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Critique: Advice on how to move forward

Inkstars

Inkstars

Radioactive Monster
Gallery (so you don't have to go to the bottom) https://www.furaffinity.net/user/inkstars

I'm in a huge rut mentally. I know my art is fairly good, (this has been helped by posting timelapses of my art on Youtube) but I'm struggling to get watchers. I've been on my page for 3 years (and FA as a whole since 2007) and even with advertising I just barely have over 800 watchers. I do clean art (am considering graduating to clean nudes to accompany my art). I have very few commenters even though I engage (my most consistent commenter is my wife.

I've tried encouraging people to comment, I've done a few milestone raffles, and I try to engage when I can. I'm guessing my biggest problems are that my art is fairly all over the place, I don't really have a recognizeable style(I'm trying to cement a style after years of just freeballing, basically), and I don't post regularly. (I try to stream when I feel up to it, and post timelapses as well). I do have art socials but they're not helpful.

The first two are (hopefully) something I can work on, but the last I can't help, I've had multiple major health crises over the last 3 years, and I'm plagued with PTSD and depression, which means I lovelovelove! drawing, but I can't always dig up the motivation.

It also doesn't help when people hardly fave and hardly interact, it makes me feel like I might as well not bother (silly I know, trust me)

If anyone has any advice on how to move forward, gain more followers, find people who are willing to interact, and maybe how to lower my expectations a bit! I know it's not all porn that gets viewers, I have friends who draw porn and struggle, so I'm not planning to shift to porn in hopes it'll draw an audience.

Here is my gallery: https://www.furaffinity.net/user/inkstars
Here is my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLBORC42CoU1btfxwcf0Hhw
Here is my Picarto: https://picarto.tv/inkstars
 
MissNook

MissNook

Well-Known Member
For the viewers, I don't have a lot of advices since I don't know much people with so much watchers and I guess it may be different than for lesser watchers. The only things I can think of is fanarts, content in several part (like comics, or drawings which illustrates several moments of the same scenery) which makes people follow you to not miss the next part, events specifically for watchers (raffles as you mentioned or others like having them decide for example of an object you should put in your next drawing with a strawpoll or something like that).

For the interaction. Have you think of a Discord? I created one some times ago, not specifically for watchers but for other French artists like me and it's a really good place whenever I seek interaction. You can create several channels in your Discord server, to have for example one for artistic exchanges, one for posting your stuff, one for your announcement (streams and so on), one for discussion and so on.

I hope that helps :)
 
Inkstars

Inkstars

Radioactive Monster
MissNook said:
For the viewers, I don't have a lot of advices since I don't know much people with so much watchers and I guess it may be different than for lesser watchers. The only things I can think of is fanarts, content in several part (like comics, or drawings which illustrates several moments of the same scenery) which makes people follow you to not miss the next part, events specifically for watchers (raffles as you mentioned or others like having them decide for example of an object you should put in your next drawing with a strawpoll or something like that).

For the interaction. Have you think of a Discord? I created one some times ago, not specifically for watchers but for other French artists like me and it's a really good place whenever I seek interaction. You can create several channels in your Discord server, to have for example one for artistic exchanges, one for posting your stuff, one for your announcement (streams and so on), one for discussion and so on.

I hope that helps :)
Click to expand...
Thanks, that's a good plan!
 
Inkstars

Inkstars

Radioactive Monster
TemetNosce88 said:
Without meaning to come across as bitter, etc, I would say you might want to think over your expectations, too. What you consider "hardly faving" and "hardly interacting" looks like, to myself and I'm sure countless other artists, orders of magnitude more success than a lot of people get. Just doing a rough average from your view figures, you're averaging 100 views, 10 faves, and probably several comments per piece you upload. That's a lot more than the 30 views, 1 fave from an account that favorites literally everything on the site, and no comments, that I get.

Again, not trying to complain or anything. Just trying to give you some perspective that you should also appreciate the sizeable following you already have, too. :)
Click to expand...
You're making a lot of assumptions here. I already stated I don't really GET comments. I try to encourage my followers to, but most pieces (90% of them) go uncommented on aside from comments from my WIFE. 10 faves isn't after posting for a year, 10 faves is posting after THREE years. I have 347 images posted.

I've used ads, I've tried uploading daily (last year's inktober) I've tried uploading at "peak" hours. (early morning, late evening). It's not consistent. I've tried directly engaging.

The point is, this entire thing? Isn't about you. I'm trying to move forward as a professional. AND if you bothered to read, you'd see half of your questions are addressed.

I DO appreciate the following I have. (And I show them! I do plenty of raffles!) Very much, but as I've already stated, it's difficult after three years AND ads to receive no comments, and 10 faves. It makes it hard to continue forward. But sure, go ahead and tell me it's my fault, and I'm making you bitter. *salute*

So a) if you have nothing else of value to state (especially since I already said I have to examine my expectations) and b) you feel like this is an affront to you, please don't reply.

P.S. I'm asking for critique on my art and my art style anyway!
 
TemetNosce88

TemetNosce88

Know Thyself
I apologize for making assumptions about your situation and disrupting your thread. Best of luck in your journey. :)
 
Last edited:
TyraWadman

TyraWadman

The Silent Observer
Inkstars said:
Gallery (so you don't have to go to the bottom) https://www.furaffinity.net/user/inkstars

I'm in a huge rut mentally. I know my art is fairly good, (this has been helped by posting timelapses of my art on Youtube) but I'm struggling to get watchers. I've been on my page for 3 years (and FA as a whole since 2007) and even with advertising I just barely have over 800 watchers. I do clean art (am considering graduating to clean nudes to accompany my art). I have very few commenters even though I engage (my most consistent commenter is my wife.

I've tried encouraging people to comment, I've done a few milestone raffles, and I try to engage when I can. I'm guessing my biggest problems are that my art is fairly all over the place, I don't really have a recognizeable style(I'm trying to cement a style after years of just freeballing, basically), and I don't post regularly. (I try to stream when I feel up to it, and post timelapses as well). I do have art socials but they're not helpful.

The first two are (hopefully) something I can work on, but the last I can't help, I've had multiple major health crises over the last 3 years, and I'm plagued with PTSD and depression, which means I lovelovelove! drawing, but I can't always dig up the motivation.

It also doesn't help when people hardly fave and hardly interact, it makes me feel like I might as well not bother (silly I know, trust me)

If anyone has any advice on how to move forward, gain more followers, find people who are willing to interact, and maybe how to lower my expectations a bit! I know it's not all porn that gets viewers, I have friends who draw porn and struggle, so I'm not planning to shift to porn in hopes it'll draw an audience.

Here is my gallery: https://www.furaffinity.net/user/inkstars
Here is my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLBORC42CoU1btfxwcf0Hhw
Here is my Picarto: https://picarto.tv/inkstars
Click to expand...

In ten years I have amassed 349 watchers and only five of them are active!!!

Sounds to me like you've already identified your problems! You just need to work on discipline/motivation!

Start branching out and trying new things. Don't let yourself be discouraged because you make mistakes. Let them serve as a reminder for the next time you attempt something similar!

Decide whether or not you're going to draw for yourself or your viewers. If you want easy views, turn of that NSFW filter and commit to every popular trend/fetish on the market! Keep in mind, the nature of these comments might also change to reflect your content!

I am personally drawing for myself and have no desire to connect with 800+ people and juggle pleasing their personalities. Aside from that, trying to connect with that many people eats up SO much time that can be used for drawing! While I do still get creepy comments on the side, I feel like the watches and comments I get are a little more genuine and not just people kissing up to me for freebies or some nonsense.
 
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