ArtSpots Forum Group - ArtSpots News

Questions and Answers - cobaltstarfire

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:22:21 -0000

Yes, thankyou very much!

Questions and Answers - Feather Dancer

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:59:12 -0000

cobaltstarfire said:
I've read this whole page, and I don't understand what the different...french things are supposed to be or mean exactly. Sorry if I'm being slow, I'm feeling pretty confused about what every thing is and means on this website, and looking all over doesn't seem to have alleviated my confusion any, there's so many different applications, and statuses, and things with no explanation at all.

I don't really pass by here that often so I don't know the history, and whenever I try to get into this website (as it seems like a good place to try to grow my art) I just feel so confounded I end up leaving again very quickly.

Quite simply, back when ArtSpots was two sites at one point. Jaxpad for everyone and ArtSpots for those who passed an application of udnerstanding the key basics in artwork to a reasonable degree much like Yerf did. Later for ease sake given the extra running around and background work, the two sites were merged. Those who had achieved a place on Artspots then became the blue stared Compagnon which allows users to filter out recents and things so they see quality artists who passed back then or everybody. Currently the applciation system is not up and going since it was getting fiddled with to improve the time it was taking to clear them so there is no way to blue star yourself at the precise moment. The other titles will be much like that, a system for the future where you can work towards long term goals should you choose to do so but not forced. Does that make any sense?

Questions and Answers - Manic

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:57:05 -0000

If you mean 'Compagnon' and such, it's just a title. A fancy schmancy way of saying "really good artist" XD I don't understand a word of French myself, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Was that what you didn't understand? Oh and Maitre de something just means "even better artist".

Questions and Answers - cobaltstarfire

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:40:12 -0000

I've read this whole page, and I don't understand what the different...french things are supposed to be or mean exactly. Sorry if I'm being slow, I'm feeling pretty confused about what every thing is and means on this website, and looking all over doesn't seem to have alleviated my confusion any, there's so many different applications, and statuses, and things with no explanation at all. I don't really pass by here that often so I don't know the history, and whenever I try to get into this website (as it seems like a good place to try to grow my art) I just feel so confounded I end up leaving again very quickly.

Questions and Answers - DrakeDragon

Wed, 13 May 2009 18:02:56 -0000

I dont like sonic too much...I would rather stick to the norm.

Merci Beaucoup - C Eagle

Sat, 09 May 2009 08:20:41 -0000

Best of weeeshes with yer catching up!... It's a good-kind-of inundation....

Merci Beaucoup - WolfReign05

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:15:29 -0000

Kynliod: "Thanks to you and the mods as well, Seurat. Artspots is my favorite art community, hands down. I've learned more here than anywhere else in my art life." I can definately second this one. Actually, I give this site thanks cause this is the main reason I became an artist! Thank you for the site so much. :D

Merci Beaucoup - Bug

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:44:27 -0000

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merci Beaucoup - Femmpaws

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:17:07 -0000

Welcome back good Sir! I too understand about life getting in the way of things at times! With a little luck you will be caught up in no time! Paws

Merci Beaucoup - UndyingSong

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:50:32 -0000

Woo hoo!! :D

Merci Beaucoup - Muir

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:26:30 -0000

Welcome back, Seurat! I totally understand the RL issues with moving and such. Glad you've not given up on us. :) This is a great site and is the only one in which I feel I can get "proper" crit and help with improving my art without snarkiness.

Merci Beaucoup - Wolfy T. Twisted

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:21:43 -0000

Welcome back! And thank YOU for making Artspots! I'm so happy to have found a new, safe place to display my work and learn!

Merci Beaucoup - Kynliod

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:18:00 -0000

Thanks to you and the mods as well, Seurat. Artspots is my favorite art community, hands down. I've learned more here than anywhere else in my art life.

Merci Beaucoup - Seurat the Cheetah Artiste

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:55:59 -0000

Bonjour, people! I have been quiet for quite some time, taking care of stuff in the background when necessary. This year there has also been work, and some moving to a new place in my personal life, plus a considerable amount of soul-searching in relation to ArtSpots. Looking around, I am glad to see all the community that is still continuing to be active and form up around here. Seeing all the increased activity fills me with more drive to work on the future of ArtSpots. I love all of you, and am really excited about jumping back into things. The mods have been working hard over the past couple weeks to take care of a lot of content and flagging issues, and there are a couple new programmers looking to hop in and help. I need to do my part to help keep things moving forward, too. There is also a whole lot of excellent art I need to catch up with! :) Merci beaucoup, everyone. Thank you for making ArtSpots what it is, and helping drive its future.

