Where do we go from here?

[Aged P]

This is the only Forum that I use.

It is a totally wondeful place, but for me the Gallery part of the Forum just achieved critical mass.

It may be an age thing, but I am now unable to keep up with the number of postings. It takes up every spare minute of my time and is beginning to limit the amount of painting that I do.

I also find that amazing stuff has been around for ages and I have not reached it. It is a very organic site, which I love, but it makes prioritisation impossible.

How do other Forums handle this?

If they eventually split into User Groups, could this work for Art Rage?

Could it be done?
Should it be done?
If so how should it be done?

I want to be able to view and interact with the Big Guns, while keeping up with what the children are doing.

"Impossible" and "Can't be done!" are valid and likely answers! :) :) :)

[Fashmir]

I think I know just what you mean Phil. I get to feeling bad if I don't manage to welcome each new person or comment on every image post. I suppose I could post a mass "welcome" message and a "keep practicing you're doing fine" message but that would be a little too pompous, presumptious and impersonal for me. Posting effort does eat considerably into time I would use another way. I just love this forum and it's people though. I love being surrounded by creative energy and the hope for humanity that it keeps alive in me. For my part I'm just going to have to get a little selfish with the time I allow, or go mad. I am BTW enormously pleased that so many are finding a home here.

[AndyRage]

Really, we all just do the best we can. Not everyone can read every message and respond to every post, but between the lot of us the load is shared.
I think I only get time to read maybe one in every two messages now.

As the forum gets more and more active, it'll be split into more sub-sections. There may be several galleries, or more discussion forums, or something.
Whatever happens, we'll grow and adapt.

[Hypnomedi]

OK phil, I really know what you mean and how you feel.
I am also a member in a msn photoshop group.
I may consider myself as a more advanced user now.
And like to help were I can.
Sometimes I have the same thought's as you, asking myself why I actually do this.
Sometimes I better can use my time for working on my own projects
than trying to salve someone elses problem.
But still I like to help because ones I was also a starter.
What I now concider easy can be a large problem for an other.
If you want to split, how you going to choose who is good and who not?
How can we beginners learn to work with the program if there are no teachers?
I am just new to the forum and my mail has been read a lot and just a few reacted.
Fine by me.
I am sure when I need help there will be someone who can help me.
You can ask the forum for a separate expert users board.
We have a saying here, better 1 bird in my hand tha 10 in the air.

As I said, a lot have read my mail, but YOU have reacted (the bird in my hand)
I apreciate your help you are giving me with the tutorial about the watercolor.
Thanks to people like you I can learn someting about painting!


Johan

[Aged P]

OK Guys,

I just wanted to test the water.

Johan, our version is a "A bird in the hand is worth two in a bush!"
But I think your version is much better!


I'll now set my obsessiveness on to "cruise".
It's an organic site which runs off into the most unexpected directions, I think that tampering might ruin it.
But I just wanted to see what others thought.

Now everybody in the Art room quieten down and get on with your painting!

[Improv]

OK Guys,

I just wanted to test the water.

Johan, our version is a "A bird in the hand is worth two in a bush!"
But I think your version is much better!


I'll now set my obsessiveness on to "cruise".
It's an organic site which runs off into the most unexpected directions, I think that tampering might ruin it.
But I just wanted to see what others thought.

Now everybody in the Art room quieten down and get on with your painting!

One idea that I found helpful when various forums get to be all to much is to prioritize them into high traffic and low traffic forums. Then maybe read/scan the high trafffic forums daily and the low traffic forums only weekly.

Works for me! :D

[Charlie]

:D I would like to say that the ArtRage forums with access to the actual developers adds immeasurably to the value of the software.

A busy forum is a nice problem to have. :D

[ENCHANTER]

Ive started doing it as well, .....the 'look at every single posting' virus

and commenting as well...........

i feel guilty if i havent looked at the regulars...and guilty if i dont look at the new members,

then i spend an hour to two hours..looking at all the pictures..( and i have to admit some of them are brilliant and inspirational)........then i feel guilty that i havent done any painting of my own............

i guess i have to find my own system somehow where i can do the above and not feel i passed someone by

[ingie01]

Perhaps if the web master could put all posts of gallery work under or in a posters personal folder it might make that forum a bit more organized. It might also make viewing and commenting seem easier.

Name of Poster Gallery
submissions by date
comments

The web site www.fotki.com has a good lay out to check out. I keep my art work there. It is not free except for trial period. Well maintained.

[AndyRage]

Just so you all know - DaveRage and MattRage are out of the office at the moment.
So I've been holding the fort. Changes to the forum and web pages will resume when they get back in two weeks.

[cym]

It is hard to keep up with everything. I have some of the same feelings, sometimes I have time to look but not to post a comment. Sometimes I don't know what to say, but I enjoy the looking.
I am not fond of forums with a mess of rules to follow. I would have to agree that I like the idea of one thread per artist, but that would only be for my convenience.