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treijim — How To Comment
Published: 2007-10-27 08:03:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 15342; Favourites: 121; Downloads: 1222
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Description
Click Download and unzip the file to viewBy 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 news.deviantart.com/article/35… or treijim.deviantart.com/journal… 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, "photoshopping", 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?
Related content
Comments: 124
I haven't read it all the way through yet, but I wanted to point out that most of the comments on this are longer/better.
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Well done. You make some good points that people usually forget to consider. I shall fav this and advertise it.
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Wow. Thank you so much for finally putting (good) advice into words regarding comments. I have been stuck in a rut of not giving any constructive criticism because every time I did, the person argued with my opinion and took offense, though it was probably because I didn't compliment specific things. And I have to admit that I haven't been commenting on a lot of my artists' work due to the fact that by the time I look at it there's at least one full page of comments.
Thank you so much for the good advice, and I appreciate the work you put into this for deviant-users!
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It was no trouble. It pours out of me like things I won't go into 
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I applaud you for doing this yet I will kept my text on Writing for Visual Art by David Carrier. Perhaps you would like to check that one out. Definitely a good buy yet there are countless of books out there on the subject.
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Awww why in scraps? 
its very good hun
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I'll bring it back out once I submit four more pieces of art. I hate seeing boring things on my profile page. It's such a waste
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that is not boring at all... well the preview image you made for it is lol.. But the tut its self isnt heheh..
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I agree. Unscrap it, let more people see it, it deserves (and is needed) to be seen!
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I just put my visual art on a much higher priority. I think it ruins a gallery of images when there are words in it
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This is...I love this so much. It's like...this should be "required reading" for deviants. Seriously. It also motivates me to comment more 8]
The whole "is it about the art or the artist" thing really caught my eye. That statement works on *so* many levels. <3
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Then tell all the new people to read it, lol. Go comment like you've never commented before!
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a;dsfkjasldfkjaaaaaadkflblubbernut :0 ...i've never commented like that before 8D
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not really :C but thanks for humoring me XD
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This has almost nothing to do with your tutorial, but i though it worth raising all the same, there is a phrase in this that i found particularly interesting - "Is art about artists or is it about art?"
Its a very fascinating question, you may have heard that a painting at the National Gallery of Victoria worth $20mill and believed to be a Van Gogh was revealed to have been painted by another artist. Not as a forgery, it was simply miss-attributed. If this is true that $20mill painting would be worth close to nothing.
I know that in context your statement has nothing to do with any of this, but still, it makes you wonder - is art more about the artist than the art? or are they the same thing?
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Very interesting indeed. It almost makes me sad that things like that could happen. If all art was anonymous, would it be any better or worse or more enjoyable? It wouldn't to me, that's for sure. That's how I view art. Thanks for sharing that! It's still valid to bring it up
Don't forget about Riiga, btw. I've got some plots lined up for our thread if you're still interested =]
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ah, but the artist does affect the art, and its value for a very important reason, all the Great Masters - Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Munch, Picasso - they are significant for making something new, something that had never been done before, and that is what genius is, creating something new, thats why their paintings are so valuable.
If i go out and paint a replica of "the scream" exact in every detail, should mine be worth the same as the original? Of course not, I haven't really done anything at all, my painting might be able to invoke the same emotion, but thats not my fault, thats Edvard Munch's doing.
Thats my thought on the matter anyway.
I had forgotten about riiga actually, but I'm still interested, and just posted. On that topic, actually, have you noticed the startling number of "mercenary, but has strong set of morals" or "never judges, and is always willing to give a fair go." whats with this? do they think an evil character isn't engaging? or are they afraid that having a mass murderer for a character reflects badly on them? In fact, its not even that which makes me wonder, its the fact that they are trying to create a character that is 100% good, such a thing does not exist and the attempt to create one is what bad stories are made of. well, thats my rant against the average for the evening.
Toodles!
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I don't know who you're referring to when you quote personality descriptions of Riigan profiles, but I try to avoid such things in my own descriptions. As for other people, well, it depends who makes it. Some people just made "test" characters so that they are able to get a feel for Riiga. There's no point creating a villain in a place you know nothing about, unless you want to rebel for the sake of rebelling.
Besides, such descriptions can't be taken word for word. They are only generalised and are subject to change due to the fact that they are indeed imperfect.
Rant all you like! I really don't mind thus far
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those things are true. I even found my self makeing some mistakes in commenting. I nevar wished to ofend anyone tho
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Oh I'm sure you didn't. It's the last thing most of us want to do
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