.. I first and foremost make sure the person who commissioned me is happy with it. Then I post and if anyone else likes it, they can comment if they so wish. But also in a way.. I do like knowing people like my work. The same I feel when I like another artists work. They inspire me a lot, and im always so happy when they post something. If I can do that to people too.. It's amazing. I don't know if I do. I'm extremely modest... but id like to hope i can bring a smile to others faces when I post something.

One can only say "Cute!" "Awesome!" "Sexy!" so many times. "Cute" has almost become a verbal tic on FA.
I still try to think of something more substantive to say, though.
But there does seem to be less interest in characterization these days, sadly.

ug.. i will never just say... cute. I mean, im still greatful for the comment! But, cute doesn't help me know what someone is thinking. ... well other then cute. lol. but yes.. those types of comments are nice.. but against.. i miss the interaction.

If I ever find myself typing "Cute", I backspace a few times and think of something else to say, haha.
Though sometimes I'll cringe and submit it* just because... it's truly fitting...

* after checking the other comments to make sure there isn't a "cute" echo chamber going on. Which there often is if the picture warrants it.

Well.. I can't speak for everyone, but personally I'm pretty shy and just don't normally know what to say most of the time. I certainly appreciate the effort and time artists put into the work they post. I just love getting to see what people can do. For me.. it's just the matter of getting over nerves, or just finding something to say. I've been starting to comment a little more lately, though x3 -making the effort!-

aww well thank you for making an effort here! Am so happy for it! and to hear your opinion! I know the shy bug. It's ok. That is perfectly excusable.

There's just so many times where I feel like what I want to say won't mean anything or come out wrong and I'll look stupid >wo; ... Plus I'm just terrible at back and forth. l'D Even though I'm not an artist, I do some coloring on another site and do know that I feel happy when people say something about what I do... I guess I can try to get myself out of my shell at least a little more to at least do the same for artists on here~

hell if I know

Sometimes I get off work and I'm just too tired to comment and with all the artists that I watch I feel like I am going to be there for a long time. When I get days off I stalk FA like none other and I comment as much as I can but sometimes I feel like no one really pays attention to what I have to say. Those that actually do comment back on what I say I keep in mind and comment more often if they don't well they I guess I just sort of stop commenting. Which is probably bad. T_T

Well true. If I don't look at FA for 3 days... I will have about 60+ pictures waiting in my watch list. I guess as the site gets bigger.. this adds to the volume.. and more people causes detachment. At least you make an effort! Even if it's small. Maybe you can't comment on everything, but at least you try. And I always read every comment I get. And I care that I got it.

Yeah, since I'm not really a big artist even though I am trying to improve my art quite a bit, I watch more people than I get watchers. So I end up having a bunch of pictures to look at.

And I will try to respond more, just it might be slow going. ^^ So I hope you get more comments on the work that you do, I know I will try to comment more often now that I know that you respond to them or at least read them.

The inconsistency of it is amusing and sad at the same time. It's as if users have an ultra-specific criteria in their brain, and will only comment if all criteria have been met. I always try to say at least something if I favorite a piece.

oh hmm... yeah maybe...

I know you feeling..

I have posted almost 3 images a night for the past month or so.. and I have been averaging just over 1 comment per file (1:1.3), which is okay, but the past week, alot of my top fav'd recent stuff has nothing.

Alot of the comments I get on my files are often when Person B is replying to Person A, and not much about the art, so if I eliminate those comments it almost 1:1...

But these things happen. I need to do a comment please picture I think.

=^.,.^=

Yeah I get the same thing. maybe it's just.. more interaction is needed. I don't know.

Maybe its just because it's May... the unofficial start to Summer... People are finally going out side for the first time in months, and staring eiriely up at that strange bright, glowing object in the sky which causes their brains to briefly turn to either mashed potatoes or sauerkraut...

=^.,.^=

Explanation #1: We maybe going though a bit of a midlife crisis as a community. Many established artists including yourself, don't post as much these days as they used to, and it wouldn't surprise me to learn that watchers/lurkers/commenters aren't as active anymore either. Who started the cycle? I'm not sure. Chicken and egg problem maybe. But it's worth reflection that you're asking us "what happened to this place" subtly acknowledging the fact that you're probably doing the same thing as the other ppl you're wondering about.

