bugoy1

During the last few months, this community has only shown kindness and support. I don't feel like my Art is unwanted. I've felt welcomed. So let me just say "Thank you!" to all of you who have shared kind words and helped me settle in here. This is my favorite website!

Since I'm relatively new here, I am still learning how things run. For example, I learned that a challenge is supposed to be issued by the winner of a previous challenge. I didn't know that at first. I'm sure there are more things that I need to be made aware.

Going along with that, what else should I know? Are there some guidelines for use of favorites? When to follow someone? Other issues? I'm simply curious. Thanks!

bugoy1

Also, I know that some people prefer not to have anything on their profile (age, gender etc.) while others tell a ton. How much is too much or too little?

Normal

The original TD users must have been a mostly friendly group. Most of us have felt very welcomed and been delighted to pass that on to others.

The info is very much up to the individual. The only "too much" I've noticed is when very young users tell too much about their location, in which case, I've warned them and suggested they ask their parents. I greatly enjoy having some mental picture of my TD friends and knowing approximately where they are!

Baldur

I do not believe there are any rules regarding profiles. in some cases lack of information can imply the person is underage or perhaps just very private.
For a while there were a few running inside jokes. They all seemed to run their course and mercifully fased away.
Some regular contributors have left, others have persevered, new ones keep arriving.

marg

Hallo and happy New Year, bugoy and everyone else !

I totally agree with Normal, in that I've told some junior TDers to remove their detailed address - but then I don't think anyone should give their full address on the web - a vague location does fine.

I think the problem with profiles is that people tend to classify as soon as they see an age, sex or location - I'd rather not know, and let my imagination build the profile of someone based on their pictures and their comments.

It can be a real surprise when you find out that the artist you imagined as a brash, intelligent young male living somewhere in New Jersey turns out to be an elderly widower with a dry sense of humour from Ireland, or a late middle-aged lady with a wicked taste of adventure living in South America.

Way back when, I think before ThinkDraw gave us this forum, we used to have forums on people's drawings - they just became a chat line, a bit like Radio Baldur. We had a couple of drawings where a lot of the original people said who they were and where they lived, but that hasn't really happened since then (that I know of).

I know that lots of TDers have actually met up with each other or are in email contact with each other, which is really great. Don't imagine that all was sweet and rosy in the early days though - we had some rather vitriolic exchanges between TDers at one time, or another

Going back to your question, bugoy, I think your pictures and comments actually form your profile, but in your case, as a teacher, you may want people (or your students) to positively identify you ? [hnhh, hnhh - that's if your selfie isn't quite accurate ]

marg

Ooohh.. forgot to mention -

You may rethink your decision to stay away -

a) because most habitual TDers find it hard, even after making a resolution

b) because ThinkDraw are going to give us a new palette soon

bugoy1

Thank you all for your comments.

I'm not trying to stay away (I really can't). I simply NEED to. The semester just ended and I have an AP Art History class to prepare for next year. It will be the 10th subject I've taught in 15 years. In the past I've had to start a new curriculum and I can say that it isn't easy. So as much as I'd love to hang out here as much as I did the first couple months, I really have to whittle down my time here a bit.

Part of why I asked is because it seemed off to me that there are some TDers who have tons of followers and follow nobody themselves. I wasn't sure if that was normal etiquette for the website or not. I mostly wanted to know what kind of reciprocity was expected.

As far as me disappearing right now, it will be tough. I'm constantly looking at paintings and photos thinking about what palette in Think Draw would work best for that. I think I'm obsessed.

marg

Hah.. you've got it !

When you look around you at buildings, or railway lines, or trees, or streets, or whatever you happen to see or think about.. and then 'see' how that scene would appear in a particular palette.. well, I guess you're a real TDer

I actually think it's more related to some basic artistic instinct in you that's been kicked into life by ThinkDraw - and which you may now go on to pursue in a different medium (VERY inviting initially) - rather than ThinkDraw itself.

As far as following people goes - well, that was introduced a few years ago, but I really object to anyone but me knowing whose work I'm interested in - which can change from day to day.

This isn't Facebook or something, and rather than upset anyone who follows me by not following them, I just wanted the whole thing to be private, so swore not to follow anyone until it became so !

Either way, keep chucking a beautiful drawing into the Gallery whenever you can - we'll be watching out for you ! You might also find that preparing for your new class might just involve sketching some ideas out in the different media on TD ... ?

clorophilla

well I hope at least you'll find a little tile to draw a picture or two some days.
And about following and being followed, for me, to be followed it's OK, and to be not is samely OK! I follow all the artists I like bc I goes very rarely on the gallery; other TDers on the contrary visit the gallery daily and do not feel the need to follow any single artist.