I have been here for a long time now but have finally decided to pull my gallery and remove myself from this site. There are many reasons for my doing this but the main one is that in my opinion the site has been going through a steady and disturbing decline over the years while sites similar have mostly been improving. Part of the problem here is that it seems if you can use a computer and create something even passable enough to be considered a picture of sorts as long as you make others feel they are really good they will reciprocate in kind. I have observed on many occassions that if a person actually gives an honest critique on an image they are immediately flamed or attacked by the "friends" of those who are critiqued. Not only are they not able to defend thier reasons for thier critique but I notice that a lot of the time in these cases they are warned or "threatened"? by some of the admins here on Renderosity ( and you know who you are) and in some cases not allowed to post in thier defense by certain said admins. I have been here long enough to have seen this happen time and again. The thing with Renderosity is it is a money maker and those with the most friends who buy a lot of stuff (a large number of which seems to be decreasing in quality) and those who spend the most is what counts. The cliques and not the administration run this site and it has been this way for some time. Don't get me wrong, there are some very good artists here and I admire a lot of them but the spheres on the water and standing stones off into infinity that get huge acclaim and accolades over and over again just don't cut it. I have watched the improvement of some here that in a few cases are astounding. I have also seen people who have been here for years doing the same thing over and over again until it bores me to tears become more influential and popular while others with true talent fade away and go to other places or just quit.

So to the ones I admire and who take the time to actually look at the work by others here with an honest and true outlook I wish you all well. To the rest look at the sites such as 3DTotal where they consider Renderosity galleries a joke that no one laughs at but all deride.

So C ya:)  

That's what happens when an online gallery becomes more of a social network (see Facebook).

You're so s right. I've stopped commenting here on most of the artworks. When you give an honest critique wanting to help the artist to improve, you get flamed indeed. It happened to me a couple of times. If people don't want to grow as an artist, fine. I'm also fed up with all the bravo's.... hugs.... amazings..... outstandings and so on posted at sub standard, mediocre and often outright crap. I'm going to have a look at 3Dtotal for sure, perhaps I can get some good and helpful critique there myself.

Thats awful man what is it with people nowadays

Sure Constructive critics is fine but flaming your work is total bull. I personally think it is jealously in the art world whatever you do you have to have a thick skin I have noticed because some people like nothing more than to run other people down. My advice to them is Get a Life or try to do something yourself rather than run down others.

I just had a look at 3DTotal. I personally wouldn't post any of my renders there though, probably get laughed off

and I'd be asked to leave. :)

There's some excellent work on there.

I like criticism, it can help improve a persons work, as long as it's constructive.

I have seen a lot of people giving really good comments on every image uploaded by the same author.

Even though the images in my opinion were not that good. Could never understand it.

Although I've had a lot of nice comments for my work, I don't really comment on many myself.

I'm not a very good critic so I try not to. Sometimes it's better to be silent and be thought of as a fool, than speak out and remove all doubt. :)

Good luck Beelzebub.

I understand some of the comments, but I think the galleries have to be viewed for what they are - a space for anyone to upload what they create. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, whether its 'good' or 'bad' (always subjective to a point). I would hate to see the web with just galleries of the more experienced such as CGArena or 3DTotal. I've had the pleasure of viewing some fantastic art here (and fantastic doesn't necessarily equal technically superb) which I've really enjoyed - art that without places like this I would not have access to. Also, places like Rendro can be an inspiration for less experienced folk to improve if they want to, or just to have fun with their hobby (that's just what it is for most people on this site, and nothing wrong with that).

I personally would not want to interact with those on other sites that deride this one because of the less experienced levels of art. That's just plain snobbish and ignorant in my opinion. Also, everyone had to start somewhere -no one came out of their mother's womb being able to make 'perfect' art! And not everyone has an artistic eye, so 'improvement' technically or compositionally may be slower than for others - or maybe they are happy at whatever level they are at. 

I do think it's not helpful if people can't comment critically. I think the problem may be that not everyone knows how to critique without making it sound harsh - and words can be easily misinterpreted, that's the nature of the medium. Perhaps Rendro should have a page on tips on how to critique in the right way. I would think most people if critiqued in the right tone would not take offence.  

Just my two pence worth:)

While it is true the Rendo needs to make money, people who buy more than others are not regarded as special cases by Admin. Everbody must adhere to the rules and that includes not being permitted to 'flame' or post derogatory comments. We will deal with these as soon as they are brought to our attention.

On the subject of what is good 'art' or not so good, yes, it is subjective; beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is up to the artists themselves to raise the benchmark, goalposts, standard etc in order to encourage members to try harder and produce better art. There have always been cliques and these are not necessarily a bad thing. I would encourage all members to post well balanced and helpful crits, rather than simple one word approvals. The Bryce Forum and Gallery has always been one of the most helpful and understanding sections of the Rendo community and I hope it stays that way.

If you have a particular problem, please feel free to post me a private message and I will do my impartial best to help out.

Have a great day!

https://3dtotal.com and http://www.cgsociety.org are both about the same as far as getting critique comments. Both sites improved my modeling. Renderosity is not about that though. Different demographic.

If you ever find yourself interested in architectural modeling, http://www.3dallusions.com is the place to go for good critiquing. And for spaceship modeling, there is http://www.scifi-meshes.com, which is famous for improving one's sci-fi modeling.