If you want that person to get better (or whatever your reasons are) let them know why you rated it low.


If you don't care about them or if they get better or not, don't rate at all.

Though I'm not an artist in the same sense as you (fan fiction writer), it's happened numerous times where my art's been rated zero without anyone telling me why. Sometimes people are just dicks.
I've often mentioned that we should have it that those who rate works should be forced to makes posts to encourage artists to improve, but I don't think that's a feature that'll be implemented for a good while.

I think some people just get jealous. They see a perfect rating and feel the need to diminish it. That, and/or they dislike the character the piece features.

Of course it would bother me to get a low rating and not know why, but it bothers me even more to have my work detracted for personal taste reasons, regardless of rating.

Yeah its gets to me sometimes. I like that idea you have Jerrod about if you rate you gotta give a reason. I looked at alot of great pieces of art and writing on here, but am baffled at the low scores they recieved, when they should have deserved better scores.

To me it seems that some of the artwork is rated almost like a popularity contest on here. Some users on here are going to get an automatic 5/5 because they have great art, but are also well known by others, and it seems newer artist who have amazing skills sometimes get ignored.

As for me I use to be good with art, but I haven't tried drawing in years, but if I had put my art on here i would want people to comment on it and give me feedback as well. So everytime I rate art on here I always comment, whether it's just "Amazing work" or "Great job", but I will also write what I like about it specifically.

I'm brand spankin' new around here and usually my work gets enough attention... Though not nearly as much as the well known artists for the obvious reason. But also, a lot of work simply isn't as high quality as the two or three mega-artists around here that I've been told I to emulate..................

Also, some things people just like more. I haven't put up my best work on here(for many reasons, I tend to rush works if I know I plan on submitting them somewhere.. Don't know why), but I have a feeling if I put up the single best work of my life, it would not attract as much attention as the most well known users, simply because of the style. It lacks appeal.

Its all opinion at the end. i usually give 4-5 stars but im no art critic so i can't tell you how to make it better or what was wrong with it, all im qualified to say is "i like it" or "great job" that's why i sometimes only rate without comments.

Occasionally ill say something that i don't like but regardless give them a 4-5 just for having the balls to put it up.

i know comments are good to help improve artistic skill so ill try to comment more

but in the end if YOU are proud of your own work, that's all that really matters

I usually rate people with 4's and 5's, I've never given a score lower than that on any art piece I've seen. I don't usually comment because I'm no artist and I don't want to look foolish or be unhelpful with my comments, so I usually just rate in silence, but when I do comment, I've offered my thoughts, but it's mostly just, "great job" or "I love this piece".

I will be a more active commentator in the future, but rest assured if I was to ever give a low score on someone's work I would explain my thoughts on why.

People who rate your work low without giving you a critique aren't people worth listening to. Yeah, it sucks that it lowers your average, but if they aren't going to put the time into giving some feedback, then they can honestly fuck off. People who post things like "it's nice" or "awesome" also tend to be really annoying for the same exact reason. They aren't actually saying anything worth listening to.

Its fine if you just say "awesome" or "great job," but its when you get a low rating then don't get feedback as to why the person doesn't like it is what gets me.