Questions and Answers - SunCat

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:07:24 -0000

Agreed. It is a little much, and some of the nudes are getting out of hand too..... or maybe I should just turn down my view rating.

Questions and Answers - Sudan Red

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:18:27 -0000

40 pages of Sonic fan comic in recents? No. Just NO.

Questions and Answers - Drakenhart

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:13:18 -0000

I have to agree with Armaina. Artvark had been a good place to get help, but it kinda went under. Other places have a high and mighty attitude of "better then you" with out being helpful. I've been part of various different art communities, include some old EzBoards art forums when they were all the rage. The one thing I can't stomach is the "better then thou" judgmental attitude without the education. It is as if those who are "better then thou" tend to fear upcoming artists and thus don't help them to learn or improve (imo). Here, this is very obviously not the case. Here you can get crits, help, suggestions, redlines, support, and more! :)

Questions and Answers - Armaina

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:32:20 -0000

Taboo said:
You do remember this is the furry fandom, right? I know what you guys are looking for, but I also know that there are some, no, alot of people out there who'll turn a deaf ear to critique, or interpret it wrong, or simply bring the drama by the buckets.

but like i said earlier, i dont make furry art any more and since this site isn't yerf, i really don't care what this site eventually becomes. i hope you guys are right.

Um, you do know that this place is for more than just furry art right? You can post human and whatever stuff here as well. The site is not catering to only the furry fandom. This is a place for art and creation, and most of us prefer the critiques we get here because unlike Devart it's not full of people that only care about page views, and unlike concept art it's not full of egos and honestly, not a lot of helpful advice. The community here is far more welcoming as well as helpful, than any other art community I've been in and I've been in a number of them. So it's nice to have a balance of -good- critiques and good company and site management. Stick around, the changes will be really nice, they're just slow coming because the people that script for this site have jobs and they do this strictly on a volunteer basis.

Questions and Answers - Metsys

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:32:58 -0000

That's part of the plan, yes. There's also talk about giving non-compagnon artists who do compagnon-level work an opportunity to be more visible. And don't forget about the additional Maître de guilde status. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to view their artwork in their own special gallery too.

Questions and Answers - Taboo

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:14:33 -0000

I was thinking. Why not take another leaf from Conceptart and compromise? Have featured artists that get their own special gallery, and then have the regular one?

Questions and Answers - Feather Dancer

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 09:38:34 -0000

Personally fantasy is my staple, I come for the comments, the crit and to see the artwork of others I like :) The sole just anthromorphs thing/anything else makes you get strucken down was lifted a while back to encourage uploads as long as it kept within not shock-a-block of fanart and the ratings...

Questions and Answers - Metsys

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:44:33 -0000

I've thought about that before actually. If ArtSpots gets big wouldn't that bring the rest of the furry community, and everything we don't like about it, to ArtSpots? I think that kind of drama and perversity can really only thrive on sites that are designed for it. No one is going to want to start a dramatic episode if people in the community call them out on it. This happened a couple of times recently and the drama stopped on ArtSpots almost immediately because people wouldn't feed the drama, so the drama stayed on LiveJournal and elsewhere. One thing ArtSpots does have a lack of is some kind of written article that's an introduction to the site telling people what to expect and what's expected, and affordance (designer term meaning visual clues that communicate how people should act). Once that's taken care of I don't think people will have as much of a problem with critiques. Having the "furry plague" come to ArtSpots due to an increase in patronage assumes that:

The admins implement features that are only designed to get as many visitors as possible at the expense of the mission of ArtSpots
The worst of the furry community collude to hijack the site.
All the cool people in the furry community are already here on ArtSpots.

I don't think 1 is going to happen, and I'll make sure it never happens (as he cracks his knuckles). 2 is very unlikely, unless there's some secret evil furry organization that I'm not aware of, and I know the existing community will never stand for that. As for number 3, I know there are still very cool furry artists out there that would be on ArtSpots if there was just one or two more things that ArtSpots had to offer (exposure being the most common one I've heard, and may just be an excuse for all I know). And I bet there's other non-furries that would be interested because the site doesn't creep them out. And yes, this site isn't Yerf. It had a lot of similarities, and one of them was the reason why Yerf was ultimately unsuccessful after it grew to a certain point. Luckily the people that run ArtSpots had forethought so they didn't repeat Yerf's mistakes before it was too late. This is my personal opinion, but I think part of the mission for ArtSpots is to get people to branch out and do more than just furry art. I've noticed that furry art (like manga) is a gateway for a lot of people into art, and ArtSpots could be the site that says, "Oh, you like drawing furries. Well, lets build on that and use it as a spring board so that you can be a skilled and versatile artist." I'm not a furry artist either. The reason why I'm around here is because I'm working on a project that just happens to have cartoon animals in it, and it's nice to have an art site that focuses on animals/anthropomorphs/creatures, is safe for work, and even has an awesome community. But yeah, I hope they are right too. :) I'd really like to see ArtSpots grow in a good way.

Questions and Answers - Taboo

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:27:24 -0000

Questions and Answers - Drakenhart

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:37:36 -0000

** Added ** Not all artists with awesome skills make good reviewers. For those who "make the grade" give them a written test to see how they offer reviews, with clif nots, or tutorials on how best to serve a good, constructive critial review. ;) Add to that, as was suggested before, maybe give those who offer reviews a small money contribution (like the 2 cents for 2 cents idea you guys had) towards AS store items/services?

Questions and Answers - SunCat

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:35:42 -0000

I like ArtSpots a lot, I am relatively new and don't have much say(and don't say much) but I would like to say that I like the Artspots community. It is the first internet thing I have been a part of and I feel it was a great choice. I must say my art has improved a lot since I have joined and most of it was because of this site. It gave me a goal, something to look at and say I want to be like that, I want to be able to do that. I like how welcoming it is and it is not too complex and everyone is so nice. Everyone is willing to help and it is PG that is one of the best things for me, don't change it. I am relatively new and don't participate actively in many things so the changes haven't affected me as much as others, but I would just like to say that I like ArtSpots. Ask what we want?..... maybe a sent folder in the PM system, it might be nice to see what you sent people. Either there isn't one or I haven't found it yet ^_^

Questions and Answers - Drakenhart

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:34:34 -0000

Good points Metsys! Honestly, maybe if there were a "grading" system for different aspects of this art? (Possible even 'invisible except for the artist thus graded?) This way we could find reviewers. This idea actually comes from my college. Wherein only those with "A's" could work in specific areas in the tutor lab. You could tutor Photoshop, but not math if you got an "A" in Photoshop but only a "B+" in math. This way the volunteers that were used were the ones who would best be suited for the task. Taking this model into perspective, maybe allow different aspects of art (layouts, general design concepts, anatomy, color& perspective, color& design, perspective, etc) would all be graded differently per person. This then would open up their ability (or lack of) to help with volunteer crits. Allow the Compagnon's to do the grading as a whole. Make the grading be anonymous as possible. Make the grading cycle, so that people can improve on their own time. Give them a goal to achieve. When an artist hits most of the areas with "high" grades, have the system flag them with a suggestion to apply for campagnon status. Give them a reward for the hard work. It would be a stepped process that effects several different levels, and makes for a -self controlled, peer-controlled" quality controlled archive/portfoilo. My two cents?

Questions and Answers - Metsys

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 23:08:09 -0000

I know for a fact that it's not going to turn into a furry deviantArt. To me DA seems to be designed to stroke egos and promote a lot of chatting, and I know the mission of ArtSpots is to give artists a venue for critique and encouragement to become better artists and to make a decent living doing it. From what I know of their plans so far is that there is definitely going to be a challenge, something for artists to work for even greater and more valuable than the Compagnon status, and both that and the Compagnon status will have more perks. The trick is that ArtSpots served a triple purpose: high quality art for patrons, a goal for artists to achieve, and a valuable portfolio review process. Sure you'll get a better chance to be seen on places like DA, but I doubt you'll get as good of a critique. In fact I recall one saying that the only reason why they applied to ArtSpots is so they can receive quality red lines. Bit the small staff that volunteered to do all those were too bogged down with applicants and giving thoughtful critiques and redlines to each one. It's just not possible for volunteers with the credentials to do that kind of work keep up with that kind of demand, so a new method is needed so the site can grow with more people wanting critiques and always have enough to give those critiques. And I think what ArtSpots has planned will do just that. I think they learned with the JaxPad merger that it's better to make all the changes at once so people can see the complete vision, instead of making one change at a time without making the other changes that would replace what was removed. So we'll have to be patient for the whole package to be finished. And now is a great time to ask what you want out of the site, while things are still being thought out.

