Dicks and boobies always get attention.

*chuckles*

Seriously though, yeah, I've noticed that myself. I'd say more, but there are a few things best left unsaid publicly.

Yeah I get it, but I feel like it's really all this site is about anymore. It's kind of discouraging when I used to just hop on here and throw tons of random things online and people would want to chat, converse, talk. Now it's like I have to cross my fingers and hope that just the right person hops online as I submit something and leaves a comment or a shout or something.

I upload artwork here for feedback and to make friends, not solely for my health. To be honest I'm getting kind of bored here. I've looked into a few other sites and might just keep my FA as a secondary once I get my stuff together and dued works finished.

And yeah I understand that I probably don't get much feedback because the majority of what I have submitted are sketches. I hope for this to change, but as of now life has been keeping me busy so all I can do is what I have the time to do. -shrug-

That's the issue with globalization. You never know when that certain person might be on because it very often skips all of our minds that this person could be in another time zone, much less another country all together. This really makes it difficult to find these people in groups.

Another problem they may be having is that, like me, they watch so many different people that they can't help but miss certain uploads now and then. I mean, it's so much easier at times to just nuke the subs and wander around to my friend's pages. Unfortunately, this also runs into a problem, as I have lately, and haven't had the time to catch all of my friends.

I don't think I'll be leaving FA just yet, but this may change soon as I've heard about a few nifty alternatives that should be coming up soon. Who knows what the future holds?

All I gotta say is keep me posted on where you're headed and what new places you discover.

I have NOTHING AGAINST PORN, I just don't want to constantly be swimming in it anymore. It's just not for me 100% of the time.

I'll definitely let you know.

As for adult artwork, I obviously don't mind it as anyone that's seen my gallery can tell, but I can understand the issue. Have you considered engaging the adult content filter at times that you're just not in the mood to see it?

It's not even that. The porn doesn't bother me, seeing it doesn't bother me. But just knowing that 80-90% of submissions at any given time are porn. And poorly drawn porn gets more attention than well-drawn clean art.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm a little disappointed that this specific branch of the furry community feels like it's all about the porn. Real talent goes missed because people would rather click on red borders and fave things (that aren't always well-drawn) just because of foxcock. It's not even about the art anymore, it's about what you can fap to. And that really strikes a chord with me on a personal level.

Probably because I want to draw as a career but the focus here is just discouraging, not motivating to me.

You just reminded me of this ridiculousness:
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/1927/sexyq.png

This is what FA makes me do. ;-; When I has artblock and can't do anything else. xD

While I'll agree that it tends to be adult work that gets the most attention, you must always remember why that is. It's an old advertising adage.

"Sex sells."

It's the one thing we all, with a handful of exceptions, enjoy regardless of most other factors in our lives. Of course it's going to get the most attention because of that. But what you also need to remember is that, while an adult image might get more faves and comments, more isn't always better. Look at the content of the comments that a clean submission gets and, I'm sure most of the time, the comments are almost as thoughtful as the image itself.

Quality over quantity is the name of the game on that one.

As for FA being "80-90%" porn, I'll have to disagree with you just on sheer observation status.

During peak times, I.E. during the afternoon hours for those of us in North America, you tend to see vast amounts of porn. But, after everything I've said, why do you figure that is? Peak times, more people around, commissioned artists looking to sell they're work, and sex sells, well, it's simple enough thing to figure out. If you take a look at FA in the dead of the night, or early mornings, you'll see that demographic flipped, with more black borders than blue and red combined.

It's a simple matter of perspective, really. If you do most of your work during the peak hours, you'll come to the conclusion that FA is "mostly porn". However, if you look at it any other time, you'll draw a far different conclusion.

I'd love, if possible, to speak with Dragoneer and actually get demo information about the artwork posted here, just to be able to lay that issue to rest. I know at one point he'd released it years ago, but I have no idea where to even find that dirt old data.

