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Housecleaning: -47 : 830 Submissions Remaining
10 years ago
I don't know if you folks were aware of the site cghub.com before it went away. Now that url will take you to some weird conspiracy site about chemtrails and such.
BUT, the original site has apparently risen from the ashes as artstation.com.
It was started last year and serves the same function, largely as a portfolio art site for computer graphics.
The most notable feature is that the front page has a visual quilt of thumbnails that is constantly updated. Hit reload a few times to see how it works. Basically, each thumbnail represents an image that people are currently looking at. And the size of each thumbnail corresponds to how many people are viewing the same image at the moment.
So the larger the thumbnail, the more eyeballs are on the image, right then. Needless to say, a bunch of reloads in a row will show immediate trends and such, as things move around and change in size. I think it's an interesting solution for quality control, as the images that are the "face" of the site are self-sorted by the site viewers, in real time.
Looking at the site a few reloads at a time shows that a lot of the reptilian brain is at work: images of power fantasy, objectification, or fascination with expert but superficial technique, all seem to inform a large majority of the thumbnails. However, I also find that every so often, something will bubble up that breaks through this blur of imagery: something novel in theme or visual approach. It shows that while there is this pressure to make according to what the market seems to want (genre illustration), there is also a receptive hunger for new modes.
I like the churning of content and approaches on display. There is room for everything, particularly work that gives to the viewer as much as it asks from the viewer. Generosity, as a mode, is something to keep in mind for the illustrator who wants to communicate with the viewer, in a give and take dialogue - as opposed to artists making work for themselves, or only for personal expression.
I set up an account there myself, mostly to keep track of the cool stuff I'm seeing that I like. The site seems to be thriving.
BUT, the original site has apparently risen from the ashes as artstation.com.
It was started last year and serves the same function, largely as a portfolio art site for computer graphics.
The most notable feature is that the front page has a visual quilt of thumbnails that is constantly updated. Hit reload a few times to see how it works. Basically, each thumbnail represents an image that people are currently looking at. And the size of each thumbnail corresponds to how many people are viewing the same image at the moment.
So the larger the thumbnail, the more eyeballs are on the image, right then. Needless to say, a bunch of reloads in a row will show immediate trends and such, as things move around and change in size. I think it's an interesting solution for quality control, as the images that are the "face" of the site are self-sorted by the site viewers, in real time.
Looking at the site a few reloads at a time shows that a lot of the reptilian brain is at work: images of power fantasy, objectification, or fascination with expert but superficial technique, all seem to inform a large majority of the thumbnails. However, I also find that every so often, something will bubble up that breaks through this blur of imagery: something novel in theme or visual approach. It shows that while there is this pressure to make according to what the market seems to want (genre illustration), there is also a receptive hunger for new modes.
I like the churning of content and approaches on display. There is room for everything, particularly work that gives to the viewer as much as it asks from the viewer. Generosity, as a mode, is something to keep in mind for the illustrator who wants to communicate with the viewer, in a give and take dialogue - as opposed to artists making work for themselves, or only for personal expression.
I set up an account there myself, mostly to keep track of the cool stuff I'm seeing that I like. The site seems to be thriving.
Which I use as a warehouse, really. Flickr has a ton of good resources for managing and organizing content. I'll put stuff there out of habit, then figure out what to do with it for other more considered venues.
2. I am also running a tumblr: http://eselkunst.tumblr.com/archive/
Which is where new stuff is going, but I'm also mixing in some older things from FA as they come down from here.
3. And I did just set up an account on artstation: http://www.artstation.com/artist/chrisgoodwin
But there is literally nothing there, I just set it up. Will probably be using it for only new things and see how it goes.
4. And my own site: http://www.goodwinillustration.com/
Which just points to my portfolio at the moment.
5. Oh! And also Weasyl: https://www.weasyl.com/~chrisgoodwin
But I am still on the fence about them. They have problems that haven't gotten better in a year since I joined, namely thumbnails and notification issues. But I am letting my attention linger there just in case. If things improve, I'll be making more use of that site.
Wondered what happened to you man.
Missed you at ANE.
If you want to get into making games, make one :) Whatever it is will stand out from the next WWII first person simulator. Don't be discouraged, the indie community is real and viable.
Good to see you again. =)