RedBubble

Excellent thoughts, Peter. And I hope people will take this on board because I think it is so true. If you feel compelled to respond to everything and there are 50,000 members here, you’d spend all your time commenting and none on creating and making meaningful interactions. Hopefully I don’t sound sycophantic but do so agree.

peter … i just had this conversation on the phone with another bubbler …. we both concur with the opinions you just offered… i think it is good reasoning and i hope this particular post gets read by many fellow bubblers….................... thank you for all your hard work….......peace and light…........butchart

well put! (roughdiamond, too)

COOL

I can neither confirm or deny this. :)

it’s a social world, whether on the net or off…i like to see people’s comments, it builds confidence, and it creates friendships…which creates the desire to see others achieve…if it isn;t fun, i agree, the reasoning behind the comments needs to be reflected on and fixed …play and have fun, meet people, make friends, and grow ourselves into more interesting and diverse thinking!

Thats alot of friggen people! This sort scares me because to sell work is almost playing the lottery. Dont get wrong, I love the bubble. I sleep, breath and shit the bubble. It just pushes me harder and harder. Besides I love what I do and I appreciate everything about the bubble. Thanks for the insight. Love you all.

Yes. Quite right. As I always do, going off on a slight tangent…... I comment on just about all the work submitted to the Bridges and Dutch Touch group. That way, I avoid sending generic bubblemail and hopefully let the artist/creator know that the input is appreciated.
Jo

Interesting perspective Peter. Speaking for myself, I enjoy the comments i recieve! They do wonders in the encouragement department and it also helps to realize that my work is appreciated by others. On a separate note the comments i receive also help me in the aspect of seeing if what i’m attempting to say with a piece is perceived by those who view my work. I do not feel obligated to make comments on works by those who choose to comment on my work but i do give the courtesy of checking out their work and if i see a piece that moves me i will make a comment. I do this so the artist knows that i appreciate their work and was drawn to a certain piece or pieces. i value the comments and hope they continue to come. Thank you for your perspective

What roughdiamond said

I think that comments to other artists are important for their confidence and encouragement. I know that as an artist, I am my worst critic and can always find something wrong about my work. But when someone makes a thoughtful comment regarding any of my postings, I feel release. I find it difficult to explain much of what I do, and find that others who view my work are easily able to give me useful feedback. THANKS FOR THE COMMENTS, PEOPLE. LOL

I agree with you so very much. Comments have inspired me, given great encouragement, led to other artist whose work I now profoundly enjoy and to my delight – a sense of family.
It’s good to be a RBian.

Rog

love your work.

Absolutely agree Peter, we know from studies that nobody will reach their potential without positive reinforcement. The comments wether one or two words or a short novel let the artist know they have been acknowledged and reaction has been gained from an unknown veiwer. It is not only good for the artist but the veiwer often gains inspiration from the work and the articulation needed to make the comment often has apositive effect on their own work. As you say reading others comments and information provided by the artists brings new incites and understanding to the work.
Thank’s to Red Bubble many of us have improved our own art, learnt new teachniques and made some wonderful friends. I am sure this would not have happened without to comments facilities.

I love commenting but I often run out of comments. I sit and think and think and think. ......wishing they could …um …......see my think…

As I’ve had no sales yet, the comments are what keeps me bringing more work to redbubble. Thank you to all those who have left comments for me as it’s my encouragement to reach for my goal of a sale!

Personally, I know how much the appreciation of others has encouraged and inspired me. I have been offered both compliments and some constructive criticism, which I have found both to be helpful. I can only hope to improve with this feedback.

My take on this is that I see RB as a tool. It’s my responsibility to market and sale my art. I’ve only been a member for little over a month so I’m not looking for miracles. There have been times in the past that I felt clients may have bought more had the only choices they had were to buy original art. And print series for artist is very expensive. Redbubble is going to span the options for me. As far as trading comments, I’ve made friends, recieved the support that every artist needs. I’ve actually increased my turnout of painting. I think I actually get a bit anxious to post my lastest work just to see what comments I get. Redbubble is working for me.

~ Sky Fox

Great information and point of view. Being involoved in groups and commenting can be fun and rewarding. There are many people who commented on my work, I had no clue who they were, and went to see who it was saying great things about my work. Low and behold, they are a very talented artist. It makes me feel good they like my stuff. I like their stuff so I add them to my watchlist and comment on their stuff. All this takes a great deal of time. There has to be some balance with creating artwork, and living life out there in the real world. So, I know that even my best supporters will not always have time to comment, and that is o.k. I appreaciate every one for what it is. I don’t expect constant comments from everyone in my watchlist. It sure is nice though when I post a shot, and get tons of comments on it. It is addictive like chocolate!

I appreciate and look forward to comments. They give me feedback, let me know if my work is creating the kind of response I am hoping to achieve through my art. They make me think and try to improve in my photographic efforts. Even if I never sell a piece, as long as someone was affected by one of my photographs, I have been rewarded.

:) Being a relative newbie..and an amateur..I get a lot of pleasure from reading comments left for my work!

It is interesting to see what attracts/delights different viewers..and often it is something whiich I didn’t really notice in the work :)

I try and thank people..as I really AM thankful..and visiting their portfolio then provides me with an eyeful of art and insight into different styles .

Gotta LOVE redbubble :))

I’d like to thank everyone who comments on my work, but if I did that I’d have a lot less time to view all the great images of everyone else. So I hope people aren’t thinking I don’t care if I don’t thank them. THANK YOU ALL FOR LIKING MY IMAGES.

Like others have said before me, I do like to see the works that my complimenters have posted. And there’s ALWAYS something good there to repay the compliment.

Thanks for bringing this up and inviting our opinions.

I comment not because of a polularity contest I love to look at wonderful art and with so many artist here of course if someone comments on my work it leads me to their portfolio and from there I look at other people that have left a comment on their work. I also check a couple of times at new art-work posted under the different groups this is how you get to know different artist and the styles you like. If you comment to be popular your missing the point of posting your Art.

Peter you forgot ….
It’s also a way of us learning! – “Teaching is the surest way to learn”
Sure we can write/ make something and it’s liked but when we help each other we are consolidating what we know to be useful and true or learning a better way of doing something.
Especially for writers who by and large are writing their philosophies – they have to be sure what they write is acceptable and not just blathering crap!

That’s why this site is so good! it’s a “wholistic” learning environment where we are encouraged to give and receive and not just produce, and in doing so we clarify our own ideals and image and thus develop our creativity in a truer sense to our uniqueness.

Is that right or am I just blathering????
Keep Happy! ~ adg :o)

PS while I’m at it how hard would it be to have an interactive chatroom?
Not being IT savvy I’m not sure if that would be asking for the moon or not?
Chookas!

I could never sit and ponder a piece of work for 10 minutes. It all comes down to if it catches my eye. I possibly lack the depth to actually think of why I’m drawn to it, so I just leave a small comment saying that I like it.

Encouragement from others motivates me …and I’m inspired by others work, and I try to seek out people…..though it is difficult/impossible to see everyones work.
I do find that the some people tend to repeatedly comment or post in forums to the same people.. maybe friends, or those on Watchlists..

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the comments Peter. I agree entirely. I also like to try and give more in my comments than just to state that I like it. I think it is important that the artist knows WHY you like it, why you might feel moved by it etc…..I always enjoy reading the artists’ blurb about how they came about creating a certain piece, adds to the interpretation and gives me some insight. Comments are a good thing on RB, builds friendships, links and positive encouragement all round. As you said Peter, just comment on the work you truly like and it won’t become a burden. Cheers.

