As many of our members have discovered, there is great opportunity for improvement in both giving and receiving comments! This feature will spotlight a few of the amazing members of ProjectComment for an entire month: every week they will answer a different question to showcase their experience with giving and receiving comments and how that has improved their experiences as artists and in the DeviantArt community in general. 
What's an example of great, constructive feedback that you received? What specifically in that comment helped you to improve?
~ chateaugriefThis comment by Arasteia on this deviation of mine:
Before & After deviation of the same character at
roughly the same angle from an upcoming Chateau Grief comic.
Arasteia’s comments about anatomy helped me rethink the way I drew facial planes.
"One thing I did notice is the anatomy of the face. It’s a difficult angle to draw a head but I think that the left eye is slightly too far down her face to match the other. I can see that she’s tilting her head but I think it would be slightly more in line with the other.”
She also pointed to shadows being slightly wrong, which, although it's not specifically anatomy-related, highlights that the *shape/form* was what was looking wrong.
Each face is still a challenge for me to draw, but advice like this helped me to develop a system of checking each feature against the others at each stage of my art process. After this, I began more seriously flipping my figures horizontally to make sure that the anatomy was working both directions. That's something I wish I could impart the importance of to everyone: always flip your figures to check them. It pays off in time and effort every step of the way.
~ dailydragonlairI have to confess, I have had so many wonderful comments that it was hard to choose just one to highlight. However, I chose this particular one because it came at a time and place where I really needed the feedback to gauge how I was going, and how to move forward. The comment was by the kind, insightful :devbschu
bschu was very interested in assuring that I got ‘detailed feedback’, and I am very grateful for this. It was good to hear that my technique for character development is working, and also that, at this point in the narrative, ‘it was a fun introduction to the story and still it was clear enough that [bschu] could follow without any previous knowledge.’ I needed to know that because of the way the story is structured, so this part of the comment was particularly helpful.
I’m really glad that this section of the story has, in bschu’s words, ‘a lot of suspenseful fantasy buildup’. bschu also confirmed a suspicion I had that my story structure is too rigid and focused on completing ‘steps’, in a sense, which is something I will definitely have to work on.
It was great to have a literary comparison for descriptive technique, like the one bschu included from Dune, even though it was more bschu’s thoughts on technique than specified ‘advice’ for my technique. It still helps a lot!
In addition, it was wonderful to know that a reader could follow what was happening and enjoy it, with such an extent of genre-blending going on. bschu wasn’t phased by the transition from fantasy to the ‘slice of life’ sections, which is very important for me to know as I continue to structure the story and develop characters.
I’m afraid I don’t have a ‘before and after’ example, because the advice is of the kind that I will have to incorporate into the narrative as a whole, and I can’t really just provide two slightly different versions of a chapter unless the change was fairly substantial. Nonetheless, bschu’s thoughts have had a positive effect on how I think about and approach this story.
Overall, this was an incredibly helpful comment. Thanks, bschu!
~ LupinaliaAn example of a great, constructive comment I've received would be from a fellow friend, airibbon
More specifically, feedback on this particular piece:
(The whole conversation was on Facebook PM; editor’s note: what a clever way to do live-commenting, if you’re able to!)
"Everything OK, except for the fingers and scarf.
A:Her finger folds doesn't connect. her scarf seems stiff. Try deepen the scarf of the side from the middle part of the scarf.
L:Gotcha. Could you help me with the fingers? I'm not too sure what to do
A:Ah, I'm not at my computer at the moment. Wait a bit. I look for reference.
L:No worries
A:This is from my blog. Not drawing fingernails is normal. Just look at how the finger bends.
L:Hmm. Ah, so the problem is that I drew the fingers bending outwards, when it should be bending inwards?
A:Aaah, aah, it's hard to describe. When I get back home, I'll correct your illustration.
L:Thanks for your help ww
A:Now, the upper and lower part where it bends are not aligned. It's if she is real, her fingers are broken
L:Haha yeah hands aren't my forte ;w ;
A๏д๏) Better make it your forte since everything else is nice. Now that finger is a distraction
Lo I just draw hands all day to do so, or do I practice something else to do that?
A:Yeah. Just use my illustration and trace it. That's the oldest way to practice drawing. Then one day, you'll be able to draw without the reference at the back”
~ pawcanadaThough technically not the first comment to introduce me to the idea of a "line of action" to the piece, this is the comment by CameronKobe that made it simple easy to understand. While I do like a comment to have some "weight" too it, I have seen a fair few that drown their point in dozens of lines of text, making it hard to find it. This comment explained what I needed to learn in a fashion that made it easy to understand.
~ Zara-ArletisThis comment from JessaMar was detailed, specific, and insightful. By pointing out precise issues with logic in the text, I was able to go back and add a series of minor edits that really changed the way it reads.
Dear Grandma (original)Grandma was sleeping. Nate knew this by the way she snorted and whistled. Her chugging, grinding breath in followed steadily by a weedy whine of exhalation. She looked so old and fragile when she was asleep. It frightened Nate terribly and fascinated him too. Grandma was his whole world.
"You watchin' me boy?" The old lady's voice rasped.
"Yes." Nate kept his answer simple and honest. It was easier that way.
