Why We Comment : Part 1

ProjectComment is different. We know we ask a lot of our members and of all artists on DeviantArt, whether we ask you to give comments first before receiving any in return, whether we ask you to write 100 words and more, whether we ask you to support constructive comments, to mention and spread our cause. Many artists are intimidated or anxious, and many more don't see the point. Many are quick to leave without really experiencing what it is like to give a constructive comment, much less receive one. Sometimes, it is all too easy to imagine receiving constructive comments, but our question is who gives these comments? How can anyone receive comments without people giving them in the first place? How can you reach for more if you don't help those that form the foundation of this community?

Those that form the foundation of this community are people like you, people that are willing to comment, people that are willing to put the time and effort necessary to support one another.

ProjectComment recognises this. We do our best to spotlight you and we can't fully express our appreciation of the amount of time, effort and more you have put in not just for ProjectComment, but for DeviantArt and the community. ProjectComment is the group it is today because of you and you deserve to be heard.

Therefore, we have asked members of this community as an artist and as a commenter how they have grown as a result of giving and getting constructive comments. Their thoughts and their journey deserve to be shared, recognised and appreciated.

---

~ Seraitsukara

I very rarely got constructive criticism before ProjectComment. I very rarely got comments at all and dealt with tons of "fave and runs" from most people who happened upon my work. I can't remember how good I was at giving out comments/critiques before the group but it's become a much bigger thing for me than it used to be. I love the give and take mentality of the group and so far have never encountered anyone who's just fishing for compliments unlike some other groups out there (there are more than a few people out there who've blocked me for daring to say they weren't perfect).

I think my art has improved greatly since getting regular feedback on it! When multiple people are pointing out the same things about a painting, you know you need to work on it. I don't think many people realize how important it is to be told the good and the bad. I've gotten much better at giving critiques since I joined, even more so when I became part of the weekly commenting project! All the artists have been very thankful for my comments and occasionally I'll get someone who strikes up an extended conversation on what they could do better.

As for me specifically, there's not much that stands out. I've been drawing for about 8 years now and only recently started getting serious with it since launching my Patreon page. Before I might go days or weeks without drawing, now I'm spending at least 4hrs a day doing it! Unfortunately I'm stuck in that middle-ground between being a beginner artist and being a good artist. Like an uncanny valley, I've fallen into the pit where the flaws jump out over what I'm getting right. Critiques are helping point me in the right direction, but I've got a lot of hard work ahead of me!

~ Astrikos

ProjectComment inspired me when I first got here to get more involved in the community and help others out. Commenting allowed me to meet new people and explore different styles of art. Giving and receiving feedback is one of the best things for artists, and Project Comment is a great way to participate in just that.

Not too long after joining, I realized I wanted to help out in a more involved way. Becoming an admin at Project Comment has allowed me to help lead other artists to other artwork and encourage commenting love all around. Being part of the Project Comment community is something very special.

~ lu--24

It's been a lot of time since I chose to join this group over other similar ones, so I don't really remember much ^^ But I'm sure it was because of the many different activities (so you can choose which fits you best) and the fact that it is constantly active with new things and people; it's hard to find those things in other groups!

I first joined :devrojectcomment: because I wanted to give comments. I felt I was not very involved with the community here on dA, and having not so many watchers or friends, I was just uploading drawings and hoping for something to happen. But things don't happen if you do nothing! I decided that it was time to do something for others instead of looking at them.
But in the end, I learned more than I gave ^^
Not only receiving comments (which really helped me a lot), but also writing them. Searching for "mistakes" in other people's work helps a lot in understanding where I make mistakes too Also, I've started to apply constructive critiques in real life as well, even if it can annoy people sometimes. And obviously, I got to practice my english (and general writing)!

I hope I managed to help the community with my comments, if even a little bit. And I'm very glad when people recognize me coming back to comment their pieces or ask me to comment other ones; I feel like I'm doing it right ^^

~ SayuYazawa 

I have been thinking about this lately. I'm feeling like a new person, different. My life is changing so fast in so many aspects and that’s blowing me away and making me feel a bit nostalgic at the same time. I’ve been thinking about my life in these past years, about my development as a person, about my development as an artist… And then I realized what a huge role deviantart has been playing in my personal improvement, perspective, fulfillment, growth…

I’ve been drawing without a stop since I was… I don’t know, a baby! I can’t remember a moment of my life in which I didn’t enjoy drawing. I love it and I don’t think I’ll ever stop doing it because it makes me happy.

I started using deviantart five years ago. At least, that’s what my profile page says. I remember when I was 13 and I spent the afternoons looking in awe at amazing fanart pieces of my favorite shows, books, manga… I signed up because I wanted to click that “watch” button and start following those great skilled artists. I wanted to be like them, I admired them. However, it took me a little more time to start uploading my own drawings because I was ashamed. I didn’t want people to laugh at me because of my ugly sketches, I didn’t really think my drawings were worth it.

