Monthly Archives: October 2013

Rules and FAQ

Who can join and What can I submit?

who

Almost anyone can join. I am open to people of all skill levels submitting their art work for constructive criticism.

*If you would like to receive critique on your work you MUST be willing to critique the work of another person ON TIME!

You Must Read The Rules

to participate, please contact me at SamanthaLim@sammacha.com by the deadline stated on the schedule

If you just want to drop a comment feel free!log in

submitThis is open to people who draw, sketch or paint digitally or traditionally. All styles are welcome.

This is not for people who do photo-manipulations, photography,  sewing, creative writing,  crafts or 3D art.

Pictures do not need to be complete. Sometimes it is very valuable to receive critique on a picture before it is finished. this helps you to improve the overall finished project. However it must be clean ( not a ton of  messy scribbles) so we can see what you are trying to create. Its no use asking someone to critique a picture if they aren’t sure what you are trying to accomplish. Submit something worth while.

Don’t forget you can request Critique on a certain part of your drawing in particular.

DONT FORGET

  1. Post your own artwork. The reason for Crit night is not to see who is the best artist on the page, its to get an insight to how you can improve. DO NOT post artwork that is not your own. DO NOT post tracings or copies of other peoples work. we are looking for YOUR original artwork.I will accept fan art but it must not be a simple copy of  another piece, that would be copyright infringement. Using a reference picture is ok.
  2. Quality Pictures. Please submit quality pictures. This means using a scanner or taking quality photos or your artwork. We want to be able to actually see your artwork!
  3. Water Marks. I myself use a water mark on my artwork and I understand its purpose completely.  When you apply a watermark to your artwork please do it in a way which does not obstruct or distort the image (make the watermark fairly transparent).
  4. Permissions. Keep in mind that this is a PUBLIC BLOG. the public will be able to view all the images which you are allowing me to post for crit night. Please don’t submit things which are personal or contain personal information. By adding them to crit night you are allowing me to post them on my website and or blog for the purposes of Crit night (promotion, examples etc.)
  5. Sexual images and Pornography. Again, this is open to people of all skill levels and various ages. I understand nudity and sexual images but please submit what you would deem “tasteful.” To put it short and simple no hard core porn please! if your not sure please ask.
  6. Violence. Yet Again, this is open to people of all skill levels and various ages. Please no horribly graphic violent images.
  7. Offensive Images. No Overly offensive images such as very racist, religious or political images. Light humor and stereotypes are allowed.

 

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Rules and FAQ

Rules

Rules

Please read the rules before joining crit night.

  1. Meet the Deadline. I will provide you with plenty of time to send me a link to your artwork and your critiques for the actual crit night. I understand that people are busy and have lives and I would give no less then a few months notice (unless there is an emergency). the time between when I send out the pictures to be critiqued and be posted will be around 2 weeks  and 1 week which will give me time to organize and create the post ( Yes, I have a life too!). Please understand that organizing and arranging things like this with people I may not have direct contact with can be difficult and time consuming. Please do your best to meet the deadlines set and communicate with me if you are unable to do so.
    See the Schedule
  2. Keep in touch. To have something like this be successful you need to keep in touch. Please use an E-mail which you actually look at, of add me on facebook or twitter so you can see when an E-mail has been sent. E-mail will be the key communication method used to send and receive everything that has to do with Crit Night.
  3. Constructive Criticism. We are looking for people to give constructive criticism. You must be willing to give constructive criticism on at least one picture to be eligible to have your picture with its critique posted.
  4. Submit Proper content. Please check the submission page to see what type of work is accepted. I have the right to reject or remove any art which is submitted.
  5. Use appropriate language. Nobody here is looking for a puddle of insults or a text message. This is open to people of all skill levels.  Which means people of different ages are able to contribute. Please use appropriate language and proper spelling when you send your critique. I will do my best to try and help filter this out but it is far to time consuming if I have to sit and read everything word for word before I can even get started on posting the material
  6. Post your own artwork. The reason for Crit night is not to see who is the best artist on the page, its to get an insight to how you can improve. DO NOT post artwork that is not your own. DO NOT post tracings or copies of other peoples work. we are looking for YOUR original artwork.I will accept fan art but it must not be a simple copy of  another piece, that would be copyright infringement. Using a reference picture is ok.
  7. Quality Pictures. Please submit quality pictures. This means using a scanner or taking quality photos or your artwork. We want to be able to actually see your artwork!
  8. Water Marks. I myself use a water mark on my artwork and I understand its purpose completely.  When you apply a watermark to your artwork please do it in a way which does not obstruct or distort the image (make the watermark fairly transparent).
  9. Permissions. Keep in mind that this is a PUBLIC BLOG. the public will be able to view all the images which you are allowing me to post for crit night. Please don’t submit things which are personal or contain personal information. By adding them to crit night you are allowing me to post them on my website and or blog for the purposes of Crit night (promotion, examples etc.)
  10. Sexual images and Pornography. Again, this is open to people of all skill levels and various ages. I understand nudity and sexual images but please submit what you would deem “tasteful.” To put it short and simple no hard core porn please! if your not sure please ask.
  11. Violence. Yet Again, this is open to people of all skill levels and various ages. Please no horribly graphic violent images.
  12. Offensive Images. No Overly offensive images such as very racist, religious or political images.

