[Samize]

Title says it all.

[silk]

That entirely depends on which audience is looking at it.
On most CG sites, the number one recipe for popularity is anything with a hot chick showing some flesh (so not much different from classical art where hot chicks showing flesh were also popular)
It would seem the biggest audience for art has always been horny guys.
Second to that would be leet fantasy characters, or anything to do with video games.
Third is anything that is really technically accomplished and displays a lot of skill.
In summation, if you can manage to do a really technically advanced image of a hot fantasy chick from some video game showing at least 80% of her flesh you will be certainly be popular.

[Mimilica]

Good point silk. You know this from your own experience with: Portrait of a Girl

[silk]

Exactly. Even though I made that as a counterpoint to the chick trend in CG, and I'd venture to suggest that it was rather more tastefully done than most CG chicks, which are overtly sexual, it still did the trick.

[LGrey]

The popularity of the artist can be a factor also. We all have our favs and will look for anything they do.

On a local and also a broader level, if you have entered art contests, you will notice that certain people win on a regular basis. Sadly, sometimes it is a popularity contest.

Hope this post didn't come across as negative. It wasn't meant to be. Was only exploring one tiny aspect of a VERY broad question.

[amileduan]

There are several factors that determine a picture's popularity.
Sometimes a unique style and good skills,or the popularity of the artist.And I have also seen some popular pictures on this forum just because there are many people discussed and then to make them better.

[Samize]

Yea, the audience is certainly the most important thing to consider because all other factors will depend on it.

I'm asking this because, ideally, an artist should make what he wants but in practical life, and specially if he wants to get paid, the artist is always required to please a certain crowd.

Do you people consciously try to please a certain crowd or just make whatever you like and wait to be fitted somewhere naturally?

[amileduan]

This is a permanent problem that we must fullfill the needs of our clients or audiences while we want to make things which we like.
We need to life as an artist,so you can discuss ideas with your clients,persuading them to agree with you.
If this cannot work,I will do something I like in my spare time.Advices from others are usually useful for improvement,but I will finish it according my own thought.

[EricBarnett]

Asking for critiques seems a great way to promote art, but
I've noticed that the "wants critique" option seems to be missing on this board, any ideas what happened to it?

I've pm'd the ptb here and heard nothing...

[Helenni]

Hard to say. Maybe creation, maybe from a famous artist...

[aaron_Lamzilla]

Personally, I think to have a happy career in this field in the long run, you have to do what you love. Work on what you want to work on and continue to learn, grow and develop your skills in that specific area that you enjoy most. And your audience will find you. What does everyone think?