In answer to your question remember that everyone is different and artists can be some of the most tempermental of people.First I say I agree with some of the things said here but disagree with most.You can be nice and sweet all you want...and still get attacked because you're comment wasn't good enough or wasn't what the artist wanted you to say.Some people don't realise how much stuff gets posted on this site and how grateful they should be for any comment at all so long as its not insulting.

Thats why you see so many gratuitous comments like "great pic" as the people viewing your art often have a lot more to do than view your works...yet they took the time to view yours and leave a comment.Compare views to comments on works and you'll get the idea as most views don't result in a comment.

To me its not the commentor who is at issue but the artist as once you put up your art you have no right to expect or demand any special treatment regardless of how you personally feel.So if you ever get a cold response from an artist Doodles...strike them off your list and don't comment on their work again~you took the time to view and comment for which they should be grateful but often aren't

My advice is that if its good enough to view and you like it,leave a comment...even a little joke or a standard great pic:)However,my feeling changes when you rank the image because if you compliment the image without giving a critique about something you think needs improved,then you have no right to give the image a low rank...rank should reflect your comment and can hurt even worse when the artist finds their work just got ranked "Needs Improvement" when the commentor only said how wonderful the image was.

When commenting remember to set aside your own "agendas" as if you don't like images of big breasted women...at least don't act like an idiot stating that women like this don't really exist and attack the artist when if it was a woman with what you consider to be "normal" sized breasts~it would not have drawn your ire or you might not have even commented on at all!!Might surprise you to know that millions of women have naturally large breasts which is why so many other women want them if even by artificial means...view the image first and judge it fairly.Its like my objection to using the child morphs to create nude images,I placed an adult in some of these situations and objected only if the character was posed in a clearly sexual manner by adult standards.

I have only deleted one image from my gallery because of a comment and that was one where the comment was aimed at me regarding the loss of my mother...sometimes artists pour their souls into an image and just need to say a word about what they're experiencing~to insult them or try to one up them by saying get over it my problems are worse than yours is reprehensible.You can say what you want about the art...but never under any circumstances critique a comment that the artist leaves on their work where they are expressing their feelings~your only need is to comment on the work and maybe try to cheer them up,not to attack them for sharing a moment with you about something thats going on in their lives.

Insults are the only thing that peeve me because most of the time the insult has nothing to do with the image...beyond that either offer no rank when you comment or make the rank reflect your comments.That to me are the only rights an artist has once they put up an image...

In response to ms houston,never limit your comments to an established artist as its the newbies who need you most.If you don't think their work is worthy of merit or good by your standards...how do you expect that the artist will know this and the dejection they feel that no one notices them can be heartwrenching.These people are the ones who really need your support and helpful comments...the better artists generally have a sense of how good they are and because of that,some develop an attitude.

I have found that often most comments come from friends you've made on rosity and some of the very best artists may get even less support than some of the worst because they don't have time to develop the friendships and such needed to get support.I have so many people on my favorites list and yet keep falling behind...when I go into the gallerys and comment on art I actually look for newbies and people who get few comments,if the image has been up for ten minutes and already has 15 comments then its obvious this person doesn't need my support because they're on enough favorites lists to do well.

I will comment on great artists works,but I'm also more likely to point out minor flaws that they miss because they're far enough along to not make such mistakes.If you want to make a living at this then even as good as you are,never get mad when someone points out a mistake as thats a mistake that could have cost you a lost commission or a loss of reputation~until you make it big,the first word of protest out of your mouth could very well relegate you to the nameless masses who may do great works and never gain the recognition you deserve.

In my case,the days I made a living from art are behind me...its just a hobby for me so I don't care what comments I get so long as they're not insulting.If you don't like it tell me why...if you don't like the images content,send me a personal message to discuss it as others have done just that and instead of an enemy I made friends.But if you attack me or a friend just to slam us,I will come after you and your work better be perfection or expect to get slammed in return...thats a little inside info as there are a lot of people who do the eye for an eye thing as well so treat others as you might expect them to treat you~then expect the worst if you've insulted them lol.

To ask what makes a good comment is kinda a loaded question when its the artists themselves who will be answering...surprised some of these guys didn't mention that they will complain and actually instruct you on how to comment on their images since that happens as well.To me its more the artists themselves who are at issue...how well do you handle comments good or bad when you should be glad that the commentor commented at all (save for an insult)!

If the end goal of learning is genius...why are most geniuses failures at learning?