Creature Planets - Community Feedback - What would make you participate?
 

Community Feedback -

If you're a community member, whether you participate each week or you sit quietly observing as a viewer and not participating, leave some feedback here as to what you'd like to see changed, added, modified or incorporated into the activity.
What's the reason that's stopping you from participating? Is it that you're just not interested in the topics, not enough time to participate, you feel you're not good enough, you're not being notified when a new topic starts, the topics start on an odd week day, you work in a different medium than what's being allowed, you feel it's not helpful enough... Let Us Know.

What would be incentive enough for you to start participating?

Sometimes I think I'm not good enough, it can be pretty scary seeing some of the more professional work. (though I know i'm not awful)

I dunno about the logistics of having the same theme but for amatures only with extra help/paintovers/crits not just on creature design but as images as a whole to make them really stand out.

I mentioned it to SCWatson before, but perhaps a lottery type draw that every participant is put into and winner gets a little feature on the main banner reguardless of skill.

I had mentioned not feeling good enough as well. But in addition to that I dont often have enough time to devote, I participated in a couple earlier ones but just have not have enough time since.

I'm not too concerned with not being good enough- I know I'm not up to the level of most of you yet (including both of you, Kovah and Dman3d :D ), so I'm less concerned with winning than with learning.

It does feel like there was more advice going back and forth in the first contests I entered than there has since- in my first time out (CPA #06) Scorge helped me out immensely with a paint-over and mini-tutorial on painting clouds. In the last few contests there seems to be less of that kind of helpful criticism and mentoring, which I kinda miss. Maybe there could be a badge given to users who are particularly helpful, to encourage more of that sort of thing.

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Hey Guys

I havnt participated for a while now, purely due to lack of time-

I keep an eye on the threads & love what I see, often gutted as I dont have time to make a proper effort in the challenge

I also agree with GP as when I do enter, not just on cghub but other sites theres either little or no crits/feedback etc, I guess everyone is busy & only comment on work thats interesting/relevant to them or even sticking to users that they have mixed with before ??

maybe the moderator should nominate random users to comment on each other to generate more spontanious crits?? dont know wether that would work but hey...

>:)

Giving crits is a tricky issue... sometimes I find (even in professional fields) some people cant take them without getting offended, so we (the moderators, Brynn and I) tend to hold our tongues slightly since the main focus we're trying to push is having fun drawing, so we don't want to discourage anyone and have them leave this activity.
However, this goes to all members, if anyone does want in depth crits, please let us know and we will be more than happy to help as best we can. You can either ask right in the post, or be free to PM us.

I love the creature planet contests but I've been so busy recently and I get distracted to easi - what's that over there? :O

I totally understand your point, but I can also see the other side of it- this site seems geared more towards professionals than hobbyists, and learning how to take criticism is a BIG part of being a professional. For my 2 cents, you and Brynn shouldn't feel like you have to hold your tongues if you don't want to- I suspect for every person you might lose, you'll gain one who wants some serious help developing their talent.

Anyway, please assume I've granted a blanket, lifetime, no holds barred license for anyone and everyone to tell me what I'm doing wrong, in perpetuity (note: this only applies to art- critiques about my political views, parenting skills, diet and hygiene are off-limits) :D

one of the best ways to get crits, Grumbleputty, is to give them :D

Go through the active thread and give some honest, polite, feedback on the entries. You'll find that most people really appreciate it, and, others will return the favor!

Best,
~S

Okay this is something that I noticed in this week's challenge. It seems to be too specific. And by being more specific, it doesn't allow the viewer and potential voter to appreciate the creativity of the artworks as they are a bit stifled. The constraints in color, limbs, size, senses, and backdrop can be useful, but when they are all together its a bit much. I really like the world-based view that has started up, though, it works really well, and seems to embody the "Creature Planet" aspect.
Altogether it is still a great way to inspire the creature-drawing masses. Thank you for that.

That's a tricky one, in my opinion. I do enjoy the contests that have more room to interpret things. At the same time, I'm also aware that in a real-world concept art assignment, sometimes we do have a very specific set of guidelines, and our challenge as artists is to find ways to express our creativity within those limitations.

Personally, I think a mix of both is best- just as in real life, sometimes you're given a lot of latitude, and sometimes you've got a very specific set of criteria to meet.


Ditto- we definitely got away from that when Mike had to step back, and the inmates got to run the asylum for a few weeks!

Thank you for you comment Tyrus :D We are trying out some new modes of "prompt-giving" here and there. One of the things we are trying to strive for with Creature Planets is to push people into a place where they might not usually go. Giving a specific description will aid in that and keep people from drawing what is comfortable to them. Sometimes when we have the most restrictions is when we can come up with truly unique things. I would say the work for the current round is quite good and shows some great variety. We do want to keep a mix of both specific and non-specific topics throughout our activity however. I think it is important to have a balance of both. We have written up a few ideas for non-specific topics already but always appreciate suggestions from the community as well :) Thanks again for your concern!

I think for me just more time, Im unfortunately usually busy
and/or cant seem to come up with a good concept until the
finals thread is posted. I have to allot the hour or two Im left
with toward one thing at a time.
But all thats my problem, nothing wrong with the system.
I suppose as I get "better" I may be able to move faster.

I think the mix of specific and non-specific is good, its challenging
to work in both ways for sure. Even if I do not participate I follow
the challenges and do thought experiments/concepts in my
head and doodle as time permits (read: between renders)

Huhm, thought I posted my post... anyway, here it is

Being totally new her contributes plenty to being somewhat frightened of making an entry

I do plan on entering on to the newest Creature Planet Viscinian Scavenger though :D

With first entry (Being both for the week or ... ever here) I'm always anxious to see if I did it right, got the requirements right and everything.
Of course also responses to that and the work itself is rather exciting at its own

Even now I've got my nerves for posting. maybe also because no others have yet.
I think for those who think they are "less skilled" then the other, when they see someone else his/her entry that they can compare to their own level, it might comfort them. But ok... that boils down to "who goes first? :p

For me though, I know I'm capable of just going in blind and post it anyway. Even though at times it may take a bit from the start when I try it
"I have deaf eyes and blind ears"
So... shall I go first? Have been trying out my fresh new Intuos 4 with this :D (First tablet ever too)


After that "longer" than expected post... I thought about how I missed some sort of "open for everyone" thingy message here
For myself, I think that might comfort me a bit around the more experienced works on here

Could be I just talked/viewed myself into that, seeing many awesome things everyone on the site

Edit: Also, can't say much about the deadline alot. Probably since I don't have any job or anything, just me and... home for the summer holidays. AND have never finished anything like this yet

this creatures challenges are awesome the only bad thing is that I didn´t knew anithing about them before. I´ve been wandering for months through many cg forums searching for a challenge like this, thanks cghub I´ll try to participate on the next one.^:)^