OT/General Responding to posts

I can only speak for myself, but I welcome advice from anyone. Anyone with a fresh eye, experienced or not, could point out a completely obvious thing that I missed and that really, really helps. That said, I have the same hesitation with commenting on more experienced people's threads too. So I am glad you brought it up.

 

I'd rather have any kind of comment than no comment at all! It can seem a little lonely here sometimes, posting updates and wondering if anyone is even reading them. I try myself to at least make periodic comments rather than just posting on my own stuff. I try to make a specific comment about stuff - the style, features of their doll I like, etc., when I can.

 

Yeh, at the moment I refrain from commenting on the complex technical issues. Unless it's something I've encountered in my own work and know what I'm talking about. But anyone can comment on proportions, general aesthetics and symmetry, etc. Also sometimes people with little experience have out-of-the-box ideas.

I prefer to be honest in my own comments and appreciate if others do the same with my work. I mean that's the whole point, critique helps you become a better artist.

I noticed that some people mostly just comment on their own threads, and it's like HystericalParoxysm has said it can feel a bit lonely sometimes, so it's very nice and encouraging to know that people actually look at your work and acknowledge it. The way I see it a forum is a community, where you don't just showcase your own work, but where you have to interact with others too and hopefully make like-minded friends.

 

It's always good to show interest - everyone will appreciate it and it can help push people to finishing their dollies. It's not always necessary to crit though, and it seems that some people feel like they must. Just go with intuition and be kind

 

I don't compliment others' work unless I have something more to add, since I dislike receiving comments like that myself (I don't want to post one word replies, but not thanking the person seems rude).

There's also the fact that almost everyone here is either so much more experienced than me that I have nothing to add or so inexperienced that the only advice I could give them would be to read some anatomy textbooks, which would probably offend them. Telling others what to do when I haven't even finished a project yet feels odd, too.

It's kind of nice knowing I'm not the only one too nervous to comment, though.

 

This is exactly how I feel!

 

I'm not responding much to posts because I don't even own a bjd and just started sculpting in general. I'm interested in the process of making a bjd, but most of what I read on here is gibberish to me. I looked at the books and tutorials list for bjd, but realised I have to get into sculpting the human form first. I have nothing much to add, although I found this link to calculate your doll's proportions and wanted to post it on here: http://hpc.artofuldis.com/

I thank you all for posting and due to what the previous two posters said, I'm not sure general compliments are welcome. Meaning I will not respond much. It's also because of my comments on other boards where bjd makers show their work, which are hardly responded to. If I ask what method they use or how they go about they say "I just found my own way of doing things". So I don't want to bother posters with "how to" questions either. I did start a thread on sculpting in general, which is where I am now. Everyone experienced in bjd or not is welcome to reply there .

 

I love it when people comment on my stuff. I love critiques and feel they're super important when making things. A lot of times I don't get comments and I wish I did because I know it's always nice to have an outside perspective when creating things. It might look ok to me, but someone else might notice something a little off.

 

well I can tell you now, that if you ask me questions about how I go about things, I am more than happy to go into detail. Again I can't speak for other members of this board but if I can help anyone else on their BJD journey, even a little bit, I will. It isn't bothersome at all. I never got the impression from anyone on here that they would be bothered either, but I could be wrong I guess.

 

Can't hurt to ask, really. Worst you get is a terse answer. Like sailor, I welcome questions and I am more than happy to explain whatever I've done. I think the forum culture (such as it is, being pretty quiet here) tends to be quite a lot more helpful than other places. It's not just a "show your work and get compliments" place, but one to find resources, learn, and improve. Most folks like to share info and chat about what they're working on.

 

Rosinha, I didn't mean for it to seem like general compliments are unwelcome throughout the boards, having lurked here for a while I believe that it's something that the vast, vast, vast majority of artists appreciate.

I'm a very shy poster, and because of that I like to post as few posts as I can, but I still want to answer questions if I think I can give insight. My shyness is not a reflection on The Joint, I've seen nothing but wonderful attitudes here. One day I hope to overcome that and be a little bit more active and post feedback on threads, and maybe even show my current doll projects eventually. I know that when I am ready to be a more active member the rest of the forum will be whole-heartedly welcoming.

If you are not shy and you want to share your thoughts you should! Even if it's as simple as "beautiful work" or as detailed as an essay, the people here would love to read how you feel about their work.

 

OK Sailor, HP and irandom! I now remember a discussion about the same thing on a dressmaking forum. Most of the replies about pictures there are "Nice!" "Great!" and the like, and some would prefer indepth critique over just a compliment. And others only want the compliments, and not the critique. I guess when people only want indepth response, they can state that explicitly in the first post. And otherwise I'll spam them with "Great!" and "Nice!" hehehe.