Questions and Answers - Taboo

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:32:53 -0000

Where's the challenge? What's the point of posting here, when posting on 50+ other art sites where there's a much larger chance to be seen or to get a good critique? Yerf was a forbidden fruit. It enticed me to become better, it gave me goals. I took the advice given to me by artists that were in probably alot more serious than anybody else, because in my eyes, they had proven themselves. If a FURRY DEVIANTART clone is where this site is headed, count me out. Not that I've made much furry work in the past few years, but I'm just not interested in where I think you guys are going with this.

Questions and Answers - Sue

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:24:17 -0000

I work in the vague field of "social media", and there's no magic bullet to building a community, pleasing everyone, or creating something that grows virally (or at all). But congrats to the Artspots crew for doing lots of things right -- building a solid platform for the site, and embracing web 2.0 for both the good (tonnes of creative new stuff, unmoderated) and the not-so-good (tonnes of stuff, unmoderated). As AS grows, it will be more a DA or FA model where you just don't see art you don't want to see, for the most part. The days of fully moderated user-submitted content really are past. Continuing luck in 2009!

New Applications Currently Closed - Scotty A

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:25:14 -0000

Any way to get a email notification when apps begin again?

Questions and Answers - Drakenhart

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:33:33 -0000

Ah, you make several good points Scott. *nods head*

Scott Ruggels said:
Well My experience was in games and comics, where content is king and GOOD content is what keeps the eyeballs rivited. The other thing are good to have around, but the content is in my mind the spine of the site.

~~ Oh yes content is important. But what I am saying here is that content needs to be focused. ((See below for more on this as your other comment hit this one on the head.)) One can have the prettiest more dynamically driven site with lots of interesting tidbits and gimmicks..., but if you don't have content then no one is going to come back... not unless that content ARE those gimmicks and you offer tutorials on making them. See what I mean? (Stu's CSS Play is all about the various tricks you can do in CSS and how you can make some awesome dynamic stuff without the need for javascript, or other code. For example.) Also, as you pointed out, if you fix the users' attention that is what generates intrest. But to generate continued interest you need something that changes and thus entices the user to come back. Comics in and of themselves change, for example. That is how things go viral online and causes more traffic to be diverted to a site. Where links are added to personal pages that direct Google's search engine to up the site on their list. The nature of this place is constantly updating, yes, but not all the "good artists" update all the time.

Scott Ruggels said: And again my deep disappointment, and it's nto so much being old or discomforted by the "new" it's something else entirely. I'm not sure what the purpose is any more. it is toward the casual browser? the artists? It is seeming to me to be some sort of egalitarian mix of the two.

~~ *nods* That's something I've noticed as well. Currently in this design it isn't all that clear. Right now. It is also understandable that people are getting upset and paranoid, as well as disappointed in what they thought this place was going to be... and then have their expectations failed. *shrugs* I was there as well until the admins started to address our questions and needs. The admins do hear us, though it may seem like they don't. They have responded more readily and more frequently then some other sites I'm a member of in general. They are taking into consideration what we say and ask for, but they do have the rest of the net to worry about, too. The casual browser may become the next Compagnon. Or they may become another paying customer. Balancing that out isn't easy, to be sure. They can't pay for this out of their pockets as a volunteer project forever. Even Yerf had that problem. It costs money to up keep a server to keep such a place as this functioning. They also want their core artists to stay, without compromising the sense of community.Again not an easy balance to strike, and without a more focused purpose for this site it is hard to give anyone a sense of safety and security. I understand. I think perhaps the admins should give us a flat "mission statement", goal-set ideas, and an idea of what their core focus is as a whole. That maybe will help us all to understand what the admins have in mind, period. Not a list of "nifty features we will be adding." As you mentioned above these are good /support/ for the core content and shouldn't over shadow that core content.

