Community By Comment

Mission We all know that Renderosity is an international community of artists of all walks of life and all skill levels. We also know the importance of networking with other artists, sharing our talents, and learning from each other. That is the community idea, and that is what Renderosity is all about. Best stated in the following: "Renderosity's Mission Statement: The mission of Renderosity is to create a thriving, productive environment that encourages an atmosphere of community, respect, collaboration, and growth for graphic artists, digital artists, animators, photographers and writers of all backgrounds and levels. We are a community created by artists, for artists ... Because The Art Matters!" The key factor in this community lies in the act of commenting on each others work. Though we all lead busy lives outside of Renderosity, and sometimes just cant always comment as much as wed like to, heres some food for thought when we do let our fingers do the talking. Commenting and Community Upon uploading an image, the artist has the option to allow others to comment on their work. This appears as a dialog box below the full-size image, with the following words above it: "Your helpful comments for improving this image." While this doesnt mean you have to look for something wrong in order to comment; it does however mean, that if you do comment, do it in a positive way. Furthermore, there is no need to be discouraged by following someone else's lengthy analysis of an image with something as brief as: "nice work." We all know that sometimes it is hard to find the words to express just what it is about an image that appeals to us. However, even a short comment can go a long way. Just by leaving a comment, no matter how detailed, you are not only showing that you actually clicked the thumbnail image, but that you felt compelled to say something as well. Encouragement in the galleries is a real boost to both new and established artists. Everyone likes to know that what they created is pleasing to someone else, and can encourage the artist to continue forward. Also, if you have advice to offer, then why not take that extra step? Remember that statement "Your helpful comments for improving this image"? Much can be gained from the experiences of others. Many are here to learn, and there are a ton of resources available from the artists of this community. The Friend Trap As artists get to know each other and relationships form, there sometimes appears a sense of "returning the favor" or "I comment, you comment." This does happen, but it is not always a bad thing. Encouragement is good, friendship and respect in the community is good, but let us think also about the growth factor too. We all have our favorite artists, and we can even add them to a list that sends us an e-bot with every new image from that artist. Now, is it helpful or a hindrance to that artist if they repeatedly get "excellent" comments with every image upload or after every "excellent" comment they give you? Well, maybe the artist is that good ... every time. Maybe you are that good ... every time. Again, Im not saying this is necessarily a bad thing. Continual encouragement is good, and thats what makes this community an excellent place to be a part of. However, what I am getting at is the helpful part. Moreover, dont comment out of a feeling of obligation. Offer encouragement; offer advice where you feel it is needed; let the artist know when something they created has really moved you. Above all, offer your words as a help, or a reaction to the image, and not as an automatic response. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, And The TOS Of course it was inevitable for me to bring up the law of the land into this, so here it goes. Good comments are ones that are helpful or say something desirable. The ugly comments are the ones that are usually considered as trolling, as stated in Renderositys TOS [Terms Of Service]: "Destructive commentary/communications made with the intent to disrupt or attack [Trolling]. This is not tolerated, and if it is continuous, then it will result in that member being banned from the site. Furthermore, if anyone finds a comment undesirable, whether on an image of yours or another artist, make sure to bring it to the attention of a member of the Renderosity team." Now, I mention the good and the ugly first, as the bad can be a gray area. The bad can sometimes be a helpful comment, but worded in the wrong way. Sometimes this can be due to a language barrier. Remember that this is an international community and sometimes a member may have a difficult time communicating their thoughts. Also, there are times when we may type ahead of ourselves, and the words just dont come out right, or are not perceived the way we intended. A good practice is to think about what you want to say before letting your fingers do the talking. When posting a comment, keep the artist's feelings in mind, and if it might suit better, than send the artist and instant message instead. Endnotes As we browse through the galleries, whether we realize it or not, we take something with us. It could be in the form of inspiration, ideas, or hints at what we can do to improve our own work. If you find yourself compelled by an artists work, let them know, as Im sure theyd be glad to hear it. We can continue to learn and grow through our words as well as our art. Encourage with words, praise with a purpose, and reach out to your fellow artists.

Nicks Notes is a regular featured column with Renderosity Staff Writer Nick C. Sorbin [vclaszlo].

Oct 31, 2005

Explore More

Community By Comment

Comments

Explore More

Trending Topics

Social

Forums General

Community By Comment

Comments

Related Articles

Privacy Notice