 

I don't think any artist minds getting a compliment! As far as critiques, a fresh eye is often useful and brings something new to the table.

 

^This. I love to share knowledge, so if you have questions; just ask. To be honest, I'm kind of shy and can't for the world think why someone would be interested in what I have to tell, but it's not like what I know is a secret or anything. We're all doll sculptors.

As for the comments: I love to get responses. I don't care if the person is experienced or not, or hs something 'relevant' to add. Just a simple "I like/don't like it" is what I'd like. After working on a doll for some time, I tend to get blind to what might be wrong with it and a fresh eye could really help.

 

I am also a little shy and probably don't post as much. Also I still consider myself a newbie to doll sculpting so I am not sure how helpful I can be to people, but I myself would welcome any comments from anyone regardless of skill. Although I think a lot of us probably desire critique, really I think it's even hearing simple compliments like "great job" or so is a lot better than hearing nothing at all!

 

I do think that nobody is waiting for comments from a newbie like be, how is still learning all about bjd and sculpting. But when i come across a topic that gives me the feeling *omg this is awesome, this made me want too do this too. This is so inspiring * i post a comment Because i think people are maybe encouraged by my complimented post but i think its too early for me too give really good substantiated critique (^^"" i hope this is the right word for it in English)

 

I like to comment on other people's threads, even if I don't have much helpful criticism to share (most of the time I feel like I'm not experienced enough to criticize someone else anyways)...I just feel that, if I do have interest in someone's project, I'd like to let them know, perhaps give them a little encouragement? I know that I find it motivating knowing that someone is interested in seeing progress in my work...

When it comes to my own work, I do appreciate people taking the time to leave a comment, even if it's only "nice!". It's exciting to have that little bit of acknowledgement that someone has taken the time to look at my work, instead of just assuming that there are ___ number of lurkers watching me and never commenting...I don't mind critique from people that I feel are more accomplished/experienced than myself, although sometimes I do cringe to hear it at first (who doesn't?) but I know that they're trying to help me be the best I can be, and if I can't handle a little criticism, I probably shouldn't be sharing my work online. XD

Besides, even when a doll has been cast and sold by a major company, it still gets criticized all the time...often by people that don't even own one or haven't seen one in person. It's just part of the hobby/community, people have very different opinions sometimes and that's ok, that's why there are so many different styles and companies~ Accomplishing a finished doll won't garantee no criticism. ^^;

When it comes to people asking how I do things...I don't mind at all, if there's anything I can share to make other artists' work easier, I'd be glad to! I know I'm always learning from other artists, so I'm happy if I can contribute to the learning cycle as well~

 

When I started the hobby, I often came across comment from people posting pictures such as "no one is commenting, no one likes my stuff". I got annoyed because I always thought you work for yourself and don't need acknowledgment. But when I started making dolls I realized how important it is to get feedback, even a simple "I like what you do" will make your day. In time of doubt, a kind word is always welcome. Ever since I try to comment people's work more often even just to say something that has been said 10 times before.

Now I quote but it is not a specific answer for the person, more of a general answer for everybody that cares xD

I've had issues with people posting the doll they created, where I happily came to give constructive criticism assuming that is what people were here for, but no, some are only looking for praise regardless of the quality of their work. I don't understand that but it made me afraid of commenting unless it is wrapped in tons of paper (not this forum in particular).

I feel like in the doll community, lots of people won't give much advice or stay very vague because they had to go the long and hard way : trying everything alone because very few tutorials are available. I kind of disagree with this way of thinking though. Not targeting anyone, it is my general feeling.

I don't understand why people that are not creating doll wouldn't be capable of giving criticism or would feel like they don't have the right to do so.
When I read answers like "stop criticizing, you are only jealous. Talk once you can do better" it makes me cringe tremendously. The fact you don't create movies never made you unable to say "this movie is lacking this or that" or "this movie is shit" so why should it be different for dolls?

 

Just my opinion, but if someone asks for critique, and you give it and they get angry, that's their problem, not yours.
(Unless you were very rude, and I doubt if you were!)

 

i always feel awkward posting here, so i end up not showing up too much. cause im still really quite young, i feel like i dont know what im doing, espesially here where other people seem to be older in general than im used to... (also note i could be wrong, this is mostly just a vibe i get from this place)
because i feel like im not really welcom when no one replies, i try to reply to other people, but i also dont like replying if i have nothing usefull to say...
i think most things are oky in a comment, as long as your polite really :]