Scott Ruggels said:
and I am not sure that such a blend is desirable as in my mind it is feeding in to the hostility towards judgment and criticism in the Furry Fandom in general that was something that Yerf and other sites stood against.

My experience with the fandom has often been how they ghettoize themselves away from the mainstream, and becoming somewhat hostile to any sort of recognition of superior skill or ability, and using Elitist" as a negative epithet. This is nothing to do with the Web, but more to do as a reaction against being "left out" by high standards.

In some way Furry might be a fandom of the rejected or disaffected, those not gaining societal acceptance, but that attitude will leave people on the sidelines. That's i think what I am imperfectly trying to get across.

Ahhh. I divided up your quote so I could read it and respond in a more organized manner. ;) *ponders* The two last bits made it more clear what the opposite perspective is from the other side of the looking glass, as it were. Allow me to offer mine, maybe we can both come to a better understanding and hopefully educate many of the others here as well. :) The fandom itself is a minority. It also has a very foul reputation because of those who would use the fandom as a defensive shield. "I'm like this because I'm a furry." - Kind of attitudes. So I can, and do, understand your point. For me, personally, eliteism is a bad thing as it has nothing to do with quality or high standards. Mind you this is my perspective based om my past expereinces. Self-labeled Elitists more often then not are stuck up snobs. Elite is different from elitist. Being of the elite can be a good thing. Being a "Name" in the fandom can be a good thing as well. But, being /elitist/ is being snobbish, stuck up, better then thou, haughty, looking down one's nose at others, being selfish and self-centered in bad ways (yes there are good ways). It isn't about high standards, but rather about one's inflated sense of self-importance. That is the connotation it has developed over the years. That is the connotation it has to me. Even were I to actually manage to acquire the skills to become one of the elite, i would NEVER label myself an "elitist". My art will speak for itself. Sure I want to have that pride in my accomplishments in that I am chosen to become one of the blue star. I want to have that surge of pride in my achievement to have my art listed along artists I have looked up to and adored. But where does pride end, and PRIDE begin? Where does it become harmful? I have been excluded from a lot of things in my life for no good reasons. Kicked out of communities of "elite" artists because I told them their snobbish attitudes were childish and rude. I don't truck with that self-important ego-crap. There is a difference between a mild pride of one's achievements, and the self-ruling pride that turns people into snobs. Please keep in ind you, Scott, I'm the middle road here. I have in fact seen an experienced the whiners who nay say everything good about the // GOOD // artists. Even artists I know for a fact are approachable and awesome, personality -wise. Those are the ones I -have- to agree with you about... They really make those of the upper echelon artists out to all be sucky butt-heads when they are not as such. But not all of us who see some of you as elitists are in fact of this group. I see it as a case of "extreme versus extreme". That there are in fact a good number of the elite artists that are..., less then personable to the up and coming newbies. Some of these "fanbois", on the other extreme, get their nickers in a bigger bunch then needs to be and start a vocal trend of deriding the elite. It is a "war" that will continue as the "better then thou" fight more vocally against the "non-serious thin skins". I'm trying to be nice really. Honest!! I'm of those that know I need work and practice. Even with a professional background, I know I need more work and practice... but I feel I cannot approach many of the "Elite" for help because they've been equally abused by those who don't have thicker skins when it comes to //serious// crits. I also don't like associating with those who are snobbish and crude to those who are lesser in their opinions. It makes me feel horrible as a person. I know I'm not the only one either. Which is why the opinions on both sides stay as they are. I have personall seen nothing but snobbish behavior from a lot of the Yerfers myself. I have over heard conversations and been in room parties with Yerfers who talk down about others. Yerf's "poor" reputation was earned --because-- of those people, not the whole.., just those people. Just like the fandom as a whole has a "bad" reputation for being a fetishest, psycho, sick-o paradise from a select few people..., every group will earn a good or bad reputation based on a few of its more active and vocal members. If the whole doesn't "punish" those few, the reputation stays and worsens. By not correcting the behavior of those few, the whole is seen as being the ones who are harboring and feeding that foul behavior. Which is why business are so strict of certain policies of "PC" behavior. Such policies protect the business from earning a foul reputation, because then they place the blame squarely on the offender's shoulders. Make sense? I know I ramble. >.<

Scott Ruggels said:
Wth the quality control there was a goal to aim for, and once in, the goal was to get good enough to leave the narrow subject mattr of the fandom with the necessary attitudes and skill to turn pro if need be, but not forced into such.

