GFXartist Development

Publish date:

05/12/09 @758

Editor:

The Future of GFXartist?

First of all, this is a REALLY informal blog posting, and may be rambling in nature, so you'll have to excuse me in advance of attempting to read this.

Many of you have no idea who I am. Honestly, you shouldn't. My history with the founders of GFXartist goes back quite a number of years. Basically, I assisted with operation of the servers, before Brothers in art "took off" with their involvement with several high profile clients. Over the the years, my own personal life has taken many interesting turns and twists, and the time I once had to devote to various online pursuits dwindled to a very small amount. All during that time though, I continued to keep tabs on GFXartist. I too was saddened to see the decline of the site, and its community, due to the founders essentially leaving the site to its own devices.

For the record, I have tried NUMEROUS times to get further access to the site, to try and fix the various issues and concerns that were voiced here over the years. Unfortunately, contact with the founders was non-existent for years on end. Email went unanswered, instant messenger contact disappeared, and even phone contact was unproductive. It's really a shame that things went the way they did, and I DO understand why. Unfortunately, I still have yet to get the full story on things, as do many of the members who still continue to support this site.

Even though my own personal time is limited still, I would LOVE to try and help fix GFXartist, