things happen.... the final arbiter of taste... is the audience.
Australian, been on FA 4 years, and is 21... well... it's really not that many watchers. i wouldnt think much into it.
My pallete has.. a distinctive lack of hue :3

"the final arbiter of taste... is the audience." I agree, but that's not quite the point of this journal. I am going to take a huge risk, here, in expressing my opinion, but I hope you'll understand that this is just opinion, not fact, and that I don't consider my thoughts to be facts except that I'm basing it upon my own experiences as an artist who often feels that her work gets ignored in favour of more poorly-done stuff by artists who draw far more porn...

First, you have nearly 2000 watchers, you lucky beast, you! You evidently reach an audience (a larger one, than her and I put together, actually) and people obviously like your art. She has less than four hundred, by comparison. So there, nyaahhh. And, nationality of origin has no relevance to whether someone will like another's work. Nor will length of time on FA or age. Illogical.

And I said "desaturated", not lacking in hue. I see a fair bit of black-and white pieces in your gallery- that can be a very effective medium. She uses colour, but tones them down a touch for a softer, not-quite pastel look that I find appealing. ^^ I happen to enjoy black-work, too- lots of great art in this world is just simple black-and-white line art, or mono-chromatic water-colour.

I went to your profile page to see your art after you left this comment (it caught my curiosity), and, when I saw your comments about yourself on the front page, it made me think of this: criticism can be done well and not in any insulting way- it's rare, yes, but possible- it's a skill, like any other, and one that few have mastered. Try not to let a few jerks, who will mean fuck-all to you in the end, stop you from listening to potentially useful critique!

To threaten to block folks for being part of  ilovecritque on your profile page, for example, seems a little much. Is it possible that you inflate simple comments and suggestions (that might actually help or be good insights about your work) into insults and personal attacks when they really aren't? This is just my opinion, but I think critique can be useful- we get too close to our own art to see the flaws very well. No one can be objective about their own work! Your saying that you know all of your work's flaws and don't need them pointed out suggests to me that it's more embarrassing for you to have people actually notice (and mention it publicly) any "flaws" in your art than "useful to you" because you see it as a personal attack. If someone says that your proportions need work, or your line-art, or shading, what have you- they're NOT saying you should ever stop drawing! They're not saying that your stuff sucks, either! They are saying they see good things in your work that they would love to see be even BETTER. The ones that actually do make snotty comments like "YOU SUXORS, DRAW BETTER SHIT LOLLOL", are fucking obviously trolling twats who can safely be ignored with no hits to your ego- why? Because they don't know what the fuck they're talking about!

I suggest that turning your back on critique will lessen your chances of getting good, helpful, non-insulting critique because you've shut down all possibility of that dialogue in that area. Having to wade through the ass-hat version of critique is unfortunately part of the life of an artist, and one that I suggest can negotiated without hurt to yourself, if you approach it from the point of view that some people will always be assholes, and there's no way you can change that. Brush off that ass-hats to get to the good stuff, and you will be rewarded with a much better view of your work from the outside.

TL:DR- this journal wasn't about you or your work. Trying to make it so only shows your insecurities really boldly. Critique is necessary because we cannot work in a vacuum: we NEED outside opinions, good and "bad", to properly judge, and improve our work. Be bold in your art, not in your emo.

Oops, that was supposed to be  ilovecritique Hate it when I miss mistakes in editing.

well.. yeah.. i tend to take things very personal. it's part of why i stopped drawing.
I've come a long way, mentally. i've mentioned before in my journals that i'm quite aware i have a very large & very fragile ego that needs to be fed constantly. I got my issues, and most people dont understand it, or believe me. it's hard for me to NOT care. I'm very conscientious(all my employers noticed this) and just downright Narcissistic. Thing is, most people with my personality like it, they dont see it as a problem, i like it. Wins feel awesome, positive feedback is like sex for me. THAT's the reward i sought for my artwork, not in DOING of the artwork itself. The producing part was drudgery, and the payoff ecstatic for the attention i get, and the lusty influence i had on people.
But ummm... i've been trying reeeeally hard to just have a healthier ego, so that little pin pricks dont bother me as much... it comes with being comfortable with myself.

it's my Bday today, and my internet gets cutoff anyday now.. im surprised it's still working. I got a long way to go. i'm always optimistic. on the bright side i'll have tons of extra time to catch up on Art. i'm trying to make a big comeback. Thanks for the support and nice words, it means a LOT to me

I was actually worried that I'd offend you! I felt that I came on a bit strong.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! (since you mentioned it- heh).

Nothing wrong with having a strong ego, either- it can help you get through some crappy shit. Just try not to let it lure you into thinking you're superior, or some other silly selfish crud. I fight with my ego all the time- it wants to rule the world.

Anyway, I gotta get back to packing- I'm needed to help load the truck and I've been trying to FINISH PACKING MY EFFING WORKROOM...*grumble gnash growl fuggin' huge pile o'crap*

Alternative art on FA always attracts my attention. Thanks for pointing me towards a unique artist :)

Yeah, it's nice to see the variety that's out there on FA! I like to explore the site for interesting work that aren't all about the cute, or the sex, or the fan-art, or the continual circle-jerk of artists drawing pronz for each of their characters and seemingly nothing else. It gets fucking BORING, after a while. There are some talented people on this site- a LOT of talented people, who deserve to recognized for their creative eye. And some of it simply gets too few views, for whatever reasons. For example, I adore  orbyss's stuff but they were getting unpleasant experiences here from the ass-hat crew and now they've decided to leave off posting work here (they aren't gone, entirely, just not gonna be posting their work here anymore, from what I understand). Why? Because their work isn't porn, and it's an unusual and eerie style that few folks here seem to relate to. Me, I think their stuff is amazing- their design-skills, their characters, their personal vision goes to places most of the cutesy-kawaii anime dick-nipple clones here won't dare to go. Personally, I think they're making a poor choice in going to a fail site like DA, but I also think they will be successful and their work will get noticed by the right folks, eventually.

398 is too few?

Yup. The lady has been here for four years, and there just doesn't seem to be the amount of attention she deserves for her sweet and adorable characters! >^__^< Consider that "popular" artists on here have 3-8 thousand watchers (or more- a few have over ten thousand)... I haven't hit a thousand, yet, either. LOL I just see cool art, then a skimpy watched list, and I just gotta "pimp" 'em. And, no, I don't actually know her personally- very few of the artists I pimp are actually friends of mine- I don't work that way. (I realize that you might not be thinking that- only wanted to get that out there so folks know I'm not into nepotism)

;o; This was a nice surprise! Eeep, you're so kind, seriously. <3

Heh. Rawr. I see good stuff, I tell folks. You have some good stuff.

Well, she has one more watcher now. Nice art and thank you for the tip! :)

Not a problem! She's got some really cute stuff!