~~ *nods* Understood. This is something I fully support and the reason that the community aspect here is so important. To be sure. Each of those in a skill range better then others, offer support and crits to help us improve and proceed.

Scott Ruggels said:
In short yerf evolved into a repudiation of the argument of "But It's My Style!!!, and holding such argments as "unacceptable. Recent changes seem to accepted that argument if not explicitly so. That's what it loks lik e to me.

Scott

*nods* The thing a lot of artist forget is that the fundementals of art are still needed. Even if one has a specific style, the fundementals will only improve that style. I never understood that agrument. I often asked those that ranted about it if they could draw stuff other then (insert subject matter here). To me Yerf wasn't about "it's my style" vs "unacceptable" arguements. Yerf, just before it went under, became the totally unattainable goal. The level of quality was so high I just couldn't keep up. My stuff was no where near those that got in just before I decided to quit trying. So I gave up and just focused on my school work. There was for most people no "Hope" of ever achieving that level of perfection and skill. When they complained they didn't do it with an insight into themselves, they just became bitter. They began to hate rather then walk away, because --they-- became disillusioned and dissappointed. Also many of those good artists with too much pride, as I pointed out above, were the ones to feed the negative image. They acted high and mighty and ripped into "lesser" artists rather then help or teach. It became an impossible dream for many. It was not longer a clean furry archive with higher levels of quality control. It became something else entirely... mostly because of those few people. On both sides.

Questions and Answers - Vizon

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:41:27 -0000

Atxil said:
At the time, I wasn't registered. I actually registered just so that I could block the "flood" of non-compagnon art that I didn't want to see. Having to log in to not see that art, though, is a hassle, which is the biggest part of the reason I don't visit much any more.

Can't you just click the "compagnon art" checkbox? Don't you have cookies save your login so you don't have to type it in every time? Mmm, well I guess if you are on school or library computers you would have to log in every time, and I agree - it would be nice to have the highest ranking artists' work easiest for newcomers to find...but then again, isn't that kind of what is going on with the front page? Highest rank at the moment is compagnon...and all front-page art is compagnon art. And to see all the most recent compagnon art you just have to click the recents tab and then click the checkbox. I don't think that's too much effort, to be honest...2 clicks... and none if there are cookies because it remembers you checked that box. And it's not supposed to stay like this anyway - there is supposed to be a ranking system implemented at some point.

Questions and Answers - Atxil

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:21:28 -0000

I consider myself one of Ruggels' "casual browser looking for something nice", and I have to say that since the merge with Jaxpad, I don't visit Artspots nearly as often. At the time, I wasn't registered. I actually registered just so that I could block the "flood" of non-compagnon art that I didn't want to see. Having to log in to not see that art, though, is a hassle, which is the biggest part of the reason I don't visit much any more. Having all an artist's work available is nice, in theory. But as I work down the list from finished art to WIPs to sketches to doodles, well, I have to say I'm not really interested in seeing anyone's worst art. I'm an art student now (since October, computer animation), and I have to say that between applications being closed since July and the merge with Jaxpad, the idea of applying to Artspots has fallen off my to do list.