Grandma smiled and cracked an eye open to look at him. "Well I won't be dyin' today. You go chop some wood and get the kitchen fire hot. There's much to be doing." The boy nodded and went to do as she bid. You didn't disobey Grandma. That had Consequences with a capitol "C."
When Nate got back, sweaty and tired with an armful of wood, Grandma was sitting at the kitchen table. She had a bowl of fruit soaking in thickened syrup and a sticky pile of dough ready to knead. His stomach rumbled and his mouth watered in anticipation. The boy wanted to ask what the oc
Dear GrandmaGrandma was sleeping. Nate knew this by the way she snorted and whistled. Her chugging, grinding breath in followed steadily by a weedy whine of exhalation. She looked so old and fragile when she was asleep. It frightened Nate terribly and fascinated him too. Grandma was his whole world.
"You watchin' me boy?" The old lady's voice rasped.
"Yes." Nate kept his answer simple and honest. It was easier that way.
Grandma smiled and cracked an eye open to look at him. "Well I won't be dyin' today. You go chop some wood and get the kitchen fire hot. There's much to be doing." The boy nodded and went to do as she bid. You didn't disobey Grandma. That had Consequences with a capitol "C."
When Nate got back, sweaty and tired with an armful of wood, Grandma was sitting at the kitchen table. She had a bowl of fruit soaking in thickened syrup and a sticky pile of dough ready to knead. His stomach rumbled and his mouth watered in anticipation. The boy wanted to ask what the oc
Before & After
Commenter Bios and Art
chateaugrief - Jean Guillet is the artist and writer of the webcomic Chateau Grief. She also does a California landscape every week.
dailydragonlair - dailydragonlair lives by the sea. Sometimes, this is in a metaphysical sense, rather than a physical one.
Lupinalia - Hello all! I'm Lupinalia, formerly known by the edgy sounding moniker, Darktrified. I am a massive fan of the artist Fumitake Moekibara and have dedicated many years in replicating his style while putting my own spin to it. Though not perfect, I hope that there's at least some sembalance in our works. I’m hopelessly addicted to tea and maintain a small collection of various teas, such as Earl Grey, Darjeerling, Pure Ceylon, Moroccan Mint and more.
pawcanada - I'm a hobbiest artist looking to bring concepts to life and improve my skills so they better match the way I see them in my head.
Zara-Arletis - I started with posting fanfiction on dA and just kind of branched out from there. Now I write all kinds of lit and post the occasional terrible visual art.
Little Sisters Are StrangePart One
Alan was a Perfectly Normal Boy. He made just the right amount of mess, and was just the right amount of rowdy. His grades were all exactly where they should be, none too high nor low. Mother said he was the spitting image of his father, and Father said he looked just like mum. All in all, he had a perfectly normal life with just one, small exception. His sister Essie, or Messy Essie as mum liked to say.
Essie had brown hair, a color neither parent sported with their blonde locks. It was straight too. Wet or dry, her hair hung just so and wouldn't budge no matter how mum tried to curl it. His sister's eyes were dark, almost black, and always brimming with mischief. Nothing like Alan's own gentle shade of common brown.
Worse, no matter where Essie went, she was into something. Poking this, messing about with that. If it could be spilt or broke, Messy Essie did it. At school, she got all U's. Unsatisfactory, except in art where the teacher loved her pictStrange Companions, Chap. 1It was a cave - definitely a cave. The rank, damp smell of mildew mixed with a sharp, mineral scent gave it away. The darkness around him gave no relief to his eyes, nothing to anchor him in this place other than damp stone beneath him. Dako stretched his legs as carefully and quietly as he could. The numbness in them was quickly replaced by pins and needles, a burning sensation that spread up his calves in waves. Must have been at least three or four hours since he was knocked unconscious. At least I'm not dead, he thought ruefully. Pain was as good a reminder of life as anything else.
Dako couldn't feel his fingers. The bastards that had knocked him unconscious and tied him up had taken no chances. Afraid he might be able to use magic if they left even the slightest room to move, they had placed bags over each hand and then tied them tight. He sighed. Hopefully there was no permanent damage. Dako had too little money to go wasting it at a temple for healing, and less chance of makingIn and Out of CostumeI met him at the Fantasy Faire. Cheesy, right? He was cosplaying the Dread Pirate Roberts and the moment I laid eyes on him I regretted not going as Princess Buttercup. Not that I looked bad in my sassy wench get up. There's something to be said for a proper corset and thigh highs. When he laid his baby blues on me, he came right over and got down on one knee. Dread Pirate Roberts took my hand and held it to his lips. "Since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses rated the most passionate, the most pure. Care to try for the sixth?"
I couldn't help it. I just started laughing and he did too. He stood up and brushed off his knees. "Was it too much? I was going for authenticity."
"No, no it was perfect. But I don't think that was one of Westley's lines, was it?" The guy had a soft voice at odds with his perfectly Carey Elwes wispy blonde moustache, but I liked it.
He chewed at his lip. "A purist I see. Well, now that I've boffed my role, I think I owe you a drink. May I?"
How To Nominate
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Name of Deviant Link to their exceptional comments. (This is great way to give back to a user who has given you fantastic feedback!)You can suggest anyone and everyone at any time and include as many nominations as you want in one note. All nominations will be taken into consideration--if your nomination isn't featured immediately, it may still be featured in a future news article!
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