Thursday, January 1, 2009

Public vs Private

Hey guys, wow, I'm just blown away at how fast this group grew. {sob} It actually worked!!!

Anyhoo (still on my morning coffee so bare with me here), I was wondering if anyone had a preference when it comes to the confidentiality of this group. So please leave a vote:

Public - it's open for anyone to view and read, yet they can't post or leave comments. They can follow the blog tho. My pro with this is it's helpful to those who are also striving but either not ready for a group or don't want to be a part of a crit group. The con is nothing is private, editors, art directors, etc. have access to our words and images visually.

Private - just that, the group would be just for us, no one else would be able to view it unless an author. No followers (I don't believe...not 100% sure on that...I'm guessing not because um, how would they follow it?! o.O).

So cast your vote my friends! We have a new member, Wendy, (oh boy, two Wendys) which makes 8 once she logs in! Whoo Hoo! But I'm not going to vote to make it fair. I don't want to be a deciding vote. :/ Oh, btw, HAPPY NEW YEARS! :)

16 comments:

Candace Trew Camling said...

i say public, but at a certain point we could just stop having new members maybe? I dont know...we could stop at 12 or 15. I think this could get so big that it would be very time consuming for the members and critiques could get to be sort of watered down and less meaningful. (ala monday artday)

sara.b said...

I agree Candace and good points! I think we'll stop at 12. :)

kris fulk said...

Right, definitely. I like the idea of public as well, because I'm just at the point where any exposure is good exposure ^_^ I suppose if there's really a concern with our art being available to anybody, there's always watermarking...?

Unknown said...

I'm glad I got in when I did. I am on the side where any critique is good critique. Whether the comments are good or bad - it's really up to the artist who drew it to decide what to do with the comments. I like a public forum. But where only members can make critiques (maybe this part wasn't up for debate...). I know a lot of people are interested in seeing how drawings progress and change (especially for the better), and maybe this blog will catalog that - the drawings critiqued will (hopefully) become stronger pieces.

Cynthia Narcisi said...

My vote is to keep the blog private and utilize this blog as place to better our craft through critiques (behind the scenes!). There are more appropriate sites to showcase finished art in the hopes of attracting an editors attention. Personally, I wouldn't want an editor to see my daily practice sketches or preliminary concepts for bigger works or other things that I may choose to post here just as I wouldn't actually send editors my sketches, doodles, or unfinished works, experiments, etc.. and expect them to hire me. I hope that makes sense.

Carmen Medlin said...

I was a little torn between the two options since we are being critiqued and all and it might be uncomfortable for other people to see that process.... but I also think it would be helpful/educational to others to have it public, even if they can't post. Anything I show here I'd probably show somewhere else publically anyhow as I love to post sketches and such.
As for publishers possibly coming across this blog, I wonder if that could be limited somehow -- like not posting links to it. Hm, I don't know. Are critique groups usually private? Would a publisher frown upon a critique group? And also, what if we were posting WIPs of illustration jobs? That is definitely something we'd want to keep private. Hm, I am still torn. I think if we wanted critiques on our actual professional work we ought to keep it private I suppose.

sara.b said...

More great points....hum...I don't have a problem with publishers and art directors seeing our work. I show my works in progress all the time and know other illustrators where this hasn't effected their qualifications to publishing houses. Yet the point about book projects, etc., is a great one. Hum...

pete said...

I vote for public 100%.

I have a "my method" link on my website and a blog that, I hope, shows my progression from start to finish. I don't have a problem with others seeing my artistic growth...but I respect those who do.

I reason this out, personally, by considering that editors/art director make a living critiquing artists and having them change certain aspects of work to be published. I don't think any of them would be scared away by a group of artists looking for ways to make things better...and we're essentially showing potential clients that we're flexible enough to bend and not break.

Revision is a necessity. Authors pay people to scribble red ink all over their manuscripts before they submit to publisher.

Also, as a teacher, I like the idea of this being something others can learn from...but with limited membership for practical reasons.

Anonymous said...

I like a public forum, but I also want a place where I can get crits for ongoing projects that cannot be made public for various reasons.

Is there a way to lock some posts and not others (like a friends only lock on Liver Journal) so we can utilize both options?

Christy/Tiddly Inks Digitals said...

Wow, if we stop at 12, then I am thrilled to get in. :) I agree keep at 12 or 15 so we can keep up with each other. That might be too many for me, but I still try. So many talented people here. :)

I agree with public.
Thanks so much for starting this Sara (that is my sister's name too :D)
Christy

Carmen Medlin said...

Hey I had an idea in case Blogger won't let us do individual private posts. What if we made another blog that was private that everyone in this group joins and subscribes to, just for the professional work that we don't want the public to see for copyright reasons? Sort of like a side blog to be used when necessary. Maybe that would be too complicated, but it would be a possible solution.

wendy said...

I'm so glad I made it in! I'm having a great time looking at everyone's art. I'm hoping my grammar won't be to atrocious for anyone. I tend to just throw comas around for fun. As far as the private or public blog I like Carmen's idea of having the two separate.

sara.b said...

You're reading my mind Carmen. ;)

Unknown said...

that wouldn't be such a bad thing - having two blogs, one for private and one for public. I keep running into freelance projects (I'm working on a game board right now) where I've signed a contract saying I can't put up any images until the game is published...but I'd definitely love to get feedback for projects like this without violating my contract...of course I would imagine that this blog here would get most of the attention and the private blog might end up collecting dust...but someone would pop in on occasion and clear out them cobwebs...

pete said...

good idea! i hadn't considered the contracted work...and i don't want to see isaac in prison. :)

Pixiewinkle said...

I am totally glad to get in at #11. Sigh...(of relief). I agree with the public and private, because if I hadn't been accepted, I would have followed the blog to learn things that I don't know yet. There is so much information everyone from this group knows as a whole, it would be a shame for people who want to learn by reading the blog to miss it.