Another Suggestion (following From Gaudin)

[Colin_Fraser]

I didn't want to risk hijacking Gaudin's recent thread on profiling good modellers butI thought I would try to make a positive suggestion rather than just being non-encouraging of others' new ideas.

Nothing too revolutionary - just a suggestion that we all resolve to just do more SBSs on PF...whether we are hackers, vets, masters or whatever. Despite being a modeller for 40+ years, I find that I learn lots from EVERY SBS that is posted, even if its from a complete newbie. No matter whether it's a painting or sculpting string. Its also far easier to receive critiques when the various stages of completion are illustrated. Many people just post their finished product and I think that's a shame. While it's more work to post SBSs than a finished fig, it's also likely to draw more useful critique and lead to better learning for many.

Just a thought.

Colin

 

[Gra30]

Great Colin, just my cup of tea)
My brushes come out rarely now but I have plans to paint a few new releases and so more SBS rather than completed pieces, maybe from master to mould to painting and finished piece.
Very best wishes
Gra

 

[Gaudin]

Colin - I never said you cant learn from tutorial and your view is useful. And correct. As are others.

I actually already put a suggestion to have something of a " treasure chest" section on the forum where all useful threads are collected.

But, despite alot of feedback that it is a good idea,
it was not taken forward and I don't think I should be the only driving force to make it happen, writing to admins, hoping they will notice or support it.
Forum needs to have a force of people behind it, not just commentators

I fully support your proposal.

 

[stu]

I like the idea,, i just dont like the word "critique".

I much prefer advice , help, encouragement. Critique tends to get nasty, occ very nasty.

I have been wondering whether to do this with some of my sculpts, maybe this will catalyse me to do something.

I feel we should all share our collective skills no matter how good or who you are.

Cheers Colin

Stuart

 

[Mirofsoft]

100% approved

 

[Colin_Fraser]

I like the idea,, i just dont like the word "critique". I much prefer advice , help, encouragement. Critique tends to get nasty, occ very nasty.

Excellent point Stuart - I agree that advice is so much a better word.

Colin

 

[Gaudin]

Excellent point Stuart - I agree that advice is so much a better word.

Colin

Agreed - it just embodies positive intent. Constructive feedback also works for me as far as words go.

One thing left is to teach people how to give it

 

[Nap]

Hi Guys ,

I like this idea especially from conception to the completed model , starting off at a spark of an idea from the sculptor , going through the joys of sculpting and then casting , followed by a review then a painting SBS .

My only thought is that perhaps sculptors and their clients might not be too keen to announce a future release ...whats everyone else feel ?

Nap

 

[stu]

I will give it a go Nap, for some new products it may be a little late but we can try.

Where am I to put these though.

Stuart

 

[Gra30]

Hi Nap,
I was thinking of taking the pictures and rough forming the SBS but not posting until after the release and in segments, a bit like the reviews, the same could be done for sculpts but obviously this would have to taken into consideration by readers as changes couldn't be made as the piece would actually be finished.
I am planning in starting with my Zuoave, from master, mould, painting
Best wishes
As Stu mentions I wondered where to post

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Hi Guys ,

I like this idea especially from conception to the completed modell , starting off at a sprk of an idea from the sculptor , going thrugh the joys of sculpting and then casting , followed by a review then a painting SBS .

My only thought is that perhaps sculptors and their clients might not be too keen to announce a future release ...whats everyone else feel ?

Nap

I may be alone but I also love it when people provide the history and any useful illustrations/photos that inspired them> I also appreciate useful uniform refs. and illustrations ans frequenetly return to them. Just don't write a book.

Gaudin - perhaps this is where our thoughts and ideas merge as I am interested in what inspired a sculptor or painter in terms of a specific project or piece rather in general. I frequently see a personality figure I don't know anything about and have to make trip to Wiki to find out who he was as that info is not frequently not provided. Don't be shy - give us your back story!

Cheers

Colin

 

[Gaudin]

Colin - I also said for a while that it should be a " good manners" to post some references and background for the work.
I always strived to give some historical reference background with every project, so indeed we are on same wavelength here.

Since we started talking about advice/ feedback - this is a useful model I use professionally - when training GP's.

1. Say something that you like about someone's work.
2. Say what can be done to improve it or to take work to new level ( positive) - NOT what isnt good. Everything that isnt good- convert into how to make it better.
3 Finish with overall positive statement on identity level.

Discussion is welcomed

 

[Colin_Fraser]

I will give it a go Nap, for some new products it may be a little late but we can try.

Where am I to put these though.

Stuart

I just post my in progress work in "vbench (in progress)" and that seems to work quite well, especially as it updates your vbench table of contents. Note that posting work as an SBS in "painting" or "sculpting" does NOT update the vbench. I'm not sure we need another separate location on PF.

Colin

 

[Nap]

Hi Guys ,

Stu and Gra30 both raise good points about where to put these ..do we have a separate section or perhaps as crf said use the v bench .....I am more than willing to help in anyway possible .

I think this is an exciting idea but those contributing would need to work closely together .

Be intereste dto hear other PF members thoughts .

Nap

 

[Einion]

Nice idea Colin

Einion

 

[Einion]

I like the idea,, i just dont like the word "critique".

I much prefer advice , help, encouragement. Critique tends to get nasty, occ very nasty.

You should put your mind to rest about the word Stu, it's neutral, not negative. Far too often critique and criticise are conflated, but they are not the same thing. A critique is merely a detailed analysis and assessment of something, to critique is to evaluate something in a detailed and analytical way.

Critiquing isn't about a slating or criticising something... if someone's comments are nasty then they're not critique.

Einion

 

[mil-mart]

Colin and Dimitry an excellent suggestion .
Cheers Ken

 

[ChaosCossack]

Colin is absolutely right!
Just tonight I started a thread on vBench of a piece about 40% painted. I had tried something new and before I went any further I wanted some fresh eyes to tell me what they saw. A number of members weighed in and gave their opinion AND some tips on how to improve what I had done. This is exactly what this site (particularly the vBench forum) should be... Modellers exchanging ideas and helping each other.
We can learn frrom the step by step process of those posting and those posting can get imput as the project progresses. It works both ways

Good Idea bringing this up Colin

Cheers

The Other Colin

 

[Helm]

I always use the the WIP on V Bench myself I've learnt shed loads in the short time I've been on here, like Colin (crf) don't really see the need for another bit, as for the background I like the idea but I would rather get info on my work if somebody ever asked for the background of course I'd be delighted to provide it

Steve

 

[tonydawe]

I fully support the concept Colin.

The real value pF has is its ability to bring figure modellers from all around the world together and allow them to share their passion for figure modelling and learn from, and inspire, each other.

I've learned so much from reading SBS's on the VBench and not surprisingly, its been ordinary garden variety modellers like myself who have taught me the most, not the so-called "Masters".

I can understand that some modellers don't have the time, the inclination or the patience to post SBS's and some like to wait until their figures are completed before they post pics - each to his own.

From a purely selfish point of view, I wish all figure modellers would post SBS's, as it would give me a much better insight into the process of painting a figure, rather than the result. I think most of us learn more from seeing the process explained, than from seeing the finished piece.