FA+
Shop
Artists: Why Bother
14 years ago
General
Every time I browse FA, I'm disappointed...at best!
Why do you people even bother posting what you call "art." Most of what is on FA, and by most I mean roughly 99.9%, is crap you should leave in a sketchbook, or toss because its crap.
When you publish artwork or stories on this site, you should consider that the entire world is looking at what you posted, and will judge you and your skills and talents by the crap you post.
And yes, most of you still post crap, probably because most people here are too lazy to carefully consider the merits of artwork. You are so pleased to be able to see free porn that you don't stop to consider that the "artist" just threw some lines on a piece of paper, put some color into it, and called it art.
And yes, you viewers have a role in this too - a bigger one in fact. It was you who decided that no one should ever criticize artwork. And criticism is absolutely vital to the quality of an artist, and of the artwork that users view. In other words, because you have created a culture devoid of artistic criticism, you have by your own choice (but without thinking, because you are patently incapable of thinking for yourselves) created a fandom defined by crappy artwork. Why? Because criticism is vital to self-improvement. How is an artist to know that their work is a pile of shit unless someone has the balls to say so?
I make costumes (you call them "fursuits.) I am not the best. But I am an artist. And as an artist, I am always developing my skills (oh, didn't know that? You thought an artist just maintained the same skill level? Well, that's not a true artist, that's an art profiteer, suckering you idiots into giving them money for mass-produced garbage...I won't name names, but you can figure out who these artists are, just look at the lack of progress in their gallery.) And to develop my skills, I need criticism. Fortunately for me, I'm quite a good critic of my own work. But that doesn't mean I should rely on myself. When I post pictures of my costumes, no one ever critiques, they just say "oh, how cool" and useless crap like that. I want to know what I can do to make it better dammit!
I guess I should just accept that because furries are worthless when it comes to criticism, and as a result have no taste, that I should seek criticism elsewhere. And I do, and have. My friends (some of whom are even furry) will look at my work and because they are my friends, they won't tell me what they think I WANT to hear, they will tell me what I NEED to hear.
It's perfectly okay to post lower quality artwork. But please don't post anything on FA if you A) aren't going to expect, ask for, and accept criticism, and B) what you are posting isn't better than your previous posted piece. EVERY fursuit I make is better than the previous, either in looks, function, or usually both. There is no reason to do artwork if you aren't always improving yourself. Even Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Picasso, De Goya all knew that art was a learning process - of learning perfection, an unachievable goal. Just because it is an unachievable goal doesn't mean you shouldn't try to reach it. And just as I am trying to be a perfect person, even knowing I can never succeed but continuing because always trying makes me always better; all artists know that a piece of artwork is never finished, it has just reached the point where it cannot get much better.
Thank you for listening.
Why do you people even bother posting what you call "art." Most of what is on FA, and by most I mean roughly 99.9%, is crap you should leave in a sketchbook, or toss because its crap.
When you publish artwork or stories on this site, you should consider that the entire world is looking at what you posted, and will judge you and your skills and talents by the crap you post.
And yes, most of you still post crap, probably because most people here are too lazy to carefully consider the merits of artwork. You are so pleased to be able to see free porn that you don't stop to consider that the "artist" just threw some lines on a piece of paper, put some color into it, and called it art.
And yes, you viewers have a role in this too - a bigger one in fact. It was you who decided that no one should ever criticize artwork. And criticism is absolutely vital to the quality of an artist, and of the artwork that users view. In other words, because you have created a culture devoid of artistic criticism, you have by your own choice (but without thinking, because you are patently incapable of thinking for yourselves) created a fandom defined by crappy artwork. Why? Because criticism is vital to self-improvement. How is an artist to know that their work is a pile of shit unless someone has the balls to say so?
I make costumes (you call them "fursuits.) I am not the best. But I am an artist. And as an artist, I am always developing my skills (oh, didn't know that? You thought an artist just maintained the same skill level? Well, that's not a true artist, that's an art profiteer, suckering you idiots into giving them money for mass-produced garbage...I won't name names, but you can figure out who these artists are, just look at the lack of progress in their gallery.) And to develop my skills, I need criticism. Fortunately for me, I'm quite a good critic of my own work. But that doesn't mean I should rely on myself. When I post pictures of my costumes, no one ever critiques, they just say "oh, how cool" and useless crap like that. I want to know what I can do to make it better dammit!
I guess I should just accept that because furries are worthless when it comes to criticism, and as a result have no taste, that I should seek criticism elsewhere. And I do, and have. My friends (some of whom are even furry) will look at my work and because they are my friends, they won't tell me what they think I WANT to hear, they will tell me what I NEED to hear.
It's perfectly okay to post lower quality artwork. But please don't post anything on FA if you A) aren't going to expect, ask for, and accept criticism, and B) what you are posting isn't better than your previous posted piece. EVERY fursuit I make is better than the previous, either in looks, function, or usually both. There is no reason to do artwork if you aren't always improving yourself. Even Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Picasso, De Goya all knew that art was a learning process - of learning perfection, an unachievable goal. Just because it is an unachievable goal doesn't mean you shouldn't try to reach it. And just as I am trying to be a perfect person, even knowing I can never succeed but continuing because always trying makes me always better; all artists know that a piece of artwork is never finished, it has just reached the point where it cannot get much better.
Thank you for listening.
furries post crappy art and are too sensitive to critique and will get butt-hurt easily
viewers/readers are too lazy or too googly eyed over shitty sex pictures jacking/fingering themselves or too fucking scared of being banned or blacklisted in the "Artists' Circle" to post anything constructive
am I hitting the nail on the head or did I miss something here?
Now, my response to your 'wall-o-text' you're preaching to a brick wall in my TRULY HONEST opinion. I'll try and post a few pointers when I feel it's necessary but I never get a "oh thanks for the tip" or "Hey I appreciate the comment." if I leave something and a fav because i thin the stuff has SOME decency all i ever get in my shout is the ever so bland and generic "thx for the fav" DON'T FUCKING THANK ME FOR WHAT ONLY TOOK ME 2 SECONDS WHERE IT TOOK ME 5 MINUTES TO LEAVE A HELPFUL AND THOUGHTFUL TIP.
Also, I'm wanting to say that you're not putting enough weight on the artists as well, mean take a look at what I just said, sometimes I don't get anything back, I know some artists are busy and others are spammed with faves and comments but how hard is it to at least skim through the "oh murr" and "hot hot" and the ever epically failing " " and see someone took a little effort and offer advice.
I see some artists out there that aren't so good, but I like their style. Honestly I like the new artists, ones just now budding out on to the furry scene and on FA because they READ THE FUCKING COMMENTS THEY RECEIVE! I know some well established artists too who try and I respect them in their efforts.
If you really boil it down, its a delicate balance as well, most of today's artists would not be making money if there were no-one to like their stuff and I absolutely despise the ones who will make people think they just came out of their mother womb with a artist's degree and a colored pencil and can make GOD out of a piece of paper just by looking at it because they forget that THEY SUCKED when they first started but found the drive to improve. And now that people are falling over each other to give them their hard earned money that could be going to gas, food, a house or medical bills, is going into a piece of paper with lines on it, they see no need to improve. It sickens me, I used to draw on the side, I don't anymore after seeing how cold the fandom is on a new artist who isn't very good. You furries really are heartless bastards because you are so stuck up with these big time artists you cant even afford to even THINK about giving 2 shits about some fur who is just starting out.
And don't think you're off the hook commentors, you're just AS bad. All you ever do most of the time is post "Man thats hot!" or "holy shit I wish I was him." and a few of you who just dont seem to comprehend of "if it fucking bothers you, DON'T FUCKING LOOK AT IT" bashing a artist's work for the 'lulz' and starting dramma with more butt-hurt furries. How about taking a little time to really look at the picture or story and understand it. point out what you liked and what you thought could be improved on. Okay? lets try one "I really liked how you drew that pose, it looks very nice but the proportions of that fur are a little off." See? Not that hard. but nope, you take the easy way out and go with "Oh man that's hot" or " UNF UNF UNF" and my favorite that ALWAYS stirs up a shitstorm "1st" first off if you're gonna do that "1st" bit, gtfo this site and go back to /b/ or memebase you fucking bottom feeder. Second, don't ever comeback unless you have something half intelligent to say.
I know some artists will have a bad day or which ever or if their work didn't make it quite par with their previous, we've all had our shit days, and its ok to have one every once in a while but like what you said, its no excuse not to try and improve.
