Does anyone hold anything againist me?

[sadman2000]

So, lately I've been seeing that I'm really starting to produce some decient quality artwork. In the threads I post them in I get praise, critique and such. But in drawoffs I make or enter I recieve little or no votes, and I understand that their are better artists out there, but when it's really clear that someone understands art more than another you give them more attention and praise, correct? So I'm curious do you guys really not like my stuff or is it something different? Are any of you in disbelief that I'm sixteen? Do anyone of you think I don't actually create the work, and copy instead? Are any of you intemidated at skill level? So tell me, why am I working so hard if hardly any of you like my work?

And people please don't hit me with hateful comments and red rep, I don't mean any of this out of spite, hate or anger, I am just asking a genuine, honest question, I don't mean anything rude by it.

[Inkthinker]

I think you're probably taking it too personally. I posted stuff a month or so ago, sequentials even, and got only a handful of replies.

Wait...

Why didn't I see it before? Does everyone here hate me, too? I think you're all intimidated by my post count.

[sadman2000]

I think you're probably taking it too personally.

Art is personal.

[Spooko]

What more could you want than your own personal satisfaction, unless someone is paying you or you are asking for critiques.

[sadman2000]

I think you're probably taking it too personally. I posted stuff a couple weeks ago, sequentials even, and got only a handful of replies.

Wait...

Why didn't I see it before? Does everyone here hate me, too? I think you're all intimidated by my post count.

Let's not turn this into a joke, you're professional in your work, correct? Not to mention your work is very good, people probably don't know what to say, because it's that good. But that is not the issue, I get plenty of comments, but some of the drawoffs I enter I honestly think I should be getting some votes. It's not a pride issue here it's an issue of people's opinions or lies about their opinions.

[Inkthinker]

Ah-HA! Now here's a conversation we can have.

Art is personal. But if you're a commercial illustrator (as most comics artists are), I think you ought to think of yourself not as an "artist", but as a "craftsman".

A craftsman is master of a craft. My father built cabinets, his best friend lays tile, I illustrate.

A craftsman takes pride in his work, but he knows that each job is just one of many, and once it's done it's done. They're important, but not necessarily personal. Personal is not always the same as important.

If you do badly, do better. If you want to succeed, bust ass to be the best (or at least stand tall in their circle). But try not to get wound up in the work, or you risk it dragging you down.

[Spooko]

Let's not turn this into a joke, you're professional in your work, correct? Not to mention your work is very good, people probably don't know what to say, because it's that good. But that is not the issue, I get plenty of comments, but some of the drawoffs I enter I honestly think I should be getting some votes. It's not a pride issue here it's an issue of people's opinions or lies about their opinions.

Something to remember when your opinion is different than alot of other people`s opinions; perhaps you are that special snowflake. People like what people like, and people like alot of bad stuff and good stuff , it is a very complicated subject , but if you want more people to like you in particular then what you should do is cater to them and not try and get them to cater to you.

[Spooko]

Ah-HA! Now here's a conversation we can have.

Art is personal. But if you're a commercial illustrator (as most comics artists are), I think you ought to think of yourself not as an "artist", but as a "craftsman".

A craftsman is master of a craft. My father built cabinets, his best friend lays tile, I illustrate.

A craftsman takes pride in his work, but he knows that each job is just one of many, and once it's done it's done. They're important, but not necessarily personal. Personal is not always the same as important.

If you do badly, do better. If you want to succeed, bust ass to be the best (or at least stand tall in their circle). But try not to get wound up in the work, or you risk it dragging you down.

I see the soulless machine got you! GASP

[Inkthinker]

Let's not turn this into a joke, you're professional in your work, correct? Not to mention your work is very good, people probably don't know what to say, because it's that good. But that is not the issue, I get plenty of comments, but some of the drawoffs I enter I honestly think I should be getting some votes. It's not a pride issue here it's an issue of people's opinions or lies about their opinions.

I'm a professional animator, sure. That means I make a living, of sorts, at drawing animation and occasionally at illustrating scenes or characters for this or that. I'm not a professional comics artist, and anyone who thinks that if you're one, you can easily be the other, is sorely mistaken.

One reason I'm not a professional comics artist is that it takes a LOT of work to be good at it, and I rarely find myself both willing and able to dedicate that time and energy when I already draw 8-10 hours a day. All things considered, most of the time I think I'd rather be doing comics, but that's probably a case of "grass is greener" syndrome. And for the moment, I'm part of something that I helped to build for almost 7 years, and I want to see where it goes. So for the time being I'm content to do what I can, when I can.

I draw a LOT. I post very little (artwork) lately, and ironically enough it's often not my best work that I post. The best work doesn't need feedback, and I don't post things here or on DA just to soak up admiration... I certainly get that, and I like to hear it, but honestly I've never doubted that I have some skill at this. If I didn't, I wouldn't get paid to do it. In perhaps a bizarre sort of masochism, I want to hear solid, experienced criticism. I love to debate this or that aspect of drawing, and to hear the whys and wherefores of the craft.

It's not good enough for me to be good. I need to be better. And the other guys here who work, like Cory or Nate or Bob or Khary, they know I'm good (I think), but I think they also know that I could be better. I have many things to improve upon. I know what many of them are already, but that doesn't mean I don't want to hear a second opinion.

So no, I wasn't entirely being humorous, just trying to be light-hearted.

[Chris Major]

In draw-off I rarely get votes. My best vote counts were on the Tarot and FF7 inking challenges, and those had very few participants.
That doesn't stop me. It's my schedule that stops me
It doesn't really matter because as an artist we're always our own harshest critique; I'd never vote for me so I'm not too disappointed if no one else does, lol

In all honesty, voting is very deeply biased. To make a long post short, the more visually stunning the artwork is, the more votes you'll get. Generally. Technique, rendering, anatomy, all that is all well and good, but if it doesn't punch the viewer they'll forget about it in favor of the full-colored, cutting-edge look. And boobies. Boobies sell.