Prior to making a comment, I always try to take a visit to that persons site and see where that person comes from, and what style of artestry the delve into.
By doing this, not only can you comment on the style of their work, but also make it a bit more personal, by at least knowing where they live.
I have often found that I have sometimes been just down the road from that person.
And because of this, I have made so many new friends.
Thanks RB.

I struggled at one point on to reply or not to reply? I know from experience that it is not always wanted, and that is ok, we need to respect the wishes of others… we all have the same reason for being here… i started off here to sell my work, which i now see is nowhere near as good as i first thought! but i have and still am enjoying every second of the time i spend here… and we share the desire to have our work viewed and to be the viewer… to give, to receive, to love and be loved! its all good baby…i dont feel anymore that there is any sort of etiquette to follow… be yourself, say what you feel, say what you didn’t feel…let the voyeurs voy and the haters hate… we are all responsable for our own actions and live by our own rules… im gonna hit the Add Comment now cause im rambling…........

Wondering what the sample size you used was? You said you compiled data on a selection of some of RB’s top sellers. It will depend on the data, but generally speaking correlations usualy require at least n=50 for a meaningful interpretation. I would also wonder what the data would look like if you didn’t select top selling members only. It is possible that their work is being sold simply because of how good it is, whereas others may sell because of the relationships they build on RB. Maybe a random sample of people would be something to look at. However, that said, I still agree with you, and personally, without the comments supporting me, I don’t know if I would feel so good about what I do and want to continue to be better….. self-doubt can be a killer.

I like comments because, we can all see how many people have looked at something, so if you have tons of views and little to no comments… that just makes me think my work is SO ordinary, so average, it’s not worth a negative or a positive comment. I mean, my comic strip, Shirtheads was posted today with 50 views so far, and only 4 comments (1 of which was me). Is it that bad?

Oh. Comments are also good for shameless plugging. ;oD

I think comments are a very important thing for artists. I know that when I get a comment I’m always lifted and inspired to try to do more, do better, keep striving and so on. On that basis, I try to comment whenever I see an artwork whose creator ‘deserves’ (if I can use so judgemental a word flippantly) encouragement and applause. Because that way they too will hopefully be inspired to keep creating works which will enrich the site further.

???

We agree with this in that friendly compliments and general comments are commonly appreciated by anyone posting work on RB, but trying to comment on every work posted even by those in one’s watchlist can be overwhelming if you miss a day. If the shot is worthy of a compliment, please feel free to do so. If a shot does not strike your fancy, oh well, thanks for looking, but you might enjoy one of our others though. We enjoy seeing the work of others who happen to take a liking to our work and often are totally honored to have been noticed by such artists. Thanks for all the comments we have received from everyone so far, we have tried to look at all your work and it has truly been helpful in comparison to aid us in producing better quality images.

I not only appreciate the comments I receive but read other artist’s comments. I’ve learned a tremendous (FORGOT A WORD?), amount since I’ve joined in November from the comments alone. I can’t even imagine how someone could make the correlation between comments and sales. A person doesn’t decide to buy a bit of art based on how many opinions others have on the work. At least I hope they don’t. There are other sites (not worth mentioning) that reward for comments so perhaps that is some of what is generating that misconception. Thanks for a great POV.

I enjoy reading comments, not only those that are left on my artwork but also those that are left on others. They are a wonderful way of interacting with the artist. I do read the comments left on my artwork and I do go and look at their artwork and leave a comment if I am inclined to. They might not be long, but I am pretty sure that when I say Wow! you all get the jist of what I mean, lol. I am not very eloquent with my choice of words, as I am usually overwhelmed by an emotion and cant speak or type properly. Please do not ask me to chew bubblegum and walk at the same time, lol. So if my little comment is short its because I am enjoying your artwork that you have chosen to share way too much. Thank you to all who have left the wonderful comments on my artwork. They are appreciated.

I like comments, the writer sometimes has a comment that I had not thought of

Well you probably summed it up closely to the way I see it! I am a new member and have not sold. But I am not deterred. On the contrary.The comments and lack of comments, enables me to assess if what I am doing is working and is pleasing to others. Still a big learning curve and it helps to have the support and encouragement of others. My personal motive at this time is to improve and to do better. And to be inspired by others and their work. Sales at this point in time is the least of my worries. I also understand that some people have so many comments to reply to, that to do so for each and every one would be a job unto itself. But if people can take an occasional look at what others are doing and find a positive thing to say, than the circle is completed.

I agree with your comments. I am guilty of short praises < lol > but give me time and I will learn to speak one thought with many words…..OK ? ;0) I have enjoyed RB since joining . It has been such an encouraging, and an open door to meet new peeps.

I love the ability to be able to see so many different styles and forms of art, all in one place. Not one for a lot of words, because I’m a definite visual person, but have learnt so much since joining up and sharing my pictorial views. Love that there are others who like my work, and I try to give back as much as I can….but what a huge pool of talent there is here, how on earth can we manage to keep a track of everyone? Great place you’ve got here Peter, and thanks for everything you’ve given us.

no comment on the comments, but in my case I can confirm that, after 80 or so sales, there is no relationship between the popularity of a piece and the number of sales.

My missus has sold a few cards at the local bingo recently and not one of those ladies has ever commented on my work here. :)

I think comments are important, both for the viewer and the artist. I love commenting on works I enjoy, and I like to say why I like it so much, but I dont expect that artist to comment back purely because I have commented on their work, nor do I expect a reply from them. It is nice sometimes to recieve a reply if I have asked something specific [and I like to reply if asked about something on my work]. Its all about communication to me, and I think for many others too. One of the best comments I have ever had on my work is – So this is Art? I didnt take offence at it, I didnt respond to it, but it did make me look at the piece and think about it – and hell, it wasnt art, so I removed it.
As for sales V comments, I totally agree that there is no connection, at least there isnt in my case. Some of my most viewed and commented works have never sold, yet my best seller is probably one of my least commented piece of work.
I know that a lot depends on how much time a person has as well, many artists work and only have little time to get creative, post work and if they are lucky, do some viewing. Some are busy with groups [this takes about 80% of my time on Redbubble], and some just look and say nothing – this is all fine, until artists start taking offense at it [and there are some that do].

Great post Peter – stuff like this is much appreciated.

i mostly only do comments when i like the artwork
or there’s something to help out
tough, sometimes i don’t find the words to describe it, but that has to do with the language, since i talk spanish

favorites is another theme

great comment
thanks for all the RB work

i have all kinds of comments and very few sales, and they are cards, and i am very great ful

Peter, think you have made some very true observations. Think that if comments are considered and honest that it is as valueable in an emotional sense as are sales.

Daaahhh, Which is the y axis ?

I enjoy comments too. If a person feels compelled to comment on every piece posted by people in their watchlist, then they are going to run themsleves ragged. I don’t think anyone here expects people to comment on every work they post here. In the end – it’s up to the individual. If you like leaving comments, go ahead. If you don’t – then don’t. Customers buy what they like, because they like it – not because people ahve commented on it.

Peter, This is the second time in a week that I am proud to know you! This is not an RB problem. It is an ego problem on the part of artists. And this happens on so many sites. I think the fact that you respond and do so promptly, really shows what this site is about. I also understand how other artists feel when someone takes them off their watch list for not commenting enough on their work. So the data on sales is very important!
One thing I would like to see however, is RB really pushing it in the sales/stock-area. We need to sell. On the other hand, we need not to be ego maniacs in the process.

are you human?

Thank you for addressing this. I have often felt bad because I get comments and while I enjoy looking at other artwork, I don’t always have time to do comments on others. I really just want people to know I am glad they enjoyed my work and to thank them for stopping by.

