Forums and why they can be a help…. and a hindrance.

We all like to get our art seen and hopefully appraised by our peers and idols. I have been a part of a few forums with some great advice being handed out along with a whole barrage of useless chaff. Here are my observations.

1: The helpful, honest critique.Like a fat supermodel, this is a rare breed and just like those rare breeds, they are warm, cuddly and inherently beautiful. They offer insight into the techniques, composition and theory behind the work that is being presented. Tips on what might help you achieve a more coherent work in the future are well appreciated and ultimately what we are looking for. Bring these ones on! They are the shiz! Fat supermodels rock!

2: The Over-praiser.I have put some dogs of drawings and paintings on forums in my time. Some of which may appeal to the few that are into them. It IS a subjective field afterall. The people who say glowing things about everything you put up, while nice enough, offer no real insight into what can be improved upon and therefore ultimately useless. Perhaps they have no real ideas as to HOW they could be made better, or perhaps they are just nice people. I dunno…. It is hard to trust someone who is nice ALL the time. Is that wrong? Didn’t think so!.


3: The serious critic.This one is the worst. They offer phrases like “this is not true to the medium” and “your perspective is off” and “this is not traditional”. They also fail to comment on the most important aspect of arts like mood, atmosphere and feel. No mention of emotion. They do like to mention the masters. One of mine said “it is no Turner”! WOW!!  Talk about getting their knowledge from the school of the bleeding-obvious!. Haha  I am unsure of where these critiques come from within this person’s soul. They are clearly not trying to help in any way. They do make me laugh though. They are also the ones who themselves have NO WORK TO DISPLAY. That is funny. Hang shit on people who are trying to better themselves and their skills but fail to put themselves on the line too. Those who can’t do, teach!


For the most part, forums are great. Useful info, networking, learning, sharing, inspiring and ultimately good. It is a shame that those few arseholes can ruin it for the gooduns but at the end of the day, they need to live with the knowledge that they are who they are and what they are is indeed, and arsehole. Certainly they are no Turner!
Some old drawings and WC Pencil.