Explanation #2: I've noticed an increase in the last year or so in the number of artists who ask people NOT to post on their walls, or comment on their artwork. I can think of at least two right off the top of my head without having to spend any time thinking about it. Maybe part of it is that the community collectively is not as open to or interested in feedback as they used to be? (And assuming that was the case, I could think of some very legitimate reasons why, and even understand why someone might feel that way.)

to #1.. oh I am def guilty of it. And feel bad for it. I know my absences causes me to loose fans who just amuse I no longer post anymore. It also causes a detachment. Which is why I made this journal. A coming out of her hole.. type of thing. But I notice that this isn't just me I see this happening to. The volume of comments on a lot of different art sites has dropped dramatically. To artists who's worked use to get them over 200 comments a picture.. Now barely get them 50 with anything new. Maybe it is boredom, or even moving on.. as we are all growing up. I truly miss it. The interaction.

I'd love to be able to spend more time on FA and other online communities I used to frequent. FA still has a tremendous appeal to me, and I do what I can to keep up on new subs and new material artists post, but in my case personally, recent financial hardships and want of money have compelled me to work 10-12 hours a day and stolen a lot of my online time from me. I still participate in the community, as I'm demonstrating now, but definitely...less. Maybe in addition to the detachment and the growing up, that's another factor hurting community participation?

Anyway, it's great to see you come out of your hole! Your artwork has always been a pleasure to share and I've missed seeing it in my submissions feed as much as I used to. Cheers.

Yes, I am sure growing up adds to it. As jobs and life come into play. At least for my age range, we all started back in late 99-2000's. So.. many were still in school. And boy did we have time for the internet in high school. Now we are all 10 years older with jobs, or taken our art to a level that is no longer pleasure, but how we make a living. But there has to be a generation coming into this artist online world. And If we can set a good example by trying to still be interactive with each other, they will keep that going? Maybe that's just a silly hope. I know one I am not personally strong enough to carry on. (I have my days where I am detached and grumpy) But any effort is effort... and I am thankful for it. As I am for your comments! I do want to try and get more work done. Doing art for paid sites had caused my art here to suffer, posting wise. But with the commissions I am getting.. I will be posting more. ^-^ Maybe I can squeeze a personal pictures in the middle of those too.

I don't usually have much to say, myself~
I sort of have been noticing a decline in comments on my own uploads as well.

I love reading comments and answering them, it's a ton of fun. Unfortunately it's not the most common thing anymore.

Yeah.. it's sad ;-;

I'm just a very quiet, passive watcher. Should I be a less quiet and passive watcher? I'll be happy to. :3

I would never want anyone to force themselves to be something they aren't. If you are just a shy, quiet person.. that's ok!

I'm not. Or, well, I'm trying not to be. XP I just don't comment on anything much outside of friends' work because it just ended with me barfing out the same letters over and over again and it kinda made me feel like I wasn't giving artists the commentary they deserved, but at the same time I've had folks explode in the past for me saying a foot is off a little or something so by default I just kinda be passive and watch :x

aaaaaah yes... that would make commenting hard. No doubt. I need a book of words myself. As I too, start feelings like I am resaying the same things.

I'll surely try to come up with stuff in the future, though, and comment on your stuff when I see it c:

you don't have to comment. But i am always thankful!

It's not like I'm forcing myself or anything x3 I'll be happy to c:

I don't really get it either. I'll upload something one day and get like 10 comments, then the next six drawings I upload will get maybe 1 or 2 comments each, if I'm lucky. Happens all the time. No idea why there's no consistency and why people just don't want to comment sometimes. It can get frustrating.

lol maybe is that artist law where... You work on something for 50 hours... you get 5 comments. Do a 10 mins sketch... you get 20 comment.

its mostly about porn. nobody really comments to really appreciate the time it takes to do something. SANS the adult work.

I would LOOOOOOOOOVE to have a serious comment on a porn picture. Because I don't ever get them.. but when a friend of mine shows me porn pictures, I sit there and look at it from a totally different reason then my horny friend is. Like I love the coloring. Or how the inking is done around some area's. Or the show of weight between the two people. Porn is hard to draw. Probably some of the hardest other then detailed backgrounds. But I guess, i feel like im being silly to sit there and leave serious comments to porn art.. when others are leaving comments talking about how turned on it makes them. heehee

well porn does use 'advanced posing' as i like to call it, as the body turns and twists and often has unique perspective shots.

which im still trying to learn...not that im a fan of adult art. Sex sells and people love porn, sex, porn and stuff.....-sigh-. but if i need to make money eventually...here would be a nice start.

actually, some things are MUCH tougher than porn shots haha.