Sorry about the long reply, but you struck a chord with me on the subject matter and i merely wanted to voice my opinion, but I guess I had a bit more to say then what I thought i did.
I hear you. FA is cruel, as is the rest of the fandom. I have complained for years, but to a mindless audience who, get this, bashes me for trying to point out how f*ed up things are.
It's all about popularity and selfisness. All everyone on here is concerned about is what they get out of it. I mean, here is a site that promises free "material" for their sexual pleasure. That's better than a pay site. But you should at least do something in return. If you were an altruist, you would look at the art, enjoy it for free. But you would give something more valuable than money in return. After all, money only has that value which we give it. Constructive criticism is beyond price, it is substantial and therefore has intrinsic and inate value. And the stupid thing is, by providing constructive criticism, you are improving the products you enjoy, an investment. So you not only get something for free, but by being giving in return, you get MORE for free.
How stupid is being selfish and not providing constructive criticism then?
Oh wait, better visualization, Dragoneer and his "new and improved fa 'team" installing something that tracks you and not even putting up a notice about it.
Yes I just went there, storm and hardware failing or not, they did NOT use procedures set in place and I will still hold that against them. [unless they goof up even more]
But yeah, had i even stuck on and kept drawing, I would've loved some critique, shit I'd probably give someone who offered me constructive criticism a FREE icon! * Le GASP*
I hate how the fandom is just turning into a cesspool and the few good furs and artists are just caught in the muck and wake of it all. The day I see the fandom pull itself together, get it's act straightened out and become awesome again is the day I would worship it. But lets face the facts, we got a better chance of seeing Fur Affinity 2.0 FINALLY coming to reality. Least Sofurry publicly released it's 2.0 beta.
If you want a chance at taking over the fandom or atleast FA, start a collective and remember, Rome wasn't built in a day. Should you ever start a collective though, I would be honored of having the privilege of being affiliated with that group.
I believe that will be more effective than Anonymous or similar groups. The problem with those groups is that they are too easy to infiltrate and misdirect and even entrap them to do criminal things. It'll happen, you'll see.
A rally, with a central simple theme, should be far more effective. Look at history. What has had the most effect? Protests, big ones, peaceful ones. The people need to stand together in unity, and to do that, there needs to be leadership, even if it is only in words or an idea. I know Anonymous et. al. try to be based on that; but the ideas are forming after the fact, again, too easy to manipulate.
And then there is the feeding freezy on new artists as omg none of the money grabbers wants a rival for the furry dollars they themself are aiming for. I travel to furry conventions and often find myself bored when visiting the "art show" its to the point it all looks alike to me. Once in a while you will see "orignal" art but more often the displayed art is set out with a goal to make money not advance the threshold of furry art.
As for the trolling and attacking critiques, the defacto leaders of the fandom have failed us there too. They should be speaking out against it. Instead we have sites galore, especially FA, that not only allow it, but encourage it and even participate in it themselves (firsthand knowledge, on FA, Pounced, Transfur, whatever Sofurry was before, Furry to Furry, etc. Even Further Confusion staff participated in a campaign to harass me, a criminal campaign I might add, and even MFF staff are bigoted pricks, showing their true colors both in 2006 when they pulled my convention's flyers down because they thought the name was too similar to theirs (they did not trademark it, nor would such a trademark have been legally infringed by my choice of name) and recently denying to let me put on a presentaiton about wolf recovery saying Wolf Park, the petting zoo apparently run by zoophile furries, will give such presentations because they're "more knowledgeable." About fucking wolves I'll give you that of course, but on wolf recovery in the west...I'm the expert there, not some Iowa petting zoo.
When these defact leaders get their small useless minds around the concept of setting an example, and public relations, the fandom will become a much better place. In the meantime, its ripe for a hostile takeover, and that's my plan.
You showed incredible disrespect by assuming you knew my emotional state when I was writing. And worse, you presumed to know where my supposed emotions were directed.
How can I carry on a conversation with someone who insists they know things about me that they cannot. You do not know me, you know precious little about me, yet you presume to know something only I can - my thoughts.
This comment is posted as a lesson to those who would presume to know what I am thinking or feeling. Unless I tell you, you do not know, period. And I guarantee you that you will be wrong, because you, as nearly all people do, think only of your own perspective because you no longer take the time to think about anything else.
Sorry, my journal, my rules. I will not tolerate such disrespect.