But one day, I drew a picture that I actually… liked. A lot. It was just a stupid sketch I referenced from a manga page of Nana, but I thought I had done fine. So I took a photo of it and I uploaded it. This is the actual drawing:

And I’m… I don’t know, I’m just laughing here while I look at it and I remember how proud I was of it. I feel as if it had just happened a few days ago.

Anyways, I didn’t start being actually active on deviantart since over two years ago. And that was the best thing I could have done. The deviantart community has helped me grow not only as an artist, but also as a person. I couldn’t have thought that I would feel so welcome here, when I think about it I feel it’s… like magical. I’ve met a lot of interesting and great people. I’ve met artists with great skills who are always willing to help me improve, I’ve met nice people who share interests with me and are really fun to chat with, I’ve met beginner artists who reminded me of myself a lot and I wanted to help them too…

This giving and receiving chain is incredible. I really do believe that I couldn’t have achieved my actual level without this chain. Little by little, I’ve come to learn tons of things thanks to amazing people who took the time to write a critique for me, or just a suggestion, or just a “have you tried using this tool?” I’ve learnt from people who I admire and whose artwork I never miss, I’ve learnt from people who I didn’t really know, I’ve learnt from friends and their skills and tips, I’ve learnt from wonderful help groups like ProjectComment …

Nice people exist. Generous people exist. We doubt it sometimes, because of the amount of idiots we find everywhere, but they actually exist.

If I were to add something, I would emphasize on how amazing it makes you feel when your efforts are appreciated by someone. It's not just about receiving comments, you also learn a lot by giving. Thinking, looking closely, pointing out the right things and selecting the right words... It makes you grow as a professional as well. Always give what you'd like to receive and don't get upset if the results are not immediate. Progress is never immediate, patience is essential in an artist's development.

~ TidalEspeon

Due to real life complications, I can't say I grew much as an artist. But I did somewhat improve my commenting abilities by looking at how some of the other members went about it.

I've mostly helped ProjectComment in terms of giving feedback based on technical errors, as is common among the comments I myself got. Some others prefer to give feedback on the more creative aspects of art, but due to my relative lack of concern for said aspect, I don't often do that beyond pointing out things I like.

I'm mostly looking forward to when my life complications get sorted out, so I can draw more and finally grow as an artist.

~ marcoabe

I'm a mangaka, from Brazil... never left, aside via internet.

Also I'm a manga teacher... but I always have something to learn.

This project was a way to know how the world sees my mangas, to teach and to learn as well. And it goes as expected.

But even more, I've seen the good and the bad, and it was awesome. Great veterans, beginners, divas, fanboys, americans, australians, russian, italians... big guys talking small, small guys talking big... and the awesome part?

We are equals... different skill levels, personal taste, culture, but in the end, equals... some walking through the same path I did, some I hope I can reach.

Techniques and styles... there are plenty of books and tutorials...

More than learning about styles and techniques, I learn about people and the world, and people learn about me and my small world... and for me this is the real journey here.

~ affectionateTea

One of the things that really stuck with me the most are when people appreciate the comments enough to suggest us as featured commenters. There are a lot of times when I comment and it doesn't get a response at all, or one so brief/a simple nonspecific thanks (which is totally fine, but it's more helpful to get feedback so i know what helped and what didn't), so it really means a lot to know that someone appreciated the comment enough to go out of their way to suggest it like that. It's hard to know how helpful our comments are when we're giving them over text instead of in person. Getting that feedback really stood out to me, and motivated me to comment more.

I definitely have a couple quirks and bad habits that I didn't even notice in my own work until they were pointed out to me a couple times on drawings. It's so helpful to hear what it is that stands out to people when they look at it, even if it's just a quick glance and a couple lines about what they like and what they think looks off. You stare at it for so long working on it that it gets hard to tell without stepping away for a while. The group has made me realize how much every little comment helps, regardless of how brief, and it's made me appreciate commenters more as well.

I've also started trying to put more effort into comments generally around dA, not just in the group. It's hard because I don't always know if people actually want any crit -- I often keep it to positive comments, just in case -- but it's still helped me to reach out a little more, and the relatively stress-free practice within the group where I know the artist wants crit has helped me articulate my comments better and be a better commenter overall. I just wish I had time to comment more, honestly!

---

We all have separate journeys, but those journeys can cross paths on DeviantArt, in :devgroups: and in commenting. We are not saying that everyone experiences commenting the same. In fact, it is our differences that make our journeys more beautiful in this life, while our similarities allow us to cross paths with one another.

Why do we comment?

We comment because...

ActsofArt comments, Alexandxr comments, Balkoth26 comments, craftsbyblue comments, CatNotFound comments, Ikny comments, Ellofayne comments, Dark-N-Wolf comments, Lupinalia comments, DeiSophia comments, Dianamisu comments, GrimAlpaca comments, DoubleDandE comments, DruidPeter comments, Eleynah comments, Elythe comments, El-Rey-Chipinque comments, fireytika comments, fralea comments, gracefulsunshine comments and many, many more comment in this community.

You make a difference on DeviantArt.

Consider supporting others in making a difference too.