Question

I know my work does not appeal to many people but I am beginning to wonder if I should continue. Recently I seem to be getting very little feedback on anything I put up which makes me think that I should pack it all in. I would appreciate any kind of feedback to help me make up my mind. Many thanks x

Donna, please don't give up if you enjoy your painting. Keep practising, trying out new things but most of all relax and enjoy it. Don't worry about gathering social media comments or likes or they can take over your life. Find an artist whose work you admire and see if they produce a tutorial book. I would recommend Alwyn Crawshaw's complete watercolours/Acrylics/Oils series but they may not be to your liking.

Donna - Please, please don't worry about feedback on your postings, a lot of superb work gets no feedback at all whilst some of dubious merit gets stacks . Paul's advice is spot on but always remember that you are painting for yourself - not for the benefit of others. Just enjoy it for yourself and if you do get good feedback then that is a bonus but nit the purpose of the exercise. Above all else keep on posting - please. ps. I actually like your posting above for its simplicity and honesty.

What i feel you have to decide is do you enjoy the painting? if you do then please do not give up carry on if only for yourself as i personally feel that is the only reason to continue. Regardless of if you think you are a good bad or indifferent artist if you enjoy it then is there any one else to consider? Feedback on paintings you post is good sometimes but surely its not the sole reason why you started in the first place? Its rare to see a really angry critical post and I'm surprised some of my work hasn't attracted such sometimes but even if it did it wouldn't bother me in the slightest. Keep on painting enjoy yourself and stop worrying!! All the very best

I know what you are saying donna . There is a lot of favouritism on here i have seen it myself . Just keep putting your work up on here you will get better and better and your work will be saved so you and your family can still enjoy looking at it for years to come . Don't give up stick at it petal .

Hi Donna stick at it , I will try and keep my eye on your work and give you an honest comment . It took me twenty years to make a reasonable original painting, , it can be hard when you fail but truly I fail more than I succeed. So come hang on in there and believe in yourself , good luck with it Donna .

Don't stop Donna... just do what makes you happy if it makes you happy creating paintings just do it. It's nice to have feed back but it's certainly not the be all and end all.... l know how much you enjoy your painting so why give up on that enjoyment. Xx

Keep doing Donna

Donna, please continue your art it is unique to you and I can tell that you enjoy it by your postings, this is the essence of the matter. I don't know what I would do without my art, as I am not able to go out as much as I used to, we all have our crosses to bear :( My advice, keep at it x

Donna, you will find that the more you comment on others work, the more comments you will get on yours. There is favouritism toward artists who say something about there work each time they post, and who comment on others, or participate in the Forum.

Stick with it. It's for you, not everyone else! Good advice so far, much better expressed than I have just done!

Now that's one way to get our attention! LOL! I will look out for your paintings in future . Don't get too despondent . When I am not too sure about a painting I will always ask for some constructive criticism . I tend to dip in every so often but because there are so many talented artists on here there really isn't enough time in the day to comment on as many as I would like to. Don't give up! We have all been where you are , and now I shall have a leisurely browse through your lovely gallery. My art teachers used to say that they liked my art but they didn't think many others would...........red rag to bull, which is why I never gave up on art. You mustn't either :)

Donna, please stay! I'm always racked with self doubt and frequently end up tearing my work up in frustration because I know what I want to produce, but I don't have that inate gift that a lot of people seem to have. But you know what? I do my absolute best, I look at other people's work, I try to learn from it and I practice techniques which I think I might be able to use to improve my art. Ultimately, the most valuable thing I've learnt is that my paintings might not have the realism of others, but they have a piece of me in them, and that makes them as valid as a Van Gogh or a Monet! If you love painting then please keep sharing them with us. (Feel free to get in touch if you fancy a chat too, I'm usually around and always good for a natter!) Best wishes xx

Certainly got attention Donna and goodly support and I'm in with that, Comments back are not always forthcoming, but please persist. XX

I haven't commented too much recently because of personal issues but please don't give up. Paint a little every day if you can and paint for you - what you like. Feedback is good and we all like comments but sometimes circumstances and lifestyles it isn't always easy to spend the time to do this. DVD tutorials, books help build your confidence even join a local Art Group but in the end it is up to you, keep splashing the paint on and enjoying it. Good Luck

Donna, it's all been said above but I'll put my two pen'orth in. You have to keep painting and posting. Not for comments and likes but for yourself. It is why 99.9% of the people on this site do it. It's great to get a good comment and also a bad one but the most important bit is going through the process that gets the painting there in the first place. Remember your first painting and how cathartic that felt to do it? You have great support here on the website, among friends. Some paintings we will love and some not so much, but that is true for all of us. But we all enjoy the honesty of your paintings, so keep on slapping it down, girlie !!!

Hi Donna. Just seen this one!! I have already commented on one of your posts about Tracing a drawing over and over.Then draw it yourself. The more you practice, the better you get. So keep practicing and keep painting. It saved my sanity and my life! Go for it, girl!!!!!! xx