Thats just how the way things work Beth. Art is just like anything else to tbe public, something you might think is trash may be gold to another persons eyes because of a feature of something in that particular piece. It shouldnt discourage you though, trust me I know how it feels to have worked on a pic for hours on end only to get a luke warm reception for it. But it shouldnt be about the attention even though I do like it and I do like having people tell me that they like my art. Just draw for yourself, draw what makes you happy. I'm not saying screw everyone else, I'm saying that drawing should be fun to begin with and if you arent having fun with what you're doing then it's time to try or consider an alternative.

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~ Jonny A. Max
"Second to none, the original one!"
< JToonz INC. since 1994 >

truthfully drawing was fun years ago.. but now its just kinda 'blah' now.. which sucks cuz anything else that I would want to do is gone now *my mall had to get rid of my only arcade... so no more DDR here*
I may get my motive back.. but now its just that its rare that I want to draw anything for myself or others anymore

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The only DA artist who is infatuated with a candle..
_{Words from the wise}
"If you can't say something NICE, don't say NOTHING at all."

I've yet to figure out what attracts more people to comment and fave, it's something I've been sorta studying for a few years now seeing as though some pics get all the attention whereas others are kinda ignored.

While I try to figure out a pattern to all this, I could try to give you a theory of mine for your case...my best guess is FB is a little more appealling to others than Lumiere, even though Lumie's had his spotlight on the Beauty and the Beast movie, I'm guessing not many people imagine a character like him being tickled. Whereas FB seems more of a character that's a little more easily imagined being tickled since she's got a body of a human with arms, legs and everything...though I suppose it would help she's a female since I think its a little more popular in the tickle fandom to see */f stuff. Or it could be she's a character that we barely see getting it and the less fans see of something, the more desirable it becomes...kinda like fanservice in a sense.

as for the pictures you work the hardest on and getting less comments on...that I'm still trying to figure out, it's been irking me too...I normally keep the stuff I'm proud of as my top deviation so people who stop by can see it with the hopes the commentary flows in.

I've not been here long and I've started to notice that so dot worry i guess its just the way the river flows

Hmm, it appears we are going through the same phase at the moment.

Unfortunately it is the way things are: Fetish wins over everything else, especially when females are involved. There's nothing that can be done.
And it seriously urks me a bit as well (and I think you know that).
I remember 2 years ago when drawing used to be fun. Now it's just boring, and I feel that I'm wasting my time. Anytime I draw something awesome, I get no results. Yet these shitty sketches I've been doing are far more popular than anything else, simply cause they contain tickling. No-one ever asks "whens your next pic?" or "what you going to draw next?" it's always "Who's going to be tickled next?!" or "Draw my character being tickled!"

I've gotten to the point where I've just given up, and I'm just going to draw for the masses. It keeps them quiet and gives me attention.

Although I do not suggest that you do what I do, and I'm going to encourage you to do whatever you want, I can understand how you're feeling with this, and whatever decision you make at this point, I'll most likely stick by.

</crappycomment>

Damn, I still wish I could go to anthrocon. I hate living in the UK.

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My comments are meant to be amusing. So think of me as a comedian, before reading my comments and taking offence.

Beth seriously I know exactly how you feel, don't feel like you have to draw mabey what you need is a DA break or something. I've been stressing over art for months and because of that I havent drawn a damn thing. You can't force yourself to draw if it's not gonna be fun for you, anyways you shouldnt do so. Look I personally dont give a damn about your Lumiere imfatuation(nothing persona) nor do I watch you because of the tickle stuff. I watch you because you are a great artist, you have talent in an age that is slowly turning digital, the things you can do with your pens and markers are still something that deserves recognition today. Thats why I watch you, yeah the tickle stuff is cute and all, but I like your style. Anyways that's really why I'm a fan of your work, but if its not fun for you anymore I wouldn't be all sad if you needed a break.

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~ Jonny A. Max
"Second to none, the original one!"
< JToonz INC. since 1994 >

Well I can't totally identify with this secnem but I do know where your coming from:

The majority of my gallery is full of crappy edits, screenshots, a doodle or two, and writing. All are faved and commented on modestly...

Then I do a simple 3D art of Krystal that someone could do on a lunch break.

Lo and behold, faves are through the roof @v@

I don't even know where to start. I put up another render, same thing.

Fanservice ultimatly takes precedence over everything else, and the fans always want more of something. In a parallel to your situation, I can only imagine the response I'd get from my "fanbase" (or lackthereof) if I posted one of the many SL screenshots I have of Helios getting what he deserves.

A quote from Tough Pigs Anthology (a Muppet fansite) explains fans rather well:

"Fans are pretty easy to understand, as long as you understand that we only want one thing, which is: More than we have. The CD is never long enough, there are never enough episodes of the show. If the box set of uncut rarities has eleven episodes, then we want it to have twelve.



When fans complain -- and you can tell when a fan is complaining, because his lips are moving -- it's usually because we want more. Why can't this thing be more like the thing that I want, which is essentially a never-ending drip feed of everything I love best? Fans complain because we feel deprived -- but our capacity is infinite, so we feel deprived pretty much all the time."

Same thing goes here for many artists like yourself that draw fetish-related artwork. Let's say that you drew a tickle pic of Firebird, Beth, Sake, CG, and Lumiere? Fans would complain because it dosen't have your other chars like Brandi, Tina, Firethorn, etc.

Now to be honest, I think you're caring just a little too much about what others think about you. The tickle community and Deviantart are not beauty pagents in any way, shape, or form, so it shouldn't really matter if your art isn't as good as someone else's. I've actually drawn tickle art (and I mean hand drawn) and it's pretty crappy, but I don't mind cause I do the best I can. I know I'm never gonna be a Da Vinci, but you know what? Da Vinci could never be me if he tried.

As for more attention going to bs work? Eh not sure what I can say on that one. I guess that's just how it goes I guess, one man's trash is another man's treasure after all.

So ya, ignore the haters and draw what you want, becuase those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

Helios

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"An imagination is a powerful tool. It can tint memories of the past, shade perceptions of the present, or paint a future so vivid that it can entice...or terrify, all depending on how we conduct ourselves today."

-Jim Davis

It's happened to me as well, not in this context, but I can relate.

I have a YT account, and I've gotten into AMVs lately, At first I started out just putting up parts of TV Programs or movies I like(I still do that) it would take me 1 or 2 hours to do that(at least 1/4 of that being rendering time) well, alot of people liked them, I got numerous comments telling me how hilarious/scary/sentimental they were, and that was fine, I quite enjoyed that, but when I put up an AMV, not as many liked it, some even slashed it(one got criticized because it was from something made in the 90s and the visuals were old primitive) and another had hardly any discussion.

Well, I spent 10 hours on the latter video, so I was disappointed that hardly anyone saw or commented on it.

But I have to admit, if I see something I like, I do at times have trouble getting around to saying anything(I've improved on that), It's not really clear why though, maybe because people can't think of anything they consider important enough to say

However, I hope I'm correct that even comments that say little would be accepted at this point

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My Archive: [link]

I don't really have much to say about that...I was never really in the "tickle art community", although I'm red-faced to admit that I've secretly stalked the tickle artists for some time As for art, all of it is BEAUTIFUL, and I usually take the time to look at it, but sometimes am just too busy to comment. I DO, however, try to fave all of your pieces as I think they are magnificent and fun to look at!! So, that's my story

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"I am the walrus, I am the walrus. PAUL IS DEAD! Coo-coo-ca-choo."
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I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior. If you do too and aren't scared to admit it, then copy & paste this in your signature. <3