The comments I receive play a large part of being on RB. So many lovely people out there, willing to comment on my art has given me inspiration.
I love to comment on other people’s work, whether they are just starting out or are professionals. I think we all need praise and praise is what motivates us to try harder or do better. Being on RB has opened my eyes – Sooooo many talented people out there – to have the priviledge of seeing their works is awesome.
Thank you RedBubble for all you do!!

I have to say that since I have joined this diverse group of people from all walks of life and nations that I have truly enjoyed myself, I do comment and thank people for their comments, because they do give me inspiration to try more and learn more to better myself, but I also feel that I do need to view their work and I do comment on their work if it inspires me to a feeling, good? bad? who knows. I just should have said I like this place, I am on other sites which I do not feel the same sense of welcome. Thanks RB.
Redhawk

I agree….....If art was about being commerically successful artists would stop challenging themselves and trying new things. Comfort zone art is not my idea of art at all….....in fact, to my way of thinking, art that is commercially popular is suspicious because it appeals to the unthinking masses that just go with “i know what i like” which already presumes a closed not an open mentality. RB is a fantastic support to artists because of the feedback mechanism -this may be instrumental in pushing artists further in their work and if nothing else lets the artist know they are not alone in their creative endeavours that often have nothing to do with the making of a dollar.

I agree Peter. The one thing I don’t like though, is the new feature that allows replies to comments. This would be great if the reply went to that commenters e-mail, but to put it in the comments string makes a cluttered mess if I am trying to read through the comments on another persons work.

is that sales vs comments made, or comments received??? just curious if artwork that receives more comments tends to sell more or not….....I too think comments are a good thing, if they are honest and constructive, but also find it difficult to comment on every thing that comes along…or even to reply to all the comments…...I like to comment when I can, but also hope that people realize that it is impossible to comment on all of it…...

It’s interesting, some people are motivated in different ways. Myself I will work when I can and upload close or at completion of a piece I fell are of some Quality. occasionally I find apiece that strikes me and has a description that implies an artist is looking to resolve something in it. and a brief critique now and again is Enjoyable.

I agree, anyone who’s sole incentive is to sell images on the net will be disappointed. Like eveything if you want to sell you have to put the hard yards in. Take care!

Ditto rany lutz comment

I appreciate all comments on my page. I agree with what you said about helping to give encouragement and affirmation. As a viewer and commenter, I comment and fave on images I like, not because other people have commented on them before.

that being said, I haven’t sold anything yet nor had heap loads of comments lol… but I’m still giving it time.

Great post…thanks for sharing

same problem here Eduardo…I speak Portuguese…still learning English

well…sorry if I do not make big comments…my English is not good enough for that…
how I would like to make that beautiful and encouragement comments… but I write my short comments with my heart…Cheers, Ana

OK – almost everything that I would have said has been said in the above.
MY BIGGEST TAKE-OUT:
Comments help me a lot – making me aware that I don’t always have a good understanding of what people REALLY like in art! (Not just from a sales viewpoint, but what presses the average viewers ‘button’).
I’ve had to rethink the style / genre / ‘vibe’ (is the best word) of what I upload because tastes are so diverse. Someone in a Castle once said: ‘It’s the VIBE Your Honour’.
Keep the honest and constructive comments coming, they should be MEANINGFUL and constructive feedback.

cool graph…can we get that on a t-shirt??

The comments are what makes this place special and not just another webpage where you can post things. For writers there it hasn’t anything to do with selling and the comments allow one to get an idea about how their work is being interpreted.

Positivity only is great – not because I don’t believe in criticism, but because people shouldn’t demean each others work in a public forum. If I don’t like it, I don’t comment or if I have something helpful to say I bubblemail….

Side note: Bubblemail needs to show sent items! It’s hard to carry on a convo when you can’t see what you’ve said before…....

I think the priveledge of being on redbubble is as important as the comments we receive on our work…For some it’s a safe haven for expression…It was for me in the beginning…I think that to a degree, everyone has some fear of how their work will be accepted by professionals and amateurs….As time goes by and we are blessed with honest critiques, the quality curve increases and we become better artists. I don’t think many, if any, become burnt out because of some obligation to respond to comments or art…If anything, and I can only speak for myself, the redbubble experience is a kind of “collapsing of time frames.”...knowledge and expertise is enhanced tremendously from the shear numbers of artistic people willing to take their time to help others and share their talent…Redbubble not only provides all of us a place to make friends and increase our knowledge base….Redbubble help us to define and extract our own talents that otherwise may never have been experienced….To me it’s a place of enjoyment as well as a “classroom.” with the very best students and teachers the world has to offer….

Again, this post prives that redbubble is totally different to ever other website around.
you guys are PAYING ATTENTION to what is going on and being said.
Kudos to the redbubble groups for tackling each and every issue that occurs.

and yes, comments vs sales = two totally different things.
my most commenting and viewed thing is something that has sold nothing.

Redbubble is a rather interesting forum for, in my case, photographic growth. Comments .. what are comments. Only having been a part of it since Late January, I have gotten the impression that comments are a dicy.

When I belonged to Photosig (http://www.photosig.com/), comments were critiques … constructive feedback on you work – framing, lighting, exposure, etc. Now, that was a tremendous learning environment. Some images that I thought “kicked ass” were wanting in areas that I was blind to (I saw more in the picture because I was there when I took it ..duh). With Redbubble, comments are essentially either positive and descriptive, which I find helpful, or just positive and short “great capture” Which just lets me know someone saw it. As much as I enjoy being noticed, the absence of constructive criticism leaves the learning curve relatively flat. What really drives me is the high standard of images. That forces me not to post “snaps”.

What does bug me a bit are the glowing comment for images that are truly in need of help. I often will read the bio of the artist, and, if they say they want feedback, I will write a critique via bubble mail. How else will one develop.

Comments also have me checking out the work of those who have made comments. Of course, their comments mean a lot when I see the quality of their work. But still, it is best when the comments have “meat” to them.

Nice blog.

I think Peter hit the nail on the head with comments versus sales and the need for people to network and promote their RB profile to the wider community. Comments don’t necessarily mean more sales, and similar to Muscular Teeth, I have found that many of my designs that sell the most have very few comments.

External buyers who are directed to your RB profile via off-site promoting rarely comment on an image, they are there to purchase because their minds were already made up when they clicked the re-direct link!

Great job RB…......

I agree with what you are saying. I also scan through the comments that have already been made (when they are not too numerous) and try not to repeat past comments.

I find comments very important. If someone likes one of your images enough to view it, you wonder whether they didn’t like it enough to comment on it – not that I comment on every image I look at, and nor do I expect others to either. But be it constructive criticism or simply letting the artist know why they liked the image – comments help drive your ambition to achieve better…

I also think it is important for people to remember that if someone doesn’t like your work, that doesn’t mean it isn’t good – it’s just their opinion. And if someone doesn’t follow the “rules” it doesn’t mean they haven’t done a good job – sometimes this brings out the best pieces of artwork…

I’m a new member of RedBubble, I joined about a week ago, or less, I forget. I have other online accounts with art sites such as DeviantArt, so I’m used to all this kind of stuff, but I must say I am 100% impressed with the site and the wonderful warm welcome that I have received whilst posting my work here, as well as the sheer breadth of wonderfully talented artists on this site.

For me, a well thought out comment, whether it is praise or critique is worth so much to me as an artist, because the commenter is viewing my work with fresh eyes, something that I never get to do, they look at my work from a completely different perspective, and I truly cherish anyone who takes the time to comment on my work and give me feedback, as it’s the only way for me to know whether people are ‘getting’ my work, and constantly encourages me to try new things and work harder at what I do.

Thanks again, this was a great insightful journal.

I agree with your comments Peter.

I agree with an exception. It seems almost mandatory to tell someone that has complimented your work to do likewise and one might be less than objective.