and hopefully, i would encourage for people to think with their heads. Not their ego inflated horny winkies or hoo hoos

lol. true.. sex sell. To me, for some reason, hentai art used to always be done with such detail. I learned a lot about how to draw the body because of hentai. yeah it sells.. but to me, it's a challenge every time. Sad to say porn art doesn't do a thing for me anymore.. in -that- way. My art junkie side might get turned on by the awesomeness of how good it is. but the horny side of me.. never does. lol

i outgrew my testosterone for furry fap material long ago myself lol. its just....what else is new?

i can appreciate the skill, technique and such that went into it, but if the artist wants me to comment on how sexy it is; most likely i'll say: "Its been done."

btw, do you use reference, or freeform when posing? (freeform -- basically thinking the body positions in your mind W/O using reference or very little)

I try to free form as much as I can. As I try and be original. (as one can be. cause yes.. It's all been done) But if I am having trouble I go looking into my hentai folder where I have A LOT of pictures. And I will look through some and hopefully get idea's. If I am having trouble with a body part, I will use a ref.

ahhh. i think i need to overcome that myself u-u

I agree with you. cause I been noticing a lot of favs but I want comments like critique to why they faved it.

I've almost always been in the position of not receiving much comments on images i upload here. I always thought I was putting off some kind of "don't talk to me" vibe, or something.

Yeeeaah, I can certainly relate.

I think part of the blame is that over the past while some artists have been very vocal about "don't post [comment type] on my submissions please" about various types of comments they don't like, be it murry-purry comments, crit on paid work, 'inappropriate' comments, or whatever else happens to irk them. It has a bit of a ripple effect beyond just comments on their own stuff.

man.. i have been so out of it.. I wasn't even aware artist are asking that.

Yeah, and I honestly can't keep track of which artists are requesting what. So when I get the urge to comment on a piece, I think to myself "wait, is this one of the artists who's bitchy about the comments people leave?" and I usually can't remember one way or the other, so I just take the safe option of not bothering.

So while on the one hand it's nice to respect artists in the types of comments they're ok with on their work and whatnot, it is kind of toxic to the community in general for them to put those sorts of expectations out there.

I see people fav a lot still. Do they think their thoughts don't mater to the artist? So they don't want to bother? It's kinda sad really.

Pretty much this.
A lot of times, when I'm looking at / listening to other people's stuff, I don't know what to say in regards to how much I appreciate their work, either. Oftentimes, it seems as if something I could say might not even be helpful in any way either. So... I don't know.

I hope things get better. I can certainly relate... it's been that way for me, too.

I admit, I tend to filter through a lot of the uploads I get in my watch. I try to comment where I could, but lately I've been too busy to comment as much as I could. There have been times I've also not really know what to say either... Maybe I should just try not to worry about sounding too generic. @_@;

hmmm understandable. I too, do this.

Uugh. I feel the same way. I miss getting comments.

I comment if I have the time, if the picture is just -that- special, or if I feel I can add something to a comment that other's haven't yet. If there is a very long list of comments as popular artist's get I tend not to bother because a majority of the time you won't get a response XD

I blame those new fangled cell phones :o

sometimes i felt like it's repetitive to say the same thing, sometimes i liked a picture but dunno what to say and sometimes i'm just way too shy and i felt like i lick the boots of everyone D: but yes, been having the same problem too

This is one of the main reasons I never started posting things here. I never really got comments on DA, and I joined FA only a short time after that. I have found other places where the members are more opt to comment, but not so much here...

Though, if I do fave something, I always try to post a comment.

i do as well

i comment on stuff usually

I would partially blame crit haters on this. It's hard to post thoughtful comments without eventually running into an asshole like "ZOMG I DID NOT ASK FOR CRITIQUE YOU DUMBASS"

I love to leave comments! I tend to comment more on journals though. also, I comment most on work where I know the artist usually replies. interaction, you know?

anyway, my comments have generally been few and far between lately... I blame my meds. they make me not want to say much.

but I heart you, sooooo yes, I'll always do my best to comment on your work. :D

daw i know hon. you are awesome!!

I may never have anything smart, or witty, or sophisticated to say about the artwork. But IF I fav someones picture, I will ALWAYS leave a comment. It' started off one day when I saw someone had like 140favs and only 8 comments.
I was so annoyed that they didn't get more credit for their hard work and long hours making it for us to get a glimpse of.
SO now I make a point to always thank the artist for sharing their gift with all of us.

that is so awesome of you!! Thank You

I noticed this too. Though like lots of comments above, I guess maybe at this point the same-o'-same-o' commenting has more or less played out?

