Visitors' poll

A suggestion - perhaps there are compromises that would allow those who are shy, and those who aren't sure they're ready, to ease into participating without introducing a burden upon the forum.

Limit posting to the the purely professional forums to those who have been juried and made full members. This would include the professional business and critique forums where unprofessional behavior and responses could be distracting if not outright harmful.

Allowed the unjuried to become limited members with priviledges that allow them to reply to existing threads (in the remaining forums) but not to start new threads.

Perhaps allow a single forum to be completely open to posting and thread creation by limited members but make this forum password protected like the critique section is now. This would allow limited members to introduce topics or questions that others could address, but it would provide some protection from search engines.

I would like to join but I do not have anything done from life at this time, only photos. So to meet the requirements, I will have to wait until I get access to a model. I have enjoyed following the forum and learned a great deal from it.

I love that you are giving those of us who "lurk" the opportunity to speak! I've stopped into the forum regularly for a couple of years now.

I think you are smart to have a juried selection process, for just the reasons you listed...too many people joining who are at the beginning stage. I'm sure you want to encourage beginners, but their needs are very different from the pros and you can't accommodate all. I find that just being allowed to visit and read is very educational, so thank you for continuing to allow non-members to do so. I do wish you hadn't made the medium-specific critique forums members-only, I miss those.

I don't have a sense that your administration or moderation are overly heavy-handed, though not being subject to them I guess I can't say for sure. All forums need structure...I am watching another forum I am a member of self-destruct because having no rules is highly prized by many in the group, to the point of chaos.

I enjoy portraiture but am not likely to pursue it professionally, and therefore don't think I would be a regular or helpful member. I also do not think my work is ready for a juried admission. If all of that changes, I might apply. In the meantime, I shall simply continue to read, learn, and admire.

Thank you!

JM

My post right above, I couldn't edit it...I just figured out how to access the medium-specific critique forums, duh! How did I miss that?

[Cynthia Daniel]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

My post right above, I couldn't edit it...I just figured out how to access the medium-specific critique forums, duh! How did I miss that?

No problem. There's a lot to absorb here.

Hi. I voted "shy...", which I suppose is true for me both online and in life. I'm more of a listener than a talker, I guess. But it's also that I wouldn't get past the jury process, as I'm not a portrait painter. I am a professional painter, though, and I visit several art forums both for entertainment and information. I've only recently found this forum, and so far I'm impressed by the overall content, civility, and professional quality of the discourse here. I find I'm trusting of the information I glean from here maybe more than on some other forums. Because of that, I do wish there was greater participation and activity. Perhaps that is both the strength and weakness of limiting membership to juried portrait artists. But I certainly wouldn't advocate change.

As an aside, I was a freelance illustrator for many years before switching to fine art. As such, I have long been an admirer of the illustration work of Marvin Mattleson. I was not aware of his work as a portrait artist, and was very pleasantly surprised to see him here as such an active participant. To me, that again speaks to the quality of the discourse here.

Thank you!

[Cynthia Daniel]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I've only recently found this forum, and so far I'm impressed by the overall content, civility, and professional quality of the discourse here. I find I'm trusting of the information I glean from here maybe more than on some other forums. Because of that, I do wish there was greater participation and activity. Perhaps that is both the strength and weakness of limiting membership to juried portrait artists. But I certainly wouldn't advocate change.

Thank you for your vote of confidence. Many artists who are active professionals simply do not have the time to participate and some simply don't have that teaching inclination - however, we are always hopeful that more pros will become involved. I do think you will find that many, many subjects have already been addressed over the years - thus decreasing the possible new subjects that could be addressed in the future.

We have gone thru our crisis periods, mostly precipitated by conflicts of personalities and communication styles. We've always asked that artists state their methods without denigrading the methods of others and to keep posts diplomatic and respectful of others. Unfortunately, through some incidents where this was not honored, we have lost some valuable contributors.

I consider myself an accomplised painter. (I work mostly in oil.) But few of my works are bona fide portraits. I haven't attempted the jury process for this reason. I gain a lot from reading the various forums, and would consider occasionally posting, if it were permitted.

I respect your jury process, and think it's a good idea. I know this sounds unkind, but some other art websites are diluted in their helpfulness to the experienced painter by all of the beginning painter postings and questions. Those have their place, surely. But the seasoned painter grows tired of wading through those posts, and moves elsewhere. I'd rather continue to "lurk" around your website than see the jury process so changed as to cause this problem on your site.

Thanks for a wonderful site. One day I just may feel it's appropriate for me to submit work to the jury.

I voted shy, mostly because I am somewhat introverted and enjoy being a fly on the wall (although if you were to meet me in person you might not agree as I can appear extroverted - INTP). I hate conflict and fear that someone might take something I say in the wrong way or attack my work, which would be unpleasant and not good for business if a client or potential client were to stumble onto this site. I am also concerned about clients seeing critiques, whether they are valid or not, since I want to be seen as someone who knows what they are doing (even though we all know that artists, if they are smart, should continue to grow in their abilities).

I am also not sure at this point where my work would fit in. I consider myself a full-time professional, and although I am not as experienced as many of the painters here, I don't know whether I should be asking for critiques or giving them and I don't want to step on any toes. Since you mention that you don't want people to join unless they participate, I want to feel more confident about how I can contribute before joining.

I believe you are correct in having a jurying process for participation.

I do wish to thank you for this wonderful site. I have enjoyed very much reading the information provided by so many wonderful portrait artists. I believe that anyone who takes advantage of the site will improve their abilities whether they participate or not.

[Cynthia Daniel]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I voted shy, mostly because I am somewhat introverted and enjoy being a fly on the wall (although if you were to meet me in person you might not agree as I can appear extroverted - INTP). I hate conflict...

Believe it or not, I'm considered an introvert too - INFJ, so I understand. I also hate conflict and it's one of the most stressful things when it happens on the Forum.

I am also concerned about clients seeing critiques...

Others have expressed this concern, which is why we put the password on the critiques section.

Since you mention that you don't want people to join unless they participate, I want to feel more confident about how I can contribute before joining.

I guess that sounds rather harsh. But, each applicant takes the time of the Board members to view, discuss, decide and then approve or not. There are tons of very qualified people who have been accepted in the past and then never posted anything. It's curious and a bit discouraging after we put the time in to do the review and approval. We do like having new members since it opens up new and potentially valuable dialog. Participating could simply be asking a question that when answered, others learn from also. We realize that we are all very busy and participation doesn't have to mean a regular commitment.

I do wish to thank you for this wonderful site. I have enjoyed very much reading the information provided by so many wonderful portrait artists. I believe that anyone who takes advantage of the site will improve their abilities whether they participate or not.

Thank you, it's always nice to know that one's work is valued.