Difficult subject if one just wishes to sell work.

The graph has great DOF.

i think the comments are also a very important part of the community. take them away, and there is no longer any interaction between members other then the forums.

the option of turning off comments for some members may be a wanted option. certainly not one i would be after.

awsome

I like to comment on others who have commented on mine as a sign of appreciation of them enjoying my work – broadens your photographic horizons and gives you inspiration to get out there and try new things.

thank you

So many comments are positive, but kind and helpful critisism on an image is also important. Eyal told me how to improve one of my images and it has brought me more sales after I followed his advice…

please play nice

Agree wholeheartedly, no sales for me – but the comments are lovely to recieve, and encouraging. It’s just one big happy family on RB :)

Exactly, and well said. We are creative and autonomous, I dare say we do not entirely need comments, however we are energized by them. Reciprocation is not a duty, but a FEELING, when we get that we do it. Simple! I lvoe it! J

Every time I log on and see in my activity that there’s a comment on one of my pieces, I feel excited, and check it out.
I rarely respond to comments, and even if they’re ‘generic’ type ones like ‘good shot, cool’ etc – I don’t mind – someone’s taken the effort to look at my work and comment, and sometimes favourite as well – that’s all that matters.

I am an artist but not a writer. So I usually have to write “I love it” or something a little bit longer! I don’t usually know what to say! I am not a critic nor do I want to sound like one. I have been on sites that offered constructive criticism (and worse) and I felt uncomfortable with it. In commenting, I would rather be equals in terms of appreciating what someone has created rather than try to decide where they are in their creative journey. And I love beginners as much as pros. I’m sure they’ll get where they need to be without me offering my take on things. My and others’ encouragement, however, may be invaluable…

Yes, I agree that positive comments are the most useful. When I do not respond to something, I do not comment. That said, I do not think artists can conclude that a picture without comments is bad. There are thousands of works on the site and many are never seen. As I perused the writing section of the site when I first joined, I noticed that the works I enjoyed had no comments at all. This was consistent, so I decided that the taste of the members on that side of Redbubble was not consistent with mine and I elected to stick to the visual arts side where I agree more with audience choices. This is, of course, a matter of quirky personal preference, not quality. Which brings me back to my point—taste in art of all kinds is subjective.

I also agree.
I have not yet made a sale, although to receive comments and know that my art is making an impact on people is the reason I show my work.
It is a wonderful feeling when you open your bubblemailbox and see a comment from someone, knowing that they liked the work enough to tell me…small comments are just as fine as the longer explinations.
But I also agree that the “reply” feature should send the message to the commenter.

I, especially, agree with this bit :

I think at the end of the day it’s all about enjoying the site … if it ever becomes a burden (e.g. when you feel the need to respond to every single comment) something is not going right. My view is that if it’s not fun – folks will burn out.

I love comments, both giving and receiving, but I do not like getting them if they come with the obligation of commenting on another person’s work or with an insult (to them) implied because I haven’t commented on their work yet.

I should have said I think the comments section is extremely important to redB and I love getting comments of all kinds! But if I’m short with mine, that’s why (read above).

Hmmm one word thats been made out of two….. deviantART… need I say more?

Agreed, and I also appreciate all the comments made on my work, but don’t always have the time to reciprocate. Therefore, I would also like to see the reply button go back to the commentor. It would make it so easy to get at least a thank you to them without the clutter on the comments page.

“Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold” I love the original people that welcomed me on RB and the interaction I have had with them over all of these months and although It’s seems hard to keep up at times with all of the new people, I try my best to encourage people because the encouragement I was given helped to push my creativity. If you don’t think my work is good now then I would wonder how bad it would be without the encouragement i was given LOL but I don’t think comments has anything to do with sales.Everyone should do whatever works best for them :)

I agree that comments are not related to sales. I have had two sales….... to myself. hahah one item had absolutely no comments at the time.

it is to me one of the greatest things about rb the oppurtunity one has to give encouragement to other artists I personly probably need to be dis encouraged so I can have a life outside of art , only joking, I think….. When I see something I like I allso very much enjoy the chance to comment on the piece,.How ever there is just so much great art here at rb it is impossable to comment on each individual piece of art so what I do is comment on one piece of an artists work and then use this oppurtunity to add a general comment about all of their art. And I NEVER NEVER NEVER add a negative. To add a negative is such a terrible thing to do. Keep on arting every body.

comments versus sales means nothing… sales are like winningt he lottery… if the one in a millionth person happens to fall onto your YOUR work at THAT moment and they in the right frame of mind…. well I havent won the lottery yet either.
Comments are far more realistic ..personally beneficial and productive than the possiblility of me selling anything.

I wholeheartedly agree, I myself do not like to make myself sound monotonous and just say “nice work, great job, neat.. etc, etc.” I like to comment on how it moves me as well, and if I have any ideas that I might think would make a cooler picture out of what i see there, I may offer suggestions, if they listen, that’s good, if they don’t agree with me, that’s good too.

sometimes also, I look at a picture, it is so great to me, that I just can’t offer the words to say what I feel. so I just look at it and enjoy it without comments, even though I know they would be nice to have on their work.

I’m new to Redbubble and I would like to agree with you Peter. I just happened onto this website by accident last night and was so inspired by all of the awesome creativity that I just had to join. I can’t wait to get more of my photos, and artwork on my space, and to hear from anyone wanting to critique it, and at the same time, I cannot wait to see everything else there is to see, and to read all I can from everyone else’s work. This is an awesome website!

What I find interesting running RB and Flickr profiles simultaneously is that I get far fewer comments on the same picture I post to RB as I do to Flickr. I’ve also noticed that other people who also run both accounts and receive a phenomenal number of comments on Flickr also get massively fewer for the same picture on RB. I think this is a good thing and highlights what I’ve long believed about Flickr – the whole invitation to a zillion different groups thing drives less-than-sincere commenting on Flickr ie. the super-popular people tend to be administrators of the most popular groups and so everyone piles onto whatever picture they load in the hope of getting them to visit and nominate their photos for one of their groups. Because this is pretty much absent from RB the comments you tend to get are more real – there really is nothing in it for a commenter to make a comment other than the fact that they really like the photo and want to say so. That said, I do have to rather guiltily admit to holding onto my Flickr account precisely because it is just such a buzz to routinely get anywhere between 50 and 200 people commenting on a picture (and I don’t even admin any groups lol) rather than the 20-40 people I usually get for the same photos on RB. What is rather annoying with the both sites is the large number of people who just write “Wow”, etc. Like you Peter I think if you are going to go to the trouble of commenting – make it a worthwhile one.

Well said Peter; I have use bmail in the past to explain that I often don’t feel technically qualified to give meaningful advice and I didn’t want to comment just for the sake of commenting on everything someone puts up. That said the quality here is so high that in most portfolios there are really loads of pictures that I would like to comment about.

THE POST ON COMMENTING IS VERY INTERESTING AND UPLIFTING. THE COMMENTS ON COMMENTING ARE ALSO INTERESTING. BEING NEW HERE I’M STILL LOOKING AROUND AND TRYING TO GET MY SEA LEGS BUT I DO FEEL I HAVE FOUND A GOOD PHOTO HOME. AS TO SALES AND COMMENTS, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY COME JUST TO BUY BUT IT MIGHT BE AN INTERESTING STUDY TO SEE HOW MAY PEOPLE COME TO BUY AND HOW MANY COME TO PRESENT THEIR ART. THERE IS AN OLD SAYING ABOUT STARVING ARTISTS. THAT KIND OF FITS ME. NOT THAT I WOULDN’T LOVE TO HAVE MOST EVERY PHOTO POSTED HERE TO HANG ON MY WALLS BUT I ALSO LIKE TO EAT AND BUY PHOTO EQUIPMENT TOO. AND OF COURSE I’M ALWAYS THINKING I AM JUST ONE SECOND AWAY FROM TAKING THAT MOST WONDERFUL PHOTO THAT WILL MAKE THE THE EMPEROR OF THE NORTH. WITH ALL THIS SAID I THINK I SHOULD QUIT BEFORE SOMEONE STARTS TAKING ME SERIOUS.

yes-and wow, what a lot of comments in reply! ;)

I’m not sure about the graph-which one is x, which one s y? (it’s been awhile since I did high school maths, though it feels like yesterday!

