MOD The OFFICIAL Comments, Complaints, and Suggestions Thread-(*Currently Discussing: Holiday Season*)

-A new banner is always refreshing, so I think that's a good improvement that can be implemented rather easily. The current one is good, but I think the forum could benefit from a new look.

I agree. With the backlash in other forums about changing the banner, I wanted to go ahead and get feedback from you guys before making any kind of announcement.

-I think the forum header needs a little overhauling. I'm not sure that the topmost announcement about the 'new forum dedicated to FanSites' needs to be there anymore. (It is also repeated at the bottom of each page too.) That forum isn't new anymore and I don't see the relevance of announcing it any longer.

Yea, I saw that too. When that was put in there, I never understood what that had to do with Fan Art, but whatever.

-The three threads that are linked in the header might be in need of updating once you decide which tutorial/FAQ threads are most important. (In the event that you create new ones and such.)

I was planning to do that along with the sticky and getting all the other threads organized. I know some that are listed up there I want to replace and I think it would benefit to add a few more.

-Another idea is to start a brand new social thread and locking the current one. It could still be called the Artist's Cantina, just a version 2 or something. It's not exactly necessary, but with your promotion I sort of feel like the forum is entering a new era and a new social thread may help to promote community building with the current group of people here. Older and longer social threads can sometimes be intimidating to new members, but a fresh thread would be like an open invite to all. Just my 2 cents on that.

Hmm...not a bad idea. I'll look into that.

-I look forward to an all new sticky thread with an outline of the forum's rules (spoiler image rules, image content rules, critique guidelines, etc.) in place of the current sticky. The info that's already there is good, but an update from you would be even better. This could incorporate the idea for an artist index, which is an excellent idea!
(I know only managers and admins can make sticky's, so I can pm you with suggestions on tackling that now.)

Yea, I plan to keep most of the information that is already listed in there. I just want to add a few more things and possibly combine the critique guideline thread into it. And a PM about how to go about this would be apprecitated.

-I wouldn't mind seeing a tutorial thread (that anyone can lend their advice to) on how to draw faces, hands, clothes...etc. Like the mini-tutorial you did about facial feature placement in a recent thread. With very basic guidleines like that. This could be a possible link in the header, or not...just a thought. (I'm not sure if stuff like that is covered in the tools and techniques thread, so it might be a redundant idea.)

This was already suggested to me by another user and I plan to act on it. There have been quite a few people inquiring about this lately and I feel that this would really benefit them.

-I am excited that you want to continue the monthly fan art challenge. It's a great community building activity. And maybe having other smaller challenges here and there could be introduced as well. I think challenges that help perpetuate learning would be great. Like a challenge where everyone has to draw hands, or eyes. Fun but practical in terms of making us practice and learn.

Yea, that seems to be the most successful thread in here at the moment. It would be stupid to do away with it when it's so popular. Challenges that involve learning would be a good idea before. I know in the past, there was a seperate thread for this entitled, "The Fan Art Class", and I was pondering whether to start this one back up or just to combine it into the Challenge thread.

 

I agree. Having both sides happy(both spoiled and non-spoiled) is very important. And I think that's why your way of handling the problem will work out the best. I know the idea of having two seperate threads has been thrown around as well, but in the end I think that would be a lot more of a hassle to manage. So, yea, I'm leaning more towards the link and title solution.

And just another random thought - what does everyone think about posting non-Star Wars art? Do you think we should allow it?

Oh, and yes, you can rest sometimes

Rest...rest? What's that?

 

FalconFan, thanks for your input. Personally, I'm for it as well, but I also don't want to forget that this is a Star Wars board. I think it would be nice to experiment with this. Perhaps have a thread where we display our non-Star Wars art. Or, we could always limit it to your personal art threads.

I think allowing other art would also help the forum grow. Along these lines, I was also thinking of starting general art threads where we can discuss things like classic artists, art movements, etc. What do you guys think?

 

Well, it seems that the decision for allowing non-Star Wars art is pretty much one-sided as of right now.

 

Although I feel that it is a good idea, it may be a little while till a banner contest for this forum is taken into consideration. I know the CT forum is currently holding their's and there was someone in line after them. As I was told, only one banner contest can be going on at a time so the users don't feel burned out trying to submit banners for all of them. That doesn't mean you guys can't go ahead and start making some. If you feel the urge to do this, go right on ahead!

As for using fan art from images in the Fan Art Museum etc - I need to look into that. I'm not entirely sure how that would work since we should get permission before using those images. Although, I did take notice that fan art was used to create the holiday banner and icons this year. If they were used for that, we may be able to do the same for our banner.

 

Go right ahead. Afterall, this is the Fan Art board.

Plus, it's never to early to start on this.

 

The pastel colors would be a nice new look for in here. I also like how you focused mostly on Cloud City and the "air" like concepts. It flows nicely together.

It just seems a little blank on the right side, though. I don't know if you're still working on that section, but it looks more like a background image for me. No real biggy. It still looks nice how it is.

 

Interesting. I didn't catch that before. But that's a excellent way to keep the banner flowing and to help your eye travel throughout it.

 

That's not a bad idea concerning the banner. Perhaps as the time draws nearer for an actual contest, we can send out the call for people to send in their art to be considered for the banner. I was also thinking if people want to use the art that is available in the Fan Art Museum, that they should get in contact with the artist before taking the image. But it seems that it may work better for people to submit their art.

As for the non-Star Wars art subject - I don't see why it would hurt to post still lifes, portraits, numerous studies, etc. Afterall, I think the more variety we can get, the stronger our little community will become.

 

Wow...I really like that James Bond poster. The design is just--WOW! Okay, I think I'm wearing that out, but I can't think of another word to describe it.

And Indy: