+This is my most recent journal from Deviant Art, I feel so strongly about it I wanted to share it here.+
Does being the moderator/contributor/founder of a group give you the right to tell someone their work is wrong?
Telling people you don’t think it’s right for a particular group, fair enough. I do that with the groups I help with. Declining things because you personally don’t like the way it has been done or because you think others can do it better is not a reason in my opinion. I can take constructive criticism fine. Tell me what you think and if I don’t agree I will argue with you as any self respecting artist will. It is my right and honestly, if a piece turns out exactly how I wanted to then there is no need for discussion. I like my work, I don’t join groups to have my work critiqued (although that will happen anyway), I join them to get exposure for my art. If I am not happy with something I will ask for opinions.
I am not bitching about people declining work to groups, they can do that they have that right. What I don’t agree with is the thinking behind it. “I don’t like the way you did that it looks weird” or “These popular people did it better” is no reason to decline something, bad quality, ok fair enough, saying someone else does it better with more detail than you so yours is lacking artistic quality is not.
Am I not the one creating it? Is the vision not from my mind? Who are they to tell me I did it wrong.
I asked why one of my deviations was declined. This one Cataclysm: The End Of Days
This turned out exactly how I wanted it. I wanted it to be simple and it is. My vision of the big bang, it started everything and it will end everything. The way I see it in my mind is just a blinding light then everything is gone. If I did a piece to show what I see after this would be a plain white page. Sort of the big bang in reverse, I see it as black when it starts, then something happens that creates the space we know. When everything is destroyed it is just pure serene blinding white.
I will always argue the merits of what I do, especially if you decide to link other peoples work to prove your point. It wont. I’m not them, that is the problem with so many things here. I have my own way of doing things and if you don’t like it fine, I wont change for you.
Hugh Fathers
If you are happy with what you have created, that is the only important thing.
I like what you are doing!! . . .
Catherine Live...:
Exactly, unfortunately there seem to be more and more people lately that have decided that if you’re not popular you’re not worth it.
I like what I’m doing too! And I like what you do! You have some amazing work :)
Hugh Fathers
Thank you . . .
I don’t know much about other ‘Art’ sites but all in all, this one is PDG (pretty damn good). There are some marvellous artists here and the greater majority seem to be nice people too . . .
Catherine Live...:
Yeah people are a lot nicer here, there are lots on dA too, unfortunately there seems to be more and more snobby people in positions of power in groups, one day they will say the wrong thing to the wrong person and discourage them from art completely…
Hugh Fathers
Before being introduced to rb by my sister Clare I used to spend hours doodling on my computer, just for my own amusement. Things like making wallpapers for my computer and such like.
Then I came here, getting close to, 2 years ago. In that time, through the feedback I have received, my CG art has improved many times over.
This is a good place. I’ve been registered at Deviant for at least a year but have done absolutely nothing there, nothing has pulled me in . . .
With Redbubble, I’m here just about every day and feel that I have actually met some people here, that I’m sure would be friends, if we ever had the opportunity of meeting.
Here, encouragement and not discouragement is the norm . . .
Catherine Live...:
The vibe here is so much better, it makes me feel better to come here after spending time on dA, I can relax and chill out, without wondering where the next attack will come from.