I don’t always write long comments, because I’d like t simply share the awe and wonder, rather than the exact technical reasons. I just want them to know it got a response from me!

i totally agree , I used to spend two to three hours in the morning commenting and it started to feel like a chore , so now I view them all but comment on the ones I really like .

Thanks for your comment.

I agree with Muscular Teeth…thanks for listening to the artists and paying attention Kudo’s to the staff…well done..this is why..I love the bubble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i love comments on my work lol

The comments to me,really drive me on,to think someone has dropped by and used some of there time to look at at one of my paintings,is wonderful.I love looking over the site and when I see something I like dropping by and saying so.There is so much talent on here its quite breathtaking.It also makes me want to do better.RedBubble,is very inspiring and I think you all very supportive.Im listening and learning,with the help of you all.Thanks Peter,and everyone,.

Speaking as someone who has recently been castigated by another as being “rude and ignorant” for (allegedly) not commenting on theit Art, I feel that I need to clarify my position. I am not here to reciprocally cooment in turn because someone has commented on my work! If I like what they have taken, I will comment. If I have enough time to go through all their Art, I will, and I will pass comment too. I will not get involved in mutual masturbation sessions because someone feels that I have to-my time and choice of who and what I comment on are mine alone! I also feel aggreived that someone (who let’s face it), is doing and saying controversial things for one purpose and one purpose alone- to increase flow of traffic and vies on “THEIR OWN PROFILE”....I am here, because I want to be here. If I sell Art, then fine, if I don’t, then fine. I am meeting (mostly) nice people on my journey. To be used as a political football and castigated in public for the gain of another person, I’m not here for, and the sooner this person either gets with the programme or takes their nasty, mean spirited and ego massaging self elsewhere, the better! Rant over.

I agree with you

still we should not forget about a dash of constructive criticism, especially where it refers to ideas that help make the work better, for as long as we live we learn. I don’t believe in the power of overestimation. in a nutshell, there should be the gold mean here.

the RedBubble experience to be about meaningful interactions. For example, when I’m giving comments I try to provide more than just a couple of words – I like to comment on how the work has impacted on me.

Peter these words echo my sentiments. I agree with everything you’ve said here. Sometimes 5 minutes is not always available but, the insinuation that the more praise you dish out the more you ell, i have heard before and wondered if there were at all any correlations between the two.
Thanks for confirming that there are none.
The spirit of RedBubble to be a supportive, free-thinking, expressive and encouraging community for artistic expression and friendships is fantastic!

cheers
Suzanne

I consider RedBubble kind of a game. Friendly competition, and a bit exploring the world. Would I want to sell much I would go to another place.
Comments are just encouragement.

Hi Peter. I’m a new member and thrilled to be here. It is HUGE to be able to post our work on here without first having to earn enough points (by reviewing other’s work) to be allowed to do so. Anyone who has every been a member of fanstory.com or other similar sites can appreciate what I am saying. HUGE!!! I LOVE you guys for your generosity of this site. So, so grateful to have found you!!!

As a new member, I’ve been very hesitant to offer comments as to what I think might have made a difference and improved a work. There are often times that I can see where a work could easily be improved, but don’t know how welcome that information would be. Many people think of their creations as hallow ground and are quick to offend and be hurt by even the slightest helpful criticism. In their eyes, their work is equal to that of a newborn baby. I know how they feel and I don’t blame them. But how does one know who is open to receiving helpful comments and those who are simply wishing to display their latest Picasso or Poe. This needs to be addressed because I’m no longer willing to get my head ripped off by someone who consideres a work to be perfection personified and along comes lil ole unsuspecting me to shatter that bubble. So, this is why I have kept my comments short. :0)

Most Awesome site, Peter!!! :0)

good point peter i love getting comment on my work as i have just started out iam looking to get comments good or bad adding work daily so waiting for everyones comment

PS
The quality of art and writing I have found on this site has been quite breathtaking. I am so honored to be able to display my stuff among that of such wonderful artists. This site is truly home to both amateur and expert and I now consider it my home away from home. lol :0)

That’s the way I look at comments too Peter : ) I love this format.. and I find it a pleasure to view others works… and inspiring when I find that someone has viewed my work and bothered to leave a comment. I look forward to what’s happening next in my bubble : ). Keep up the good work! Wendy aka sweetscent62

Coming from an art site where your merit and rewards were based solely on the number of comments you received, I hope and pray that never happens here. It became a game; I comment on yours, you comment on mine. Some people would comment on every upload for each day. Whether you liked what you saw or not was not a consideration. It’s very easy to go from one image to the next and add “beautiful”, “love it”, or “great”!

i think any comment is good at least you are getting a response to what you do

I am new to RB and my perspective, from a “newbie~3 mths”, is that as a new photography I thought I would find constuctive critique on this site as to help improve my work. Unfortunately, I have not found that to be true. I get all the “your picture is nice” but very few why is it nice or i had 78 views on one photo and not one comment as to what could have made the picture better. I am a firm believer in pos reinforcement but just saying”nice, beautiful,WOW, excellent work etc.” does not improve my skills as Peter mentioned. I believe that was the original intent. Even when I have asked for constructive criticism I haven’t gotten any . Is RB clickish and each has their circle then thats a popularity contest. And, newbies like me get very little, “try this next time and see if it makes your picture…... I like RB alot I just think if you think it’s a forum of learning skills and techniques etc., then the mark is missed.

Hey i’m soooo glad you took the time to clarify this Peter.

When i first joined RedBubble about a month ago i thought that you were expected to reply and say thankyou out of respect to each person that made a comment so i am so relieved to find out that i don’t. I don’t make a comment on someone’s art if i don’t like it as it brings about a cheapness if i do and i hope no one does that on mine. I’m just glad to have cleared up the ’ thank you’s ’ issue if someone comments on mine and i hope it releases others to only reply to me if they want and not out of a sense of polite duty.

Thanks again!

so is this the part where i comment

haha

You are beautiful….yes you are. Vive the genuine article. Anything less is for me a waste of time, energy and intention. Eradicate hollow comments. Damn it, I say ban them. Comment when you want to, comment when you are inspired to. Collecting comments, obliged to comment, manipulating commenters – what a foolish game.

But do the comments not add to how the image makes it into the popular pages?

and how does one add one of these ‘comments’ of which you speak…???

If you were a potential buyer and looked at a certain piece and saw the comment for example Joe Blo says”That paint stripe is wonky and unclean making the whole piece terrible” Would that not turn you away from it rather than snapping it up before you can see any flawS?

I am new to the art of photography and find viewing other peoples work inspiring. I dont leave comments unless I find the capture stunning, and it gives me ideas or inspiration. I do take the time to view other peoples, work who themselfs have commented on my work and if i have find thier work exceptional in my humble opinion, I will pass a comment. In my feel with being a novice and receiving a positive response to a photograph I have posted gives me the lift to incourage me to aid and support me to carry on. I agree dont comment for tit for tat, but view and comment on work you find beautiful, or unusual even.

As usual, Peter and Robert are right… sure, I get a little boost from a one liner, but personally, unless I have a good paragraph to say, I just don’t. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the art, but “Nice work” is almost less than nothing at all. I say favorite it and move on if you feel it necessary…

Being very new to this site and having received some nice comments on my work, it does lift your spirits and gives you impetus to carry on your creative journey. Speaking personally, I am undertaking an art degree at the moment so am used to constructive comment on my work which does push you forward. I have explored your website in some detail now and think that the correct section for constructive criticism is in the Community forum section as you don’t know how some people will react to such criticism. I do love all the comments, whatever they may be! I see this site as more a way of seeing other people’s creativity, interacting with other bubblers and if I manage to sell anything, that is a bonus!

i usually just write a general “thank you” comment when i see some comments on my work. if someone has noted something in particular i’ll write a reply, especially if it’s a critique that i think is worth looking into. i think more artists should welcome critiques because it makes us stronger. what turns me off is when i’m floating through the bubble and i see a work that clearly isn’t as strong as it could be and everyone is giving these glowing reviews. and i don’t think critiques turn buyers off, if a person loves that piece then they’re gonna buy it no matter what.
i used to be obsessed over how popular my work was when it cames to how many comments i got and at the beginning i thought more comments meant more sales but now i just don’t care about silly things like that. if the quality of work is top notch, if you’re directing people to your work in the “real world”, and if your wok is creative then you will find success.

Thank you Peter – agree 100%

The comments are an amazing source of encouragement and for me personally have brought about the confidence to continue writing and realise my talent – this would not have been brought about without the comments of support gratitude and real feeling towards my work by some incredibly talented writers… COMMENTS ROCK!

Peter, I couldn’t have said it better myself. That is exactly how I see it too and bravo for taking the time to express this. The site is unique and very special, and it works well because of these ideals…..
Keep up the brillliant work! (and thank you)

I think Redbubble’s views on “comments” are spot on. When I look at artists who claim to have tens of thousands of hits I can see they have hundreds of comments for each work. I have always suspected that they must actively market outside RB to get this much exposure. I also suspect that most people on RB want to expose or sell their work rather than buy, so one is more likely to sell to external viewers rather than RB members. For me RB is a great place to have a collection of work that I can direct others to and my primary motive is to have it viewed rather than sold (does that make me a parasite on site that needs to sell work to fund itself?).

I am primarily a photographer, and I recognize that many of my photos are from everyday places that everyone else visits from time to time. When I view other peoples work I am inspired to go and take a similar shot myself rather than buy a print. I enjoy capturing images and like to present good ones on RB for others to share (but I don’t think they’re likely to sell) so naturally I really appreciate other peoples comments.

I like the comments feature on RB. However, I would prefer that they are only visible to members – some comments are of a “chatty” nature, between RB friends. I am not convinced these are beneficial to members of the public in their capacity as potential customers.

Interesting how this comment thread has delevoped!

@azard its more interesting on how it got started!! but glad its FINALLY approached..good job there peter

Good, bad or indifferent I believe the comments are the reasons for writers like myself to not only carry on, but to gain a greater insight and perspective into what others, think, like and feel.
It’s a fantastic means to rub elbows as well as to intermingle with those of like and opposing values and beliefs.
Wow! Sounds almost like a religious experiences does it not!! lol
I just love commenting as well as receiving them. High 5 to the Bubble!!!

It’s the meaning in the work. Whether it was anger, pain, or elation, it was the emotion I look for to describe the work: abstract, surreal, creative, gothic. You know! After reading what you just posted I can tell you know. Thanks for the advice.

@ 6point1 – the popular pages dont make any difference to sales – I have loads reach the popular pages, but they dont always sell. As for buying, when I buy, I usually buy primate images [not always, but more often than not]. I dont even go to the popular pages when considering this – I search the site using keywords and also look to primate images that I have loaded into my favorites [or my cart], and to artists who I know will have what I am looking for. When I see one I like, the comments dont even come into it – its going on my wall, so its what I see in it that counts, and if I am buying it, nobody elses opinion matters to me.

A negative comment [for instance – the horizon is a tad wonky], may well put a buyer off, but, it will also alert the artist to something they may not have noticed, which they can then put right – hence making the buyer who doesnt read the comments, see perfection at first glance.

Just to add – that wonky horizon comment can then be removed once the flaw is corrected [after Thanking the person who noticed it for bringing it to your attention]

got to admit i love receiving and giving comments, cant speak for others but they definately encourage me to want to go out there and try different shots, before coming on to redbubble i had my photography mocked by my sibling, comments have made me feel good about myself and if i can help some-one else then i do, i dont comment on all that pass my way and i dont feel obliged in any way to comment just because ive received a comment but i do tend to take a look through some of their work, comments are all part of the community spirit of redbubble and its this that sets redbubble aside as being so good, its a major reason why i personally enjoy the site and encourage others to join

Coming from one of the most un confident people you will ever know, i appreciate the comments that are received, i am here primarily to learn, a sale is fantastic, but through the comments that i have recieved i have be fortunate to see other fantastic artists work, i think that this part is often overlooked. I feel that my work has improved since being here and this has been helped by the comments and critique from some wonderful people, so keep it up guys.

Personally feel comments help me as a writer/photographer to grow in the knowledge of what my viewer wants and to know my audience. It’s no good 50 people watching you if they are getting bored with what they see, so fresh input is always refreshing. New to all areas time wise, it is interesting to ponder why one person gets viewed over another and the type of comment they make. Personally I find I place constructive advice by bubble mail instead so figures therefore are definitely not accurate by any means, as I know folk do the same for me. I welcome new viewers and active creative participants to the site and to drop by say hi and let me know what they personally are looking for…....

Red Bubble is a place for one to stand up and shout, “Hey world, look at me. Look at what I have done!” Receiving comments/suggestions/crticisms (although I have never seen in the short while I have been here a pointed “This work is crap!” comment) are great for one to improve their craft. A quick short, “That’s nice” or “I really like your work” is a means to open up for off-bubble dialogue, such as through BubbleMail. Longer comments about lighting or technique are even better. I don’t mean to be rude, but wonder as others have said, sending a quick thank you in the comments thread really detracts from the whole list of comments. If there is something that appeals to me, I like to read the comments of others, which often leads to a searching of specific Commenter’s works.

Anyway “HEY RED BUBBLE WORLD, LOOK AT ME!” Thanks in advance. Al@BDCE

there is also a critique page on the forum for people to have there work looked at

Yes. Very good note.

I agree with the post. I always check out people who comment on me, and their favourites too. I comment only when I like something a lot, and then try to say why I liked it. I don’t think this is a forum for criticism, so don’t comment on things I don’t like: saying what worked can be just as helpful a learning experience. I don’t feel moved to comment back if it’s just to say “thank you” – that should be understood, and is no less genuine for not being spelled out. Nor do I need a thank you unless it’s for a special reason (like, thank you at last someone got it). But writing is a lonely business, and it’s great to get encouragement and a sense that you gave someone something they enjoyed. I really appreciate that aspect of the site.