Rules are subject to change. Previous participants will be notified if a change occurs.

thanks

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Featured Articles, Sam's Tips & Helpful Links, The Sketch Book

Improve your Figure and gesture drawing

Fancy Text

Improving your figure and gesture drawing can be a rewarding and enjoyable process. Here are some tips to help you improve your skills:

  1. Practice regularly. Like any skill, figure and gesture drawing improves with practice. Try to set aside time to draw every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. The more you draw, the better you will become.
  2. Study the human form. Understanding the structure and proportions of the human body is essential for good figure and gesture drawing. Consider taking a life drawing class or studying anatomy books to learn more about the human form.
  3. Start with gesture drawings. Gesture drawings are quick, loose drawings that capture the movement and pose of the figure. They are a great way to practice capturing the essence of the figure and to loosen up your drawing style.
  4. Pay attention to proportions. Proportions are important in figure drawing, as they help to create a sense of realism and believability. Pay attention to the relationships between different parts of the body and try to get the proportions right.
  5. Use reference materials. It can be helpful to use reference materials, such as photographs or live models, to help you get the details right. However, be careful not to rely too heavily on references and try to develop your own style and interpretation of the figure.
  6. Experiment with different mediums and techniques. Figure and gesture drawing can be done with a variety of mediums, including pencils, charcoal, and ink. Experiment with different mediums and techniques to find what works best for you.

With practice and dedication, you can improve your figure and gesture drawing skills. Remember to have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things!!

A fantastic resource for figure drawing

http://artists.pixelovely.com/

Let’s get sketching!

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Crit Night, Featured Articles, Sam's Tips & Helpful Links

Constructive Criticism – a guide

Constructive criticism is a valuable tool for helping us to grow and improve. It can be difficult to hear criticism, especially when delivered in a negative or hurtful way. However, when criticism is given in a constructive and respectful manner, it can be incredibly helpful in helping us to identify areas for improvement and to learn from our mistakes.

Receiving Criticism

Here are some tips for how to use constructive criticism effectively:

  1. Stay open-minded and receptive to criticism. It can be easy to get defensive when we receive criticism, but try to approach it with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Remember that the criticism is not a personal attack, but rather an opportunity to improve.
  2. Seek out criticism from a variety of sources. Different people will have different perspectives and insights, so try to get feedback from a range of sources. This can include peers, mentors, and even friends and family.
  3. Consider the source of the criticism. It’s important to take into account the source of the criticism and whether or not they have the knowledge and expertise to provide useful feedback. While it’s important to listen to feedback from all sources, it’s important to weigh the opinions of those who have relevant experience and knowledge more heavily.
  4. Don’t take criticism personally. It can be easy to get upset or feel hurt when we receive criticism, but it’s important to remember that it is not a reflection of who we are as a person. Try to separate the criticism from your sense of self and focus on the specific issue or behavior that is being addressed.
  5. Use criticism as an opportunity for learning and growth. Rather than getting defensive or upset, try to use the criticism as a chance to learn and improve. Consider what the criticism is telling you and how you can use it to become a better person or performer.

By following these tips, you can learn to use constructive criticism effectively and turn it into a valuable tool for personal and professional growth.

Remember, some things are just personal preferences, you don’t have to change them because someone else tells you they think it would be better another way.  if you like it leave it, if you are done, don’t change it. just take what they said, reflect,  and maybe it will be helpful to you later on.

Providing feedback

Giving constructive criticism to artwork can be a delicate process, as art is often very personal and subjective. However, it’s important to approach criticism in a respectful and thoughtful manner in order to be helpful and avoid hurting the artist’s feelings. Here are some tips for how to give constructive criticism on artwork:


Here are some tips on how to effectively provide constructive criticism:

  1. Focus on the artwork, not the artist. When giving criticism, it’s important to focus on the specific aspects of the artwork rather than attacking the artist’s character or ability. Avoid making personal attacks and instead focus on specific elements of the piece that could be improved.
  2. Use specific examples to illustrate your points. Rather than making general statements, use specific examples from the artwork to illustrate your points. This will help the artist to understand exactly what you are talking about and how it affects the piece.
  3. Offer suggestions for improvement. Rather than just pointing out what is wrong, try to offer suggestions for how the artist can improve the piece. This can help to turn the criticism into a positive and constructive experience.
  4. Use “I” statements to express your perspective. Rather than using “you” statements, which can be confrontational, try to use “I” statements to express your perspective. This can help to soften the blow of the criticism and make it feel less personal.
  5. Be timely and specific. It’s best to give criticism as soon as possible after the artist has completed the piece. This will help them to remember the work and make the connection between the criticism and the specific elements of the piece. It’s also important to be specific and clear about what you are criticizing in order to avoid confusion.