Questions and Answers - Vizon

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 06:07:58 -0000

I think, Ruggels, that quality control is definitely a high priority for Artspots yet. But also, for the sake of survival, as Higgins said, we must branch out in a way that will bring people to the site. Exclusivity is not a magnet for traffic. The best example I've heard is that in comparing an elite "best of the best" ONLY site to an art site with no boundaries, the exclusive site is at a big disadvantage. The viewers want to see new art - whether it's the best of the best or just awesome and entertaining sketches (like Thornwolf's madness). New stuff is what brings them back again and again. If artists are holding out to post only their most golden masterpieces, the updates are less frequent and no one can see more casual pieces or studies that make the process more transparent (seeing sketches and practices and less-than-perfect work helps a less talented artist to wrap their minds around the methods of a more experienced artist). Also with such high restrictions for gallery access, there are fewer artists, which also harms incoming traffic. So because the best of the best artwork is ALSO posted at the less strict site, viewers have less reason to come to the more exclusive site. They are rewarded with more art to view more often of their favorite artists at the less strict site (because they post everything). That aside, I do not think Artspots is trying to get rid of quality at all - I know for a fact that the entire GOAL of this site is to help artists to improve, which of course requires methods of motivation (working your way up the quality ladder, earning a higher status, trying to get art into the salon exhibit). However, opening up the site to show more work helps increase activity and attract more artists. The site will no longer be exclusive, but it will still have quality control (and rules about content of course). If you want you can choose to view only Master or Compagnon art, but if you want to see what some of the younger, less experienced crowd are posting and give them some hints and tips, spot some talent, or suggest a tutorial that might help them in an area you see they are struggling with - that option is available - and I am sure they would appreciate help from someone of your talent. And a community where skilled artists like you share their knowledge with others (I'm sure you have many fans who would love to see a tutorial or talk to you live in a paint chat demonstration) and every artist has a place to post their work (whether it's met a higher quality mark or not) is a lot more attractive to all users all around, and a healthier more active community where all artists have an opportunity to learn and grow and hone their skill. And strive to "level up" so to speak.

Questions and Answers - Scott Ruggels

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:18:47 -0000

* Content - What's the point of a site? Content. What is the site offering? What is the point, the goal? (( I think in this aspect a lot of people are disillusioned that Artspots WAS the replacement for Yerf, and then turned more towards community..., which is where the web is evolving.)) Well My experience was in games and comics, where content is king and GOOD content is what keeps the eyeballs rivited. The other thing are good to have around, but the content is in my mind the spine of the site. in short: Quality control isn't the CORE aspect anymore. It is a layer in the whole of the site. QC IS part of this site, but not in the way most people may recognize. There are at least two levels that one can reach. Those stars mean a LOT more then people are giving them credit for. Goodness knows I've been oogling them. ;) And again my deep disappointment, and it's nto so much being old or discomforted by the "new" it's something else entirely. I'm not sure what the purpose is any more. it is toward the casual browser? the artists? It is seeming to me to be some sort of egalitarian mix of the two. and I am not sure that such a blend is desirable as in my mind it is feeding in to the hostility towards judgment and criticism in the Furry Fandom in general that was something that Yerf and other sites stood against. My experience with the fandom has often been how they ghettoize themselves away from the mainstream, and becoming somewhat hostile to any sort of recognition of superior skill or ability, and using Elitist" as a negative epithet. This is nothing to do with the Web, but more to do as a reaction against being "left out" by high standards. In some way Furry might be a fandom of the rejected or disaffected, those not gaining societal acceptance, but that attitude will leave people on the sidelines. That's i think what I am imperfectly trying to get across. Wth the quality control there was a goal to aim for, and once in, the goal was to get good enough to leave the narrow subject mattr of the fandom with the necessary attitudes and skill to turn pro if need be, but not forced into such. In short yerf evolved into a repudiation of the argument of "But It's My Style!!!, and holding such argments as "unacceptable. Recent changes seem to accepted that argument if not explicitly so. That's what it loks lik e to me. Scott