I agree…I only comment on work that moves me or jumps out at me, I do visit all people who comment on my work, & like to add as favourites to check out their progress from time to time…I love it when someone gets a sale, sooo exciting ( I’ve not had the good fortune yet) ;( but I love the freedom to share my images as random or as posed as they may be…It gives me a sense of achievement & I’m now saving for a new camera for my Birthday in May…so Thanks Red Bubble…I’m awaiting heart surgery, while working part time driving alot, so my camera now goes everywhere so I can capture images while travelling to customers…It takes my mind off worrying for a little while & makes me smile! ;) Bev, Carlisle, Uk. x

Art , we must admit, is a type of work that shows our ego side, and heres mine, because it does say “look at Me!” comments are a good side of RB, but in reading the banter, I was wondering, “how does one make the feature pages?” I am on 4 other online Galleries, and I have always got a little bit somewhere on their opening pages, accept not here on RB, I think there are a lot more Artists here, but I have taken personal unreliable surveys, and most feature pages contain: works from down under, or Europe, are photographers, work in non traditional content. I may be wrong, I have been before, (I got married twice), take your own survey. How about a blog about “How the feature pages are picked”, and if its “your just not good enough” I’ll accept it and will still stay here at RedBubble, (if they let me after this!), cause I love this community. I don’t even go to the feature pages any more, only once in a great while to make sure I’m still not there! But I love the friends I have made here, and will show every piece I create here first, before it goes to the gallery or the closet, cause I just love those comments I get!! and every new one I get, I look at the others work.

I’m very new here, just joined the Bubble in Feb. but what I love about it is the comments! I haven’t sold anything yet and of course I would like to, but it’s not the main reason I’m here. I’m new at photography and it means a lot when someone takes the time to tell me they like my work. Comments are also a way for me to determine what should and should not stay on the site. If I see that a photo isn’t getting any comments after about a week, I remove it from the site because to me, that’s an idicator that it’s nothing special, therefore not my best work and it doesn’t belong here. That in turn helps me to recognize what it is that makes one photo more interesting than another which has also helped me look through the lens differently. I almost always look at the work of the person who’s commented on mine and I try to at least say “thank-you” to those who have left comments for me.

HOLY !!!! :-P

Peter, please let me know if this article sells – jeesh! look at all of the comments!

You know, I do agree with you. I’ve noticed this myself. I don’t think it’s necessary to reply to every single comment. I also feel like we’re too nice. We need to criticize our work instead of just the same overused comments “great work” “good job” “i like this one.” We’re here to learn and grow. You can’t grow if you don’t know how to make yourself better.

Well said!!! I know I would like to thank everyone who comments on my work and just because I don’t get to reply to everyone does not mean that I do not enjoy hearing what everyone has to say. I look at everyone work that posted something that I have in my favorites, and again don’t always get a chance to comment on everyone. I enjoy all the comments and we are here to have fun!!!!

Thank you for the heads up! : – )

You either like something enough to buy it, or you dont. Comments are nice, but not essential, and if we aim to create what sells, then all we have sold in reality is our soul – but not the essence of what makes us individually creative. Surely far better to not worry about stats, and just create that which is in our hearts. If you want to sell stuff, then market it – promote it at every opportunity – eventually, someone will look, and law of averages says you will eventually make a sale. Ive sold far more of my work from samples Ive brought from RB and sold on, than I have directly off RB.

noicee

People love approval and that I think is one of the raison d’etres of sites like Redbubble. We all try to be nice to each other.People write about how they are encouraged by the comments of others, and that is a good thing.I have never seen a negative comment here, and that is also a good thing. Then I have never seen a constructive comment here, and that is not so good. It is possible to criticise and make suggestions without being negative. As much as one would like to make a constructive suggestion now and then one is inhibited by the feeling it wouldn’t be quite right in the environment of Redbubble. In some ways that is a shame because a source of honest feedback is denied to individuals setting out on their artistic endeavours. If every comment on your work is anodyne or fulsome you are less likely to achieve self-awareness or make real artistic process, on the assumption that,” if my work is now considered so good I can rest on my laurels.” I wrote earlier I have never left a negative criticism here, and I don’t intend to. So, if I see a work I don’t feel attracted to I don’t comment. I have no desire to hurt anyoe’s feelings.
I do feel that artists who genuinely desire constructive criticism rather than blanket praise should have the opportunity to seek it here. Perhaps we need a channel here for artists to submit their work specifically to receive honest and constructive feedback. It should be no licence for people to make unpleasant or hurtful remarks about submitted work, but be a resource for aspriring artists who feel they could benefit from the input of their more experienced fellow-members.

Good and well clarified comments from Peter. I think we all need to accept why this site stands away from the others in such a positive way. Keep up the good work.

I had a very valid and constructive comment to make.
If only I could remember what it was?

Oh yeah. I know.
I’ll buy that.

Good Comment

far out… I reckon it’s taken me half an hour to get down here!!! I love comments, on both my own work and others. I also tend to rabbit on and on and sometimes go off subject… I guess I just love a chat ;D
One could easily just write ditto here and it would say it all!!

by Julie A negative comment [for instance – the horizon is a tad wonky], may well put a buyer off, but, it will also alert the artist to something they may not have noticed, which they can then put right – hence making the buyer who doesnt read the comments, see perfection at first glance. This is good because after you’ve fixed whatever it is that was wonky you can delete the comment that brought it to your attention. Then go bubblemail that person to thank them for their help!

You gotta just love RedBubble for all that they do for us. Plus, it’s free! I think sometimes people forget that too. And if it wasn’t for the RB Elves, we wouldn’t have this world to float around in when we want to show our work or have a chat.
Thanks RB Elves ;D

I enjoy the feed back…it helps sometimes to see how others interpreted my work…after all, I am not just writing for myself. How others see it is important to me indetermining if I got my message across.

amen.
i heartily agree. :-)

Writing comments also help in your own understanding of critiquing art & its appreciation.

i joined redbubble to sell my work and to share experiences and knowledge with like minded people, In my everyday job as a photographer i have to impress people keep them happy… with various photo web sites where people seem to expect you to do tit for tat comments or critique my work.. which is fine but not what i was looking for! red bubble works on many levels for me.. i know if i have a question all the people i have spoken to on here are more that happy to answer it, which in turn feeds my need to learn and my creative juices and i have made many friends one of which suggested i wrote tutorials for a few groups which has opened my eyes to how much i have learnt and opened new avenues career wise.. love the site and the people here

sales come from hard work and promotion…far too many put their work on the web and just expect people to come and see it… there are millions of pages on the web!!! how is anyone going to find yours if you do not put in the graft!

It has been one of the less satisfying aspects of joining in with RB to see extremely prevalent ‘commenters’ then make journal announcements that they have had 10000 views (or more) and without wanting to seem too negative, i just think ‘well of course you have!’....these people obviously have to be extremely talented artists to have so many views, and it’s not my desire to in any way match the ‘number of views’, but i caught on very early that the more i comment, the more comments i get, and you would be crazy to think that most people don’t know this…it’s whether you wish to honestly, in your heart exploit this or not. i choose not to, but will comment for the honest reason of giving feedback. anything else would seem fake and i’m not interested.

On the subject of comments it is nice to have Your work appreciated. It does give You a boost when somone likes Your work. On the other hand some people might not like Your work, one artist comes to mind especially, Vincent Van Gogh, He could hardly buy lunch with His art, when He was alive, but that didn’t stop Him from creating His art. Now His work is worth millions of dollars, but at that time the art world said He wasn’t very good, and gave Him that brand, He lived with that for the rest of His tormented life. So I feel, don’t get to high with praise, or to low with criticism, balance is good. It’s enough if You truly enjoy what You do, and get pleasure, and fullfillment from Your art. And for Me, don’t depend on making a living at it, make a few sales, great, if not, You can’t take it with You anyway LOL.

I recently relocated to red bubbles, been commenting on a lot of shots these 3 days but doesn’t get much in return. But, been there done that before when i started on some other site, anyways, yes, commenting and +fav is good, especially constructive comments. Other than that i dont know, well, i dont really care a whole lot about people out there just saying, “nice” in your comments , you know, well i can reply so many of them saying thanks and its gets boring :D Anyways, Go Redbubble!

