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Hi everyone,

I loved the jam!  I've never experienced any of your other jams, but I found it to be fun and really made me want to do more.  What is really nice is, you could tell everyone was enjoying each others enteries, memories, how well an artist could capture that particular person and it motivated each of us to want to do another.  Never did I see anyone talk negative or even express it was to be better then the other artist as in a contest, but more of a jam of sharing and having fun. 

I'll always give my time to vote, comment as much as possible and participate in a wonderful site as yours.  This jam was so hard to pick 3 placements since there were so many nice drawings and I'm not sure what is the best way of voting.  Everyone is a winner in my eyes.

Most of all I wanted to say how much your hard work is appreciated.  The jam was so much fun and I would hope you continue with them, it really motivates people to participate and have fun. 

Maria

I like the votin system we have now, but maybe in the future, if this system is too much (with ties and all) maybe do a grading system. Like we do in my art classes, use we grade each other on effort/time used/how much you related to the topic (if followed the correct requirements). Sush as, say in this jam, grade based on the floral technique, how you best fit it with the picture. Or if you didn't copy the pitcure exact-you put your own touch or technique. And also with the statement of why you chose such artist. Not just give a bio, but how he influenced or changed your life. Say grade 1-3. 1 - attempted, 2 - met, 3 exceeds.
Then, say we have a big number of entries, and after we grade them, pick the top 10, and grade in rounds. Like elimination. Then grade again, pick the next 5 or so. Do another round to pick the top 3.
I know it sounds complicated, and confusing, and I know I'm not wording it right, just thought I'd toss something out there.
Great jam! I had lots of fun, and so many great entries! Great job all of you!
-Terra

Terra: I quite like the idea of what you've described as the mutual grading system used in your art class.  I wonder if we would be able to get enough people to take the time for such an in-depth assessment.  It would involve a good deal of time and writing, something I already know many members aren't willing or able to contribute.  Even if we don't make it quite as structured for purposes of voting, I think it would be a wonderful guideline for people to use when they vote.  I am thinking of writing it at the top of the voting page so that members have it 'fresh' in their minds for consideration as they view the entries.  We have discussed the possibility of needing a 'run-off' vote when, as in this Jam, there are so many entries receiving a high number of votes. 

Sunny: I know.  Me too.  Maybe we should have categories when we get this many entries.  Three voting pages:

1.  Best Original Style
2.  Best Realism Style
3.  Most Inspired Idea

...or some such categories. Then, of course, there would be the question of deciding exactly what the voting categories would be.  There could be more winners for a variety of reasons.  Noel would have to set up three or four voting pages and I'm not sure how much more work that is for him.  I wonder if members would think this idea too taxing and time-consuming.  In voting for the previous Jams I didn't come away from the experience feeling so dissatisfied with my choices because it was easier for me to determine a few favourites.  With this Jam I had at least ten favourites!

I didn't know about oekaki before coming to this site. Now I am hooked and it has become one of my favorite mediums for making pictures. The simplicity of the tools forces you to get creative in the process, not just in the subject. The constant influx of art by others who have taken this medium to new levels is inspiring. I hope not to be misunderstood when I say that compared to that, wining a contest or two pales in comparison. My advice would be not to spend too much time or energy worrying about creating a perfect voting system. There is no such thing. I like it the way it is now, but maybe allowing to vote for more than 3 (maybe 5?). Put a time limit and when the time is up, simply announce the results and list the entries in order of votes. If there's a tie then let it be two winners, or three. All entries are winners anyway.

I like Grafights idea..letting the jam initiator choose if there is a tie for the top placees. Lets face it, they did win the jam before the current one, so yeah I like that idea.

I just don't have the patience to wait for everyone to vote is all, but its the last day for voting today..Woo Hoo.

Xina...I have a draw in this jam right now that has no votes..I am NOT devastated at all. The draw meant something to me, that doesn't follow it should mean something to everyone else too hun. I am happy with the finished piece I produced on the day and I am still happy with it.....GUESS What....I SOLD it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So..BUGGER to whether anyone has voted on it or not..lmao  I love this place..

*One day I would like my own gallery* ~ suzie

I think its the taking part that counts, there's atleast 20 draws that deserve a first three places in the jam, but one thing the jam does do is inspire people to produce there best work.

Hi ya'll. I know I am not drawing here yet, but i will. And as all of the reFUgees, YouDrawers and even some 2Drawers know, once I start, look out!!

But I do have some thoughts on this as a 5 yr veteran online drawer.

I personally dislike competitions. A lot!  At YouDraw we had them at first and then feelings started to get hurt, there were differences of opinion, etc etc.

So I suggested, as did several others, that we have THEMED GALLERIES instead.  Each gallery would be named (it was easier, no log in was required), and on a specific theme.
If the artist didn't follow the theme the drawing was removed.  As an artist, I have always found the fascination to be in the CREATIVITY of a piece and the philosophy of a piece
or the humor in a piece or the emotion behind a piece or the technical prowess or the social message, and on and on.  With so much criteria to choose from, who is to say which is
"best"? Best for whom?  I personally do not like Picasso's work.  And he is REALLY famous and rich.  But I love Jackson Pollack whom many hate.

What is fun is the THEME itself as far as I am concerned. if anyone wants, you can go to YouDraw and their forum and find the Gallery listings. We have everything from cats to Fabrege eggs
to Urns, to Favorite Foods, about 80 galleries in all.  Everyone enjoyed being a part of it and seeing all of the solutions with out pointing a finger and saying THIS is the best solution to the problem.

I started at another site 2 yrs ago with these drawing tools, I got good with the tools but the competitive attitude drove me right out of the door and I searched for a kinder gentler place to make my art.  I do not say any of this (to be pretty honest here and I hope I dont offend anyone), because of sour grapes anywhere. I am technically strong when I bother to do so and have the draws to prove  it, so I feel I would stand a very decent chance of winning a contest here or elsewhere at some point.  But thats not why I draw and especially not why i draw in public.  I have seen beginners with poor technical skills have kick a** solutions to themes.  I have enjoyed Themed Art from every skill level. If you view art based on where the artist is in their current development, then most of it, if a decent effort was put in, is simply wonderful.  Personal Best is another term for that.

I dont mean to horn in or be wordy. Or even holier than thou. I have been entering contests like crazy at dbug because I am mouse drawing and out of draw ideas so i use the contest ideas to inspire me. But I will be honest, when I dont win, even my silly lil draws that I know are not good there, there is still a tiny disappointment factor, it is human nature.  I don't want my art to disappoint me.  Especially because of what someone else thinks of it.

If you all continue to have contests, once I am actively drawing here, I am sure I would enter and I would vote if more votes were needed. But having themed galleries, that are advertised and even have start and stop dates, would be incentive enough for me to enter art in all the new Themed Galleries I had time for.

Hope I  have not upset anyone or overstepped my bounds. I get passionate about one thing and that is anyone feeling discouraged about their art because of external factors.  I have spent the last 20 yrs of my life encouraging artists and that is where my passion lies. This site is SO warm, welcoming and ENCOURAGING to EVERYONE, I just wonder if contests are a good fit.

*lil smile and climbs off soap box*

Thanks for the nice reply. I am in my *coff coff* late fifties and have developed somewhat of a thick skin about comments on my art.  I do agree that most artists here and elsewhere create for the sheer joy of it.  I will be happy to vote in Jams to help participate in the site, and like I said, I love the variations on a theme so much that I would also probably enter any Jam that inspired me. 

I just wrote a long thing about how i feel about contests and dumped it.  My bottom line is, I love the theme idea and shared galleries on a theme. It is so exciting to participate and see everyones different vision of the "same" thing.  It is for me part of what makes art fresh and exciting both to do and to view.

I personally don't like "comparing" art once one gets a group of art that is basically similar on a technical level.  I think all of it is good, all of it is wonderful and just have trouble having to say which is the most wonderful because my critieria for wonderful is so so very personal.  Again, I am discussing art that is already technically proficient and it is the "intangibles" it is being judged on.

On the plus side, perhaps contests inspire artists to go beyond what is currently their personal best and that is a good thing.  I know I am human and if I enter something, I want it to be something I am proud of.  But i will say, I do get the same inspiration to do my best in a themed gallery that is not judged.  One other plus from a competition I guess is the opportunity to see what is considered "the best" and try to understand the choice and then decide if it is something an artist might want to strive more towards. For example, if a very colorful piece was chosen over a more somber one, perhaps the artist of the somber colors might want to re-examine if their choice of palette is somehow not adding to their work, but detracting from it somehow. On the other hand, on a day when a judge was feeling gloomy, the darker canvas might appeal more and win and then the other artist might be rethinking their choices *L*  See? For me, when i think of contests it just becomes a can of worms because I overthink it!

I have been impressed with the concern here in this forum thread that the judging be fair. This is a group of people who really care for and want to nurture other artists.  So....it was just my 2 cents, the idea of having only special galleries opposed to contests.

Would it be possible to run Jams for those who want to compete and Jams (perhaps even on the same theme as the current Jam) for those who want to participate but not be voted on? Or, just Theme Galleries, ongoing, could be added to by anyone at any time (that were in addition to the Jams)?