I understand what you're saying. But the furry community really isn't doing itself any good, there -is- such a thing as too much porn (in my opinion). For instance, a few years back I know the majority of people hated on furries because they assumed we were just one big gay community obsessed with dog dicks that fucks everything. If a non-fur (or my mother Gods-forbid) would log onto this site during 'peak hours', all that I've said to stand up for the fandom and 'furries' as a whole and the 'furry art community' would be for nothing.

Half the time this site looks like a porn site, not an art site. It makes us look -bad- and obsessed on so many levels. Keep in mind -I do not have an issue with porn-, to be honest with you I used to draw loads of it (and occasionally doodle some here and there), but then made the decision that porn wasn't going to be what defines me as an artist. I want whatever talent I may have to speak for itself, and I feel it's kind of insulting to know that I'd get so much more attention on a pic if I removed the shirt and upped the breast size and added a dick. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's -too much focus- on porn here. Or at least, that's how I feel. And I'm sure many artists here would feel the same.

It's ironic that furries with all of the fetishes that just keep coming out of nowhere, and people who blow tons of money commissioning nothing but porn, we're becoming the stereotype we've been trying to avoid. For all I know, FA could just be a small slice of a bigger picture. I don't know, I've never really submitted my artwork anywhere else. And I understand 'everybody likes sex' but come on. There IS more to life, there IS more to art, and there ARE more to furries, I just feel like unless it's porn it's all overlooked the majority of the time.

This could just be an opinion of someone who just happens to stumble upon the browse page at all the wrong hours of the day. But these are the things I have noticed and the ways I have felt since I came back to FA. It's more of a downer to be honest with you. I know chicks and dudes can be super sexy, I know furry characters can be hot, I myself enjoy well-drawn furry porn here and there, but there's too much focus on sex and too many comments murring all over everything and fapping everywhere. I guess what I'm saying is it's not really all about the art anymore. And that bothers me.

And if you ever do find the figures, I'm curious to see what the percentages are. :3

But, that's the thing about personal opinions, they can be held without substantiating evidence for or against. And that's where I've got to stop this debate, as it really doesn't look like I'm going to be able to have you really understand the other point of view, no matter how much you say you do.

I don't mean that as an insult, I really don't, but it's key one in a friendly debate. Don't fight personal opinions, because you can't change a mind that's already made up. It just ends up in someone getting offended and nothing good can ever come about from that.

All I can offer is that I hold a different opinion on the matter and I hope things get better for you.

^^; No offense taken, and to be honest I wasn't trying to debate, moreso just tell you how I've personally been feeling and handling the changes that FA and the furry community has endured while I was away. Seriously though, no argument intended. Moreso, venting and expressing.

Well, I can understand being upset, I myself was upset almost a decade ago when artists started getting all the attention they do, leaving the writers in the dust.

The important thing to remember is, while you might not like it, neither of us are in a position to change anything. Things will change, for the better or worse, and we'll either have to live with it or move on.

Change FA? FFFFFF. No. But find an alternative that better suits me? Yes. So keep me posted on any places you may find. Like I mentioned elsewhere I'm probably going to start up my Nabyn account and keep my FA as a secondary. I do like a lot of the people that I have met here, I don't want to just ditch everyone.

That'd be a bit of a problem going over to Nabyn at the moment for some of us. If I recall correctly, they're still invite only, so some of us will just have to stick it here if you start posting their primarily.

I planned on submitting equally to both and still communicating with friends here. I'd just probably meet new people there as well and spend more time browsing others' artwork there.

Just be careful how you go about it. I've been hearing minor squeakings here and there about people talking about how most of the people there tend to have an elitest outlook, because they're on an "exclusive" site. Hope you find the good ones.

It is. Nowhere near as bad as DA though. You submit something on there and it's off the font of the "New submissions" page in about two seconds.

As for FA, it can largely depend on the time of day you're submitting though. During peak hours, there are more people online submitting more things, but there are slow points in the day where you can submit something and it will stay up for a few more minutes.

omg I was on DA ONCE, when I was in high school. NEVER AGAIN. I have nothing against anime but that's like 75% of DA (I get so tired of Naruto and I've never even seen the show). Not to mention I've seen some really awesome furry artists be flamed JUST FOR BEING FURRY.

And you're right. I know some times of day are slower. It's just like 'ugh' when you really put effort into something and it goes unseen. It's not all about the publicity, it's about the networking, finding interesting people to talk to.

At least I have you and the few other awesome people here. ^^

Of course. ^^

At this rate we need to make a schedule for the best times to upload art work haha

That's what I've been struggling with. A lot of my friends who are popular and known question me all the time as to why I've only have 600 watchers when my art work is great. I try to upload something and it gets lost so fast, it's kind of getting tedious with my efforts. Unless you're giving away free art, draw porn/fetishes or just upload art 24/7 that is finished it's hard to get any attention!

I hear ya! On my old account (where my talent is complete shit compared to what it is now) I have over 3x as more watchers as I do on this account. ;-; I understand I went poof a while, but I came back with a style a tad more kick-ass and I honestly think my art has improved.

And I'll piss myself of joy when I reach 300 watchers. I know I'm not the best, but I'm a little disappointed knowing that 1/2 of the people watching me right now are probably dead accounts.

I think what I'm going to do (now that the busy-ness of life is calming down), is just do art throughout the week and pick one day and time to just upload EVERYTHING from that week.

I might have to do that, too! I'm going to be making my own fursuit in a couple of weeks here but I have to finish some already owed commissions before I put more focus on my suit. I love your style when I first came across it and mine has improved a lot since the first time I uploaded here on FA.

First upload was December 2008:

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1800401/

More recent October 2011:

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6826244/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6826272/

Still I got more attention on my old account but I have more watchers now on this one. Still, the communication and feedback I got back then was awesome. Now I'm surprised if I get a comment or a watch when uploading 5 pictures!

You have improved quite a bit. :) Your old stuff is still nice though. And that's what I'm saying! I'll upload something and occasionally here and there someone will find it and fave it. Maybe I get a watch or two every few days.

I used to get like 10 watches with every pic I submitted. THOSE WERE THE DAYS. And I would always get happy about it because I felt like all of the hard work I put into my artwork went appreciated. If my drawings could make someone smile or acknowledge any 'talent' I may or may not have, I felt great that I was able to share my work and passion with the world.

When I first got back onto FA and uploaded some sketches to start with, I can't tell you how discouraged I was. (And still am, in a way.) Little to no feedback, at all. It honestly made me feel like my art got worse or for some reason I suck now. (Thank you for complimenting my style, you don't even know how much it means to me to hear it from another artist.)

I guess it's been hard for me to even come back to FA, and to lack the encouragement I'm so used to from the last time I was around, it's just guh. I guess what I'm trying to say between then and now the site got REALLY congested and I wasn't expecting it. :I

Thanks for the compliment as well and at least another artist notices my improvement.

I can't tell you enough that I completely agree with you. It's either you have to be already established in your last account to even maintain that level of being acknowledged by watchers or other furries. It's just depressing now that a pair of boobs and a dick even if it's flat colored or wonky anatomy still outranks one of your pieces or mine when it's stylized and has decent anatomy. I know I'm not Leonardo da Vinci but come on!

I miss getting feedback from people or just having someone compliment my WORK, not try hitting on the characters or my fursona. I have nothing against porn, NOTHING, but it's become the number one thing here on FA and it's saddening to see other people who work incredibly hard on an art piece that's not porn just for it to be overlooked. I'm surprised you don't have more watchers, you're a great artist.

One time I got 100 watchers in 2 days because I uploaded some decent work back on my old account but that was in 2009. Now if I upload the same amount with better artwork i just get a few faves. They are from loyal watchers but it would be nice to have new people to come and enjoy my work as well. dA is a nightmare with that though hence why I stuck with FA for my work.

That's what I'm saying! You don't have to be the 'best of the best' to outrank some of the porn that's practically worshipped on this site. >.< And don't get me wrong I think nudity is a beautiful thing, but 6ft long doublecocks with dicknipples isn't necessarily always 'great art'.

;-; -Sniffle- Thank you so much. I have my fiance telling me 'You're a good artist, don't let it getcha down!' but to be honest I am SO insecure about my work from the get-go from being 'out of it' for so long if that makes any sense. I appreciate his support, it really does help, but hearing this from you (also a very talented artist) makes me feel SO MUCH BETTER. I now feel FOR SURE I'm not doing anything wrong. Well, unless you count the lack of my porn in my gallery as something 'wrong'. >.<

So FA is turning into a pornographic DA... Have you considered 'Nabyn'? They do not allow porn and registration is currently invite only. A fur on here was sweet enough to send me an invite but I haven't gotten around to submitting anything on there yet since I haven't fixed up my profile or anything yet.

'Invites' are earned by activity on the site, so if you're interested in joining I can definitely send you an invitation once I've had the chance (probably before the end of the week) to go through and customize everything and submit some of the work from here. I think it would actually be nice to have another person get on there with me. 8)

http://www.nabyn.com

I have an account on Nabyn as well haha I haven't gotten around to uploading anything but maybe we should start doing so! Never feel discouraged about your art. I've been there before where I felt my art work meant nothing after my grandma died because he was my biggest fan. My ex also didn't help by telling me my art doesn't look like the animal I was drawing which made me sad.

We just can't lose hope because I can see that you have a lot of talent that would be heart breaking to see stop because of your insecurities! Never stop!

Also don't give in to the porn on FA! XD I don't see anything wrong with you not having any porn in your gallery because then we'd be a war of "that penis isn't big enough!" or "I can't motorboat those titties! UGH!"

And I just saw your journal. ;-; You really didn't have to do that, you so sweet!

Anywho you deserve many stickers and cookies and such, talking with you seriously made my day. <3 If I go poof, I'm getting ready to leave for work. You've inspired me too, I really want to draw something for you. I feel SO MUCH more motivated than I did all week and I don't know how else I can say thank you.

Hey another artist to another! :D You made me feel better as well because I've been severely depressed thinking I wasn't good enough for anything in life but your kind words made me feel better because I could help someone I'm going to draw something for you as well! Keep going!

I completely understand that; its the reason why I took a hiatus a while back. It's really depressing when you work really hard on something that gets ignored because of the lack of giblets (wiggly bits).

:P And now its been getting to the point that if I don't draw what people want, no one talks to me. >.> I've noticed this trend gets really bad every so often around here.

I'll talk to you no matter what. :) And if someone's just going to like you for your porn or a single fetish or anything like that, fuck 'em. Just because it doesn't have a horsecock doesn't mean people should treat you differently. Draw what you want and what you feel like, whether it be porn, clean, monkeys flinging poo in outer space, I don't care. It's still -your style-, it's still -art-. You draw what you want and if people are going to treat you differently than screw 'em.

Oh, thank yous. ^^ I feel the same and its not fair to all of the artists out there who bust their ass to put as much detail as they can stand and have their piece come out beautifully, just to get ignored because no one can get a hardon to it. To be honest, I get tired of drawing nothing but porn; basically doing the same thing over and over gets tiresome and boring.

That picture I drew of the raccoon in the gothic lolita dress was a personal challenge for me, but I not too many people batted an eye even though it was WAY better than the original. I'm glad you noticed though, made my day.

And thank you so much for your support, I really do appreciate it.

Good Ol' Fa, yeah, I mock that Stuff often....

Glad the Charity stuff went well, They Raised a few thousand Already, while I think a Large chunk had the Travel situation covered, I'm pretty sure they had a Few grand that helped out With the family Memorial and Funeral service....

Nice seein everybody Help out, Think the rest iz Helpin hiz wife get back on her Feet, so I think it waz cool ya Helped out even when You're still dealin with Financial stuff....