Agree 100%- this should be about having fun. I am a new member- and I joined this sight as a way to show people my work. I have been doing this for a very long time and it’s just been a hobby for me but after becoming disabled recently I needed something to fill the void. I basically have a lifetime of work to share! I find this sight very interesting and fun and if I can make myself a few extra dollars while doing it- that’s terrrific too!-

Has there been a graph or study done with the images that are on the “featured” pages and sales?! And that being the question I would also ask how does one get an image on the featured pages?! Never had one on there but my work has been on the homepage 2 times…...What is the criteria for getting work put on the featured pages? Who picks those? I see new people make it to featured so I figured it was not from ammount of comments or the ammount of views that artwork was getting. OK, I just read Matthew Torr…. comment above about what I am asking, someone else has the same feeling. I stopped looking at the features except once in a great while to see that I am still not there either! Yes heavy on Photography and graphics sot so much traditional like me! awwwww, oh well love the bubble anyway and would appreciate feedback on this subject?! thanks, Laurie

I am always asked why I am on redbubble and why i post my work there. Do I sell and what is the quality of the prints like.
My reply is always, that redbubble for me is a community. It is also a gallery I can explore at leasure for inspiration when my legs are tired at the end of the day.
I am not here for commercial reasons – I think we should all realise that while artists do purchase each other’s art, that is not where the art market is. Establishing an art career requires the footwork of establishing yourself on gallery walls or other commercial venues. It is hard work. Any sale is a bonus, but it’s not what drives my presence here.
In short I’m here for the fun of it, the feedback and the community spirit.
Redbubble is by now a huge community and this means that artists are not easy to find. It means that tagging images is vital, that uploading new images is vital. How many pages will an art buyer scroll through if not searching by tags. I can no longer scroll through all new Images each week, I used to.
I love commenting on work which moves me or resonates wirh me. I love to hear a comment on my art, irrespective of how long or short it is, as it means someone took the time to stop by. I rarely reply, as it feel it clogs up cyberspace unnecessarily, but the occasional bubblemail is a great way for more personal communication. It’s a personal thing. some people have tremendous skills expressing themselves when viewing artworks, I have a lot to learn in that respect.
Of course one will be noticed if one has a more public presence, but that does not mean it will translate into sales by other artists.
Just my two cents, keep up the great service!!!!
cheers Sabine

I have really enjoyed reading all the comments about comments. :)

Thank you RedBubble, for the since of community you encourage here. I am very new to this site and it is a God send for me. And I found it quite by accident! I was looking for companies that print graphic artwork for a reasonable price. I had been wanting to try my hand at larger pieces – commonly seen in office type environments – but have no way to print them myself.

Not having access to a brick and mortar art gallery in which to show my work I would have had to pick and choose very carefully what to actually print, invest large sums of money and then hope to sell the piece (or even find somewhere that would allow me to hang some pieces for display). Because of RedBubble I have been able to have others see my work and a few have even left comments for me (what a treat!)... but really, just having a place to ‘show’ and get feedback is of immeasurable worth to someone just starting out.

What a thrill it was for me to open the home page a few days after I had joined and find one of my graphics on it! I was so excited I made a screen cap of it! It got many more views because of it’s prominent placement there, and along with the views several members left comments telling me they like my work…. it was a morale booster for sure. I try and return the ‘favor’ to other artists whose work I like, but there is so much to see and absorb that alas, I fall far short that goal.

And an extra added bonus…. I found I love making greeting cards! Not too many comments on those, but what the heck I am having a ball.

TLC

Opps…..

That would be SENCE of community (I can spell, really…. no really!)

I don’t know how to / if you can edit comments – sorry.

Hi. I really like the option of being able to leave comments on redbubble. I am on a few other sites where you can’t write anything and I really miss just reading what other people say about a photo painting etc. To my it doesn’t always matter if its positive negative useful or pointless, I enjoy the interaction it gives with other artists. It also gives a real opertunity to find other people work which I’d miss. I’ve often read a view and clicked to see their own work. Features like these make the red bubble site stand out and make it more than just a 50000 procession of artists to view . My previous job was working as a website analyst and sites that become boring to move around are just dead ends. Sites should be fun for visitors of any nature. Hope this was a useful comment????!!!@@@£££

REDBUBBLE HAS DEFINITELY BEEN UPLIFTING FOR ME, AND THE WARMTH AND LOVE I FEEL FROM THE REDBUBBLE FAMILY IS ENORMOUS. IT’S A GREAT FEELING KNOWING THERE ARE SOME REAL COOL PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD. SOMEONE TOLD ME TO STOP WRITING IN CAPS, I TOLD HIM IT’S MY STYLE, AND A REBEL WITH A CAUSE OR TWO

After being torn to pieces on a forum, just one single positive comment here cheered me up.
That’s why we do it partly, to get appreciation.
I find however that I didn’t get any comments anymore the last week.

New to the site and already in love with the transcendent posture, support, information, and positive reinforcement. Thanks! Keep it up there in the higher stratosphere!

There is so much beautiful art that I have looked at on this website. It takes my breath away as I view it. You are ALL truly imaginative, great artist! I find it personally so inspiring. It helps me have the courage I need to present my work and to have the faith that other people might enjoy it, or my perspective- as much as I enjoyed doing the piece. I have learned so much from all of you, and will continue to do so. Maybe, some day, some one else will say that about me. I also enjoy any of your comments, one and all. It is motivating and gives a sense of connection. Thanks.

Roger on the value of considered and focussed comments Peter. Of course effusive comments are wonderful. And the enthusiasm is saying at least one specific thing about how your work has affected one person. But I do reckon the critique stuff is the most valuable. It’s what makes this fabulous site so important. Not to mention the way it shows me how many people are out there creating and creating stunning stuff; a very happy thing. A bloke wouldn’t be dead for quids!

WOW!!
Alot of cool comments have been made here concerning “Comments” and “criticisms”
Pretty much everything I would have to about it all has been covered in one form or another. LOL I will spare you all my banter, but merely add this:
I look forward to critque, it is the one this that helps me to develope a sense of understanding about how someone may view a scene or help me to detirmine how someone viewing my photography would interprites it. Or Someone would challenge me through a more mature and seasoned point of view, and by gleaning from wisdom I am able to grow and try something different and then add something to my skill set that was valuably and otherwise missing. I don’t like negative comments, the comments which serve to attack and moe down, you don’t use a lawnmoer to prune a tree. ; O)

“One of the directions we’d prefer to avoid with commenting is for it to become some sort of competitive sport.”

This is one of Deviantart’s biggest problems, and a part of why I left that scam. It gets to where you have 8,000,000 comments that are clearly like a pat on the back, but offer no substance. It’s nice to hear “well done” I am sure, I have a few of those, but it will eventually get out of hand.

I think they even tried to add id some sort of “voting” ticker, using a 1-10 scale sort of, but that just turned into a bi-product of the initial problem. Nothing was fixed.

My only guess is to keep the artists here by not selling out like DA had done, so even though you will always have “good job” comments, we will also keep the helpful ones. Most of the big photographers on that site have posted “I am leaving” journal entries and so I always suggest alt sites like RB and Photo.net. Sure enough a week or two later they add another journal entry saying they are coming here or going to Flickr… I am guessing if you have those type of users and push that type of community, you will always have those as the dominant posts.

no comment….. just kidding ha ha

Ha ha .. that made me laugh Jared.. The article is good.. Agree with him 100% You should only leave a comment if you mean it not because you think you have to.. :))

Maybe the should be a button so we an see what or who the the highest sale are. I would like to know what sells.

this is a comment

The word comment is spelled similar to the following words:

• communication
• commute
• commune
• communist
• community
• commercial
• commence

If this comment fell in the forest would anybody read it?

A comment is less like a plate of nachos than you might imagine.