All these artists and yet...

Lesley I am like you, I always take photos at different stages of my work. I find it helps rather than just looking at my painting. Also if i'm not happy with the finished outcome, I have something to refer too. I have posted WIP,from time to time, but I don't want people to think i'm looking for praise, I want the criticism of which I take on board. Im

I do see Robert's point, and he is certainly one of the POL experts who has the skills to make very informed comment. However I'm still glad that I got clarification about commenting, especially as I feel that my comments are rather inadequate, although they are always sincere. And I'm always happy to receive critique, that really is helpful. Have just gone back over the comments on an abstract I posted for critique, the second version which appealed less certainly produced some very helpful comments about things I need to keep in mind.

On the comments and critique issue. I get Robert's facebook point, on this site I sometimes find myself with nothing to say but 'brilliant' when commenting (if I dislike a work, I'll say nothing.) 'Brilliant' is a bit lame as a comment, but it will be genuinely felt. For many, many years I drew and painted just for my own amusement, only friends and family seeing my work. That was OK...it was the 'doing' that counted. Then a few years ago, I joined an art group. This provided a boost, because I like talking about art. Then on a whim I joined POL. It's not my scene really as I'm into illustration and cartoons...the magazines don't do much of that. Most of the work in the galleries reflects what's in the magazines. But you do get feedback, friendliness, and a small sense of community. The best feedback is a comment, it's great when people put themselves out to make one...we're not all experts, but we all know what we like. It's nice when people click the 'LIKE' box, but it's a bit impersonal. A lot of people must look at work without comment or 'liking'...perhaps because they don't like it. Apart from POL telling you how many people have viewed your 'top five' pictures, you have no idea how many people have looked at a posting. So if people do comment that's a positive personal interaction...great! Likes and an unknown number of viewings...impersonal. If I got no comments I might as well have never joined...it would be like sending your pictures into an unknown void. What would be the point? I hope this isn't sounding like me begging for comments...I'm not...the subject of comments came up, and this is my view. So, if you see and like somebodies work, and can only comment...'like it'...'great'...'brilliant'...'cracking work'...comment away. If you can say why you like it even better. This means that the artist knows that Bert Bloggs likes what they've done. That's a result, and encouraging for the recipient. What has always fascinated me is Work in Progress, POL has that. Great. I think if you post something in WIP, it's nice to know there's somebody out there.

You're NOT doing the wrong thing, and one or two others do just the same. I think people are slow to offer criticism if they're unsure whether it's wanted or not; and some may feel that as they're having just as many problems as you are, if not more, they're not well-placed to criticize. But such inhibitions have never troubled me, so I shall look out for your paintings - it's quite possible I have commented on them, I don't know. In the past, two people - whom I'd describe, frankly, as self-satisfied hobby artists - have been offended by my comments. But that's two out of hundreds - and I feel that if you show your work anywhere you have to be prepared for criticism, can't shield yourself from it, and shouldn't try to. No one, after all, is obliged to agree with it - if it's helpful and constructive, however, and not of the 'my five year old could do better than that' variety (which may or may not be true, but isn't overly useful) no real artist is going to resent it: those who do are mistaking the production of art for a vanity project.