Well, now that I've voted, I feel compelled to post - albeit it is for the first time. I guess I'm one of those characters who wreck the curve by joining and not posting.
But - - I have reason to be reluctant. After my request to join the forum, I was accepted shortly thereafter. Of course, I was obliged to read the guidelines. After doing so, I decided to post right away would be inappropriate. As a beginning portrait artist with an extensive portfolio of nudes, landscapes and illustrations - I have little to share in terms of experience or imagery. My forethought was that I might instead continue to read the forum, gaining valuable insights from those who DO have something to contribute. Then, perhaps, when I finish the commission upon which I am currently working, I too, will have something to share. The "attitude" (for lack of a better word) of this forum comes across as such that anything I might try and contribute right now would be regarded as superfluous, if not outside the guidelines. Little did I know that my hesitation to jump right in would be seen as irksome. I had honestly thought the converse was true.
Don't get me wrong - I have no problem with upholding these standards, and I applaud Cynthia for setting the bar at a height that weeds out the chaff. However, were I paying for rights to post within this forum, I would hope that some of the tight parameters might be loosened a tad.
Jimmy Arroyo stated in an earlier post that he considers his figurative (nude) work to be portraits of a kind. I share that same attitude. As you probably know, the Portrait Artist Forum has the market cornered in terms of quality of work and quality of critique (due, of course to the quality of its membership). However - it is limited solely to portraiture. Should this become a paysite, might I suggest broadening the subject matter? Could this be done while maintaining the same degree of quality? I imagine it could.
The Wetcanvas site has been brought up in this thread. Regardless of how they recoup expenses, it does not hold a candle to what happens here. Yet, I have posted work there. Why? As I've said, there is, apparently, no place for works other than strictly portraiture here. There IS no other forum like this one in terms of quality representational realism - but it revolves aroundonly one subject ! I find that too limiting to pay for it.
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