Questions and Answers - Drakenhart

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:52:09 -0000

From what I understand a lot of what Web 2.0 is about is user/viewer expereince and interactivity. Community and personal interaction versus a "Gallery". More then a "Gallery" site that has a forums, this ideal is about the expereince of the individual to the whole. Its a bit odd to be sure to wrap one's brain around but let me offer a few examples. * Community and communications - YouTube has the comments feature, x-linking, subscribing, email updates.., etc. What one is trying to achieve here is to keep the random viewer on the site. Much how the design of most fine artist was to give the viewer pause, thus "forcing" them to stare at their paintings. * Sharing - Del.ic.ious(sp), Digg, and other book marking sites bring traffic to your site. But why should people share your links? Do you have something that is just amazing? Is there a "gimmick" that brings people back? Homestar Runner's website has hundreds of things you can do to while away your time. Ill Will Press has Foamy the Squirrel (FOAMY!!) and other supporting characters that rag on various topics in a highly amusing and often horribly non-pc way. Google is just good at what it does, but on top of that it has widgets for everything (almost). Not to mention the Logo changes. If you have something cool enough you'll get spread across the net viral-ly (this, unlike the IRL, is a GOOD THING). * Interactivity - Interactivity of some kind causes the viewer to pause. They stop and ponder. If its cool enough, they'll share it (see above). * "Freebies" - Offering information, help, tutorials, downloads (like widgets or desktop art, etc) will bring people back. * Navigation - HAS to be intuitive and simple. You can have multiple layers to a site, but you should group them into larger catagories. (Think Biology class folks. People don't want to see every Family and Genus listed.. they want Phylum and class with links deeper. BUT!! without getting lost!!) * Content - What's the point of a site? Content. What is the site offering? What is the point, the goal? (( I think in this aspect a lot of people are disillusioned that Artspots WAS the replacement for Yerf, and then turned more towards community..., which is where the web is evolving.)) The quality control aspect comes in the form of "Levels" in this site. (From what I understand.) The community that seems to be throwing the "Old Spots" folks off has come to the forefront. Much like a farmer taking the time to nurture a new crop where the orchard is left to its own designs for a while. It's not been forgotten, but it is a silent understanding that it will last until the seeds are planted in the new fields. Those that stay and stick out the roughs spots may well find themselves in a more intresting place. ~~~ in short: Quality control isn't the CORE aspect anymore. It is a layer in the whole of the site. QC IS part of this site, but not in the way most people may recognize. There are at least two levels that one can reach. Those stars mean a LOT more then people are giving them credit for. Goodness knows I've been oogling them. ;)

Questions and Answers - Scott Ruggels

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:38:25 -0000

Quality control is nice, but the way we were handling it was very Web 1.0. In this Web 2.0 and upcoming 3.0 world, overarching quality control does not work. This is why with our new redesign we're going to be more about featuring artwork than limiting it. In short, we will not survive as a "portfolio" site. We will survive as an overall art site that features quality work. That is the most disappointing admission I have seen at this site. Artists aside, it offers little to the casual browser looking for "something nice". I am very sorry that the site has moved so far into the egalitarian realms, now. Olkay then what are you defining as "survival" so that I can understand. and also place this as a vote for upload limits. Scott

Questions and Answers - SunCat

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:40:45 -0000

Alright I have one, maybe an everything tab and a custom tab for recent art? Maybe the custom you could check off stuff; sketches, colour, Compagnon, 5 from each artist.... what ever you want. Or have tabs for the different things. I don't know, I do like seeing peoples sketches in recant art.

Questions and Answers - Armaina

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:54:36 -0000

Upload limits are -so annoying- Also I still don't see what's the big deal with a lot of images at once. If you impose an upload of say.. 5 per day then you'll just get 5 from the person one day, then 5 again the next day... and the next day.. and the next day.. and honestly that seems more annoying to me than a big clump. Then again I view all my thumbnails at 100 per page, less moving through pages so large uploads hardly effect me. But it's certainly frustrating for people that have made new galleries to not get their new artspots gallery up to date if they have an upload limit. aaand bouncing off Drakenhart's comment, I think maybe just giving a gallery a 'WIP/Sketch' property as it were, so it only shows in watcher views but not in recent art? I think that would be a bit easier to manage.

Questions and Answers - Drakenhart

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:49:08 -0000

*snaps fingers* Why didn't I think of this before? I feel so dumb! Mind you this is only an idea, not a demand. ;) Never would I demand of the coders, goodness. :) Many sites have a "Sketches" sub folder in many artists galleries. This allows them to upload their sketch work. But the folder is some way coded so that is it removed from general circulation. Its artwork is accessible in the artist's own Gallery ( and going along with the idea of people who aren't Compagnon - where people who have the artist fav'd get what they upload anyway ) Maybe also have it that people who have the artist fav'd might get the note that the artist's sketch folder has been updates but w/out thumbnails.. just using the messaging system? Maybe instead of images.., for the things in the sketches folder, could the coding team put in numbers? Saying "Artist upload this PLUS # of sketches. On the front page have a small widjet or tab that links to the list of sketches uploaded that day by artist level. (Visual) Compagnon____________ # skecthes (link to thumbanils page?) Members______________ # sketches (link to thumbanils page?) New Artists _________# sketches (link to thumbanils page?) ~~ Give everyone a sketch folder, perhaps, so that they aren't using their allotted Gallery space for such a thing? This way you also have mroe control over the code and what gets shown out of the artists alloted Gallery space?