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By request.

If you like it and want others to see it, please favourite it so it gets shared around. That is the point of it

Related items are [link] or [link] And I've now got the entire thing pasted below so you only have to download it if you want a properly formatted version.






How to Comment



By request, I’ve created a tutorial on how to comment. This won’t guarantee you give fantastic comments if you do this, but people asked for it, so here it is! Below are a few important aspects to take into consideration before commenting. After you read those, follow the following steps and write your responses to the questions in the comment field of your chosen artwork. It’s broken down quite a lot so you should always find things to comment on.



Consider This


Absorb

Are you open to absorb the image when you first look at it? Or is your mind in a state of critical analysis? Be open to take in the image before you look at it critically. Give the image a decent chance before commenting.


Intent

Are you going to point out something the artist did on purpose? Do you even know what the artist was trying to do? Is stylisation more important than realistic representation? Ask yourself these things before commenting. You may be insulting the artist by not taking into consideration what they were trying to do.


Technicality

Sometimes, the person you are commenting on may be oblivious to the terms you are using, and your words may indeed be wasted if they are too technical. Speak clear English, and explain anything that may be foreign to a less experienced artist. Just because you know technical terms, doesn’t make you a better artist.


Opinion

These days, being opinionated is seen as a bad thing. I don’t see why. What value does a fact have if it wasn’t our opinion that makes them valuable? Be careful with your words and remember that they are the artist and they didn’t draw the image for you (most likely). Your suggestions are no more than suggestions, but they can still be valuable and greatly appreciated.


First Impression

As nice as it is to hear first impressions sometimes, it may not be the best idea to actually leave a comment on your first time looking at it. Take some time (minutes to days) to go over the work and think about what you will say. You can tell the artist your first impression later.




The best approach may be to choose a couple of titles from each heading, unless the artist likes/wants long comments…



General (and abstract)

Appeal

Do you like it in general? Is it well done? Why?


Overall feel

What is the overall feel of the image? Why? Is there a way to increase the impact?


Objectivity

Do you like what it’s of? Do you like how it is being depicted? Why?


Subjectivity

Do you like what it’s about? Why?


Rhythm

Are there patterns present? Do you like them? Do they add to the feel of the image successfully? How?


Movement

How did your eyes move over the image? How do they travel over it after you’ve taken it in? Is the movement too divided? Does it match the image’s theme? Why?


Composition

What do you think of the composition? Is it balanced? Is there a way to make it how the artist wants?


Balance (tonal)

Is there a reasonable balance of dark and light shapes? Do the tones match the intended mood? Are the darkest/lightest shapes interesting?


Colour

Do the colours appear natural/alien? How well do they define the mood of the image? Could the colours be improved? Which ones? Why? Did they use a palette effectively? Did they need to?


Shape

Does the image contain overall interesting shapes? How do these shapes affect the image? Could shapes be added/subtracted? Which ones and why?


Attention

What is the centre of attention for you? Why? What is it supposed to be?


Refinement

Did they work long enough on the image? Did they work too long on it? Did they go overboard with what they were trying to say? Could the message/forms be refined? How? Why? Could it do with/without a border of some kind?


Details

Are there hidden packets of detail that make you want to come back for more? Do you enjoy the detail of the image or is it too busy to look at? Is the image perhaps too sharp or too soft? Is it supposed to be?




Figures (animals)


Body Language

What can you read of the body language of the character? Was it done well? Does it make you feel better/worse about the image? Why?


Expression

What does the expression of the character tell you? How does this make you feel? How does this alter your perception of the image? Why?


Balance (body)

Are the characters in balance? How does this affect the feel of the image? How does this change your disposition towards the character?


Appeal

Do you actually like the character’s appearance/personality? Why? What do you think of the character in regards to appearance and/or personality?


Accuracy

Are the details of the character how the artist wants them? For example, do they match the style the artist was attempting? If not, what can be improved? Why?


Association

Are you able to connect with the character? Why? Are you supposed to be able to? Is there a way to improve the intended connection?




Background (non-figures)


Detail

Is the background busy/calm enough to suit the mood of the image? Is it too distracting/plain? Why? What could be improved?


Realism

Does the background look accurate to life? If it is supposed to but doesn’t, what could be improved?


Emotion

What does the background make you feel? Which parts make you feel this way? Why?


Figures

If the image has no figures, could it do with some? Why? If it has some, could it do without? Why? How would this affect the theme of the image?


Connection

Do you feel an affinity for the depicted scenery/background? Does it affect how you feel about the image? How?




What Not To Say

Okay, so this is just what I think, but these are some things I would avoid saying, as most people don’t like to hear them.


Untalented

Don’t tell someone they have talent. Talent is circumstantial, and if it’s untested, it’s going to waste. Some artists are at the stage where they just need general encouragement. It’s the beginning stages of a great artist.


Resemblance

Telling someone their character looks like someone else is unhelpful and sometimes insulting. Don’t do it – please.


Unappealing

If you tell an artist you don’t like their image, how do you expect them to respond? Is it their fault that you don’t like it? Do you have to like it to appreciate it?


Raw Comments

I go on about these sometimes. Basically, it’s a comment with no depth. “Awesome” is a grand example of this. Is that really the impression you want to leave on the artist? Do no other words come to mind when you look at it?


First Comment! Yay!

No yay. No. Just no. Just don’t. I display my comments from newest to oldest. Don’t be silly.


Advertising

Don’t talk about your work when you’re supposed to be talking about someone else’s. It’s extremely rude.


Ungrateful

Don’t tell the artist they’re being ungrateful and should respond to your comments. Is art about artists or is it about art?


Comparing

Don’t tell the artist they could do better. Don’t you think that if they were capable of doing so, they would have? They may well have a reason for not “doing better”. Think first.




Medium-Specific

Here are other things to comment on according to the medium. These are the three I have experience in, so I can’t comment on anything more. Sorry.


Traditional Drawing

Medium quality, courage, method of application, eraser usage, utilisation of materials…


Digital Drawing

Brush usage, custom brushes, texture, layer usage, filter usage, file size/resolution…


Photography

Focus, filters, lighting, angle, darkroom work, “hotoshopping”, candidness…





To Conclude


And nothing else is coming to mind, so that’s the end of that. Was that a tutorial? No? Oh well. If you’re not sure how to put something, remember that everything comes down to opinion and intent. Don’t feel bad about praising an artist, either! Critique doesn’t have to be just what’s wrong with the image OR even how to fix these “errors”, though the latter is quite valid.


You are generally allowed to make suggestions, as long as you word them as such.


You are also allowed to say positive things about a piece of work. Isn’t that what it’s for?


Why create art if there is no feeling of pride or success during the process or at the end?





As a side note, why aren’t there tutorials on how to favourite a work yet I can easily write five pages on how to comment?