Visitors' poll

I checked "other." The process of getting accepted or declined here seems to have some "kinks" in it, or maybe it's just me - I'm not certain.

I tried registering once a long time back, since I enjoyed reading the information here, and found threads that I felt I could contribute to. I have a great deal of experience in art and am a well mannered fellow, so I figured I could manage the decorum. Unfortunately, I never got a reply back of any sort to my attempt at registering, so I just assumed I was declined.

A few days back (I think it's been over a week now) I thought I'd just try again to register, but as of yet still haven't gotten a response - maybe it just takes more time. Those folks must be very busy with more important tasks, etc...

Also, since I never received a reply, I never bothered to try logging in, but just now I discover that I actually could log in and be recognized, unfortunatelty I'm still not allowed to enter replies, even to this thread. I had to log out in order to write up this entry.

I understand you're reasoning for all these obstacles, but it just amounts to a big pile of frustration, which in the end is not worth the effort. Plus, in all honesty, there's this slight taint of elitism on SOG's part at requiring new members to go through all the process, however well intended or necessary it may be. I feel your insistance at scholarship of your members is unnecessary, to be frank. Inexperienced people will be intimiated without that - just look at all the "too shy" responses you're getting here. It's only informal talk and opinions that we're sharing after all. If an inexperienced person speaks up, they can be politely educated. Maybe there's some history to your reasons for these restrictions that I'm not aware of, however.

When a bar has been set, there needs to be an obvious reason for a person to want to climb over it, hoping you understand my metaphor. As nice as this place is, it's not exclusive to it's content. There are other places to go to that aren't so tedious to enter.

Whew. I do appreciate the opportunity to finally speak. Thanks.

[Cynthia Daniel]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I checked "other." The process of getting accepted or declined here seems to have some "kinks" in it, or maybe it's just me - I'm not certain.

I tried registering once a long time back, since I enjoyed reading the information here, and found threads that I felt I could contribute to. I have a great deal of experience in art and am a well mannered fellow, so I figured I could manage the decorum. Unfortunately, I never got a reply back of any sort to my attempt at registering, so I just assumed I was declined.

A few days back (I think it's been over a week now) I thought I'd just try again to register, but as of yet still haven't gotten a response - maybe it just takes more time. Those folks must be very busy with more important tasks, etc...

Please send me an email using the Contact Us link all the way at the bottom of each screen and I will see what I can determine regarding this. Include the name you used to register. I know we do have one applicant still in process. My first question would be to ask if you did send in two portrait images in the 2nd step of the process.

Sometimes, in fact, it does take more time for one reaon or another. One of the Board members might be out of town for a portrait commission, for example, and we're awaiting their return. In other cases, the Board might be split on whether to approve or not and conversations carry on for a bit.

Also, since I never received a reply, I never bothered to try logging in, but just now I discover that I actually could log in and be recognized, unfortunatelty I'm still not allowed to enter replies, even to this thread. I had to log out in order to write up this entry.

Until the 2nd step of the registratioin has been completed and the Board has approved, you can log in but not post. However, you should be able to write and post in this section. Maybe logging in when there is not a final approval is an odd no-man's land and that explains it.

I understand you're reasoning for all these obstacles, but it just amounts to a big pile of frustration, which in the end is not worth the effort. Plus, in all honesty, there's this slight taint of elitism on SOG's part at requiring new members to go through all the process, however well intended or necessary it may be. I feel your insistance at scholarship of your members is unnecessary, to be frank.

Scholarship? I'm not sure what you mean by this. We don't have any particular educational requirement. Elitism? I don't personally feel elitist. I suppose any group that juries could always be accused of being elitist. Maybe it's just the jury process that you find elitist, but without more information, it would be difficult to respond more specifically.

Inexperienced people will be intimidated without that - just look at all the "too shy" responses you're getting here. It's only informal talk and opinions that we're sharing after all. If an inexperienced person speaks up, they can be politely educated. Maybe there's some history to your reasons for these restrictions that I'm not aware of, however.

It really is more than informal talk I think. The Critiques is really the biggest area of stress when there is no jury process. If you've not been here since the beginning, there have been some who registered before the jury process was instituted and requested Critique and the work was at such a beginning level that no one giving Critiques had the time to lead the person just up to the basics needed to make a good portrait.

As stated earlier, there are not that many people who actually give Critiques. Often it tends to be the same members over and over who are contributing. There truly is a limited resource for this function and those who offer critique truly want to help. But, when there is an overabundance of people sometimes demanding critiques, it can become overwhelming.

Yes, sometimes people get demanding. They might post a critique and if no one responds within 24 hours, some have gotten upset. Everyone has to understand that other members have busy lives, careers and usually families and are all generous volunteers. Without a jury process, sometimes the work is at such a beginning level that those who might normally critique just don't know where to start - what do you tell this person? Then if someone gets bold and says "go back to drawing basics and master that first" - then some get insulted. Just think how much those who do critiques are putting themselves on the line - it can be stressful for them too.

As one Guest stated earlier, they are happy about the jury process so they don't have to weed through a lot to find posts that they find valuable.

The bottom line is, no matter what rules are made in any group, it's not possible to please everyone as much as we might like to.

Whew. I do appreciate the opportunity to finally speak. Thanks.

Well, I'm glad you feel better now.

I only do occasional portraits - the bulk of my work is in other genres. The rules for becoming a member state that new members are wanted ONLY IF they plan to post portrait work on a regular basis.

[Cynthia Daniel]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I only do occasional portraits - the bulk of my work is in other genres. The rules for becoming a member state that new members are wanted ONLY IF they plan to post portrait work on a regular basis.

This is not quite accurate. You are not ever expected to post any portrait work. But, you would not believe the number of people who have registered, been approved and have never posted one single time. The number is quite high. It gets discouraging for those who put the time into the jury process. We only ask that if someone registers that they participate to some extent, here and there, now and then - it could be a couple of times a year. We certainly don't have any exact requirement that someone post - it's just puzzling that people go through the jury process and then never post. See what I mean?

Originally Posted by Cynthia Daniel

But, you would not believe the number of people who have registered, been approved and have never posted one single time. The number is quite high. It gets discouraging for those who put the time into the jury process. We only ask that if someone registers that they participate to some extent, here and there, now and then - it could be a couple of times a year. We certainly don't have any exact requirement that someone post - it's just puzzling that people go through the jury process and then never post. See what I mean?

I understand that you would not want to reply to someone whom you feel would not benefit from your help, Sharon.

However, I'm sure that you can understand how it would be intimidating for someone who, even though having passed the jurying process, would be subjected to the embarassment of receiving few replies to their work; in effect, being told quite loudly by the silence that their work is not up to snuff.

Yes, they were accepted into the forum. But very publicly, they are rejected. I have seen this time and again here.

Few people want to subject themselves to that kind of humiliation, as is evidenced by the above quote.

[Steven Sweeney]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Few people want to subject themselves to that kind of humiliation, as is evidenced by the above quote.

Not everyone who doesn't participate is declining to do so out of a fear of humiliation.

But if that IS why they are declining to participate, then this Forum is the LEAST of their problems. I just returned from a huge, high-quality outdoor art show. Thousands of people walk past the booths each day and do not buy or even stop, for each few dozen who do. If each of those instances were perceived to be a rejection or a cause of humiliation, this would quickly turn into the most unhappy of vocations for the artist in question.

Much more important that a particular palette, substrate, or "School" is the heart and perseverance to be in charge of one's own progress and to just keep putting work out there until it clicks with the right people at the right time.