I'm confused D: your not getting comments because unless I'm hallucinating its been a month since you last posted anything? I mean its obvious your audience wants to engage with you by the comments in this journal. But welcome back!

No, im not talking about only me. The amount of comments being left on many pictures has dropped dramatically. I usually can only update monthly because I also work on other art for private sites, and It takes me a while to get work done. So I understand why i'm losing fans.. but its not just me.

Part of it is your break. When you have a normal posting schedule and STOP that schedule, you lose some subscribers' attention. It's hard to get that back when you pick up again. Some of it may be that people are busy, or they feel like their comments aren't worth posting, and that's whether or not it actually is. I believe I've said this, but I'm certainly glad to see you back. I love your work, and I'm glad you didn't leave permanently.

aww i wont leave all together ever. Thank you though. I know you put an effort into commenting. And I am always thankful.

Good. If you do, at least tell me where you'll be taking your art to. :P Aww. *blushes* Thanks~ It's really nice to have those sorts of gestures noticed, it seems there isn't a lot of that these days, in FA or elsewhere. I appreciate you responding to comments, as I try to always do the same. Even something simple took someone giving my words or my thoughts or my art enough worth to think on it, then take the time out of their day to write a reply. I try to return that as much as I can. :)

You know what's even more disheartening? FA is still by far the most comment-vocal of the furry art sites (in my experience). I know very well of what you speak and believe me, I too, would rather have comments than favourites. So to encourage it I try replying to as many as I can. I need to go reply to some now!

hee hee you are a trooper! I am also trying to reply to. Hoping it helps a bit.

I think a big part of it is people fluttering off to other sites too, so less people who care to comment. Me included! I don't really come here much, I silently favorite things from time to time, and rarely comment. It is a little empty around here though, I must admit.

Awww I have been wondering what you were up to! I hope you are doing well! I know i felt shy and embarrassed for going MIA and didn't know how to try and say hi again and not have it sound like i suck.. I miss everyone. You included!

Personally, I just got tired of being ignored. I'd leave comments plenty, but response was bear minimum.

aahh.. i see.

Yes, well on a different note, I don't think we've 'met' before (Love your icon). I recall reading something about a two year absence?

Half the time the artists that I watch are super popular and have several hundred if not a thousand watchers so when they make a post or journal their pages are flooded. In the middle of that my insignificant comments of "good job"or some particular aspect I really like goes unnoticed so more often then not I just don't bother. Far worse then that is the being attacked by some of their other followers for some imagined slight so I keep my more cleverly thought out constructive criticism to myself.

Well I understand that. The first part. If I can't think of anything good to say then "great job" or something.. I probably wont comment. Only if there are a bunch of comments. But If i see something that I want to say "good job" i will try a little more and write down my thoughts beyond that.. hehe. Hoping the artist reads it. I have yet to see people jumping all over others.. but I have heard of it? That is a shame that people do that.

Well even when my opinion is more developed then "good job" often it feels as if someone's said it already and really what else could I add by saying it again. But going into the second portion I am highly analytical so sometimes I find myself wanting to give a constructive criticism but not doing so because I don't want to get the backlash from this person's followers who see nothing wrong or because that might just be their style. Another thing I don't want to be one of the mindless ones who just compliment everything and needlessly stroke egos.

I understand your grief. Sometimes it seems that depends of the subject. I comment from time to time to give an observation that goes beyond a simple "looks pretty good". I don't like to be repetitive but if I can't avoid it, I simply not comment.

But if you want my opinion what I really like is to comment on drawings where there are characters I like. No famous characters from some video game or animated television series, but characters made by other users. I like to watch their adventures and is very fun commenting about it. Without falling in the rp comments, of course..

It will perhaps also because there is an exodus from this site to another art site?

I personally don't really comment anymore because more often than not, it goes ignored.

There have even been times when i have commented on pieces that were very moving to me and have described in detail how a piece has moved me or what it may have reminded me of, in great detail, only for it to go ignored and later forgotten. As if the time i took to truly appreciate the piece in question itself was in vain.

I do feel bad for those who still want and appreciate comments, and i can relate as i prefer them over favs and views as well. . . However i also understand that not everyone can know who will truly appreciate, and who will not.

awwww this is very true.

Of course, should anyone voice their distaste over the silnce on their pieces, i will gladly make an effort. =3