<da:thumb id="553208001"/>
Like my little design? I just finished making it.
It is small, but I hope to use it to tell people that I appreciate all the hard work they put into their artwork. I plan to use it in comments bars on the pages of art I like, along with a comment of feedback to the artist about their work. And I would love you to do the same and use it too.
I'll tell you why.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed a massive decrease on views and comments on artwork recently. I was beginning to think that my art was not being seen at all, or not good enough to warrant a comment. I thought perhaps I was listing it wrong or using the wrong tags etc, but even when I place art in specific groups, the view count is rubbish, comments non existent and to be honest, it is all very disheartening. But then, I've seen artists receiving next to no views or comments on extraordinary work (unless they have a massive following) While other things --that until recently would not even have been uploaded on DeviantArt-- receive daily deviations and such.
I think there are a few reasons for this happening:
There have been major changes to the site recently and people are just not seeing posts the way they used to. The way groups are viewed etc is different, and search algorithms appear to have changed. I've even searched for my OWN work and not found it, so how can I find others? The collapsed listings for group and watching subscriptions is also one of the reasons. I know in the past I myself sometimes got so many notifications I just closed the boxes down without looking at the art collapsed within it.
There is also the influx of selfies and snapshots to take into account. And no, I am not talking about actual photography, that is an art form all on its own and has a major place here. I'm talking about random pictures that have been fired through fancy filters to make them look arty. By sheer amount, they bury many new uploads on the site. I thought that was what sites like Instagram or Pintrest were for...
Also, social media ruined the opportunity for constructive feedback on creative works simply by allowing folk to hit a button and leave. Press a thumb, leave no comment. It has created a short attention span and while it does create a way for folk to like and run when they are busy, it has also made people lazy. Hardly anyone leaves comments now, or takes the time to say why they liked a thing. I myself have been pulled into that vacuous state of mind and at times have not shown my own appreciation other than to press favorite. But I'm going to change that.
It's happening all over the net, not just DeviantArt. It saddens me that as people, our minds will not move much further than the pressing of a button to show the worth of a piece of work.
As artists, we should be standing together, especially here on a site FOR ARTISTS. All levels of skill, all levels of experience, all creative media, and all ages. We should all be helping each other grow and learn.
If someone asks for a critique, give them one. If someone asks for feedback, give them some. If something blew your mind, or made you think outside the box or was just so damned awesome it made you squee and bounce on the seat with awe, TELL THE ARTIST THAT CREATED IT! You wont like everything you see, everyone has different tastes and likes. But do comment and leave feedback on things that you do like.
I am changing my own ways, in the hopes that other artists feel appreciated for all the time they put into their creations. I know how it feels to open the page two days after uploading something and the disappointment at receiving nothing but a few paltry views only. I don't want anyone who has worked hard to feel that, especially if I was one of those few views that didn't bother to say anything.
I will change the way I deal with my group subscriptions by opening them all up and not looking at them through collapsed listings in my notification box. That way I wont miss anything. I joined or watched a group for a reason, to SEE the art, so I am going to see it. And if I randomly come across an amazing piece somewhere on here by pure chance, I plan to let that artist know, you did well, great work, well done!
So I want you to use this little design. I want you to use it in the comments section of any piece of work on Deviant Art that you like, BUT!!....
When you use it, leave a comment in the same bar, for the artist of that piece of work.
It really does make a difference. Let's support each other!
___________________________________
Journal Skin by: Zaellrin