By following these guidelines, you can give constructive criticism on artwork in a way that is respectful and helpful. Remember that the goal is to help the artist to grow and improve, rather than to attack or belittle them.

So what do you think? Do you have any other tips for giving or receiving criticism? Let me know in the comments

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Featured Articles, The Sketch Book

What am I working on?

Bird’s and scenery are my main focus right now.
I’ve mainly been sketching birds from photos but I will be doing some from real birds and stuffed specimens. That should be fun and interesting, but, not sure if they will be post worthy.

As for the scenery well I’ve been playing around with my old friend acrylic paint. Until recently I hadn’t touched it for ages but I would really like to pick it up again. As the weather starts getting cold and wet I will probably be able to complete some new pictures for show. The only problem I find with the paintings is that its hard to capture it in a photo and its far to big for a scanner, like you see here.

“Clear Night” … I’ve been waiting for a nice day when I can go out and get a real photo to display on my website.

I would also like to do a few more pieces of fan art this year and I have an incomplete image to add to my 1,2,3 pokemon fan art collection. Now if your not sure what that is, it all stared with this picture.

3,2,1 STACK! The original unforgettable starter Pokemon~!

I’m sure you get the idea 😉

 

 

 

-Samantha Lim

Visit my website

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Crit Night, Rules and FAQ

What is Crit Night?

Crit Night

Critique Night is night which will be dedicated to creating a night full of constructive criticism for artists of all skill levels.

This is open to people who draw, sketch or paint digitally or traditionally.

This is not for people who do photo-manipulations, photography, Creative writing,  sewing, crafts or 3D art.

What I would like to do is build a community of artist willing to help one another. I and a few of people I know find that critique, real constructive critique on your artwork is extremely hard to find. Most of the time people simply “like” the picture, and sometimes we wonder what it is about that picture it is that they really do like.

Every few months I am hoping that people will submit work which they would like feedback on, in turn they will help provide feedback to other artists about their work. This allows the  artist to see how others view their work, what they like, what they don’t like and most importantly how they can improve their skills.

Once all the art is collected each artist will be randomly assigned 1 piece to critique (Of course it would be great if you could do more). This would ensure that everyone gets at least 1 critique on their art work. Your art will only get posted when your critique has also been written.

There will be a deadline for art submissions and I will give a set amount of time for people to write their Critiques ( Im thinking 2 weeks would be enough time to crit just 1 picture)

On Crit Night I will post all the pictures with all the critique they received for everyone to see here on my Blog where people can view them all and post comments.

Of course to contact  you I would require your E-mail address (which I will not post or share to others)

 

the Basic form I am hoping people to fill out is a simple one and will be something along the lines of this:

  1. First impression: 
  2. What do you like about this image?
  3. Is there something you don’t like?
  4. What do you think the artist can improve upon? suggestions?

Red line/examples (optional)

Please rate from 1-3

Originality/creativity:

Color scheme:

Overall Composition :

 

So,

If you’re an artist looking for some constructive criticism on your artwork and are willing to critique others work then this might be a great opportunity for you.

If your not an artist but are interested in  providing some valuable feedback I would also be interested in hearing from you.

All the information about participating in Crit night can be found here

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Sam's Random Life

Inspiration from a friend

Inspiring a friendInspiration, why is it so hard to find sometimes?
For a long time Ive felt as though I had none, or at least, very little of it. Like my imagination had just disappeared.
I don’t know how or why but its like my mind was just empty, a blank slate, and quite frankly… That sucks.
Recently however I feel as though it has come back, not on its own however. A very good friend found it and brought it back to me.
He told me that he loved my art because I really try and you can see the effort put into it.
He also told me that I should draw what I liked and whatever I wanted to.
Thats what really got me, I guess being so busy and not having time to draw a lot I got stuck. I stopped drawing things that I liked because I was trying to hard to think of something that other people would like. The reality is that people like my art because they already like what I like or they just plain like it!
So yeah, 2 simple sentences and I recovered something I had lost. He brought it back to me without even having to look for it, I am so grateful for that. Thank you!

It reminds me of another when a different friend once told me, “I don’t want to copy, I want to create my own”

But nothing lost nothing gained right? Now that person is having a hard time in their life. I just wish that there was something that I could do to help, but it seems like there isn’t anything. I would love to give him a painting and hope that I can give him even just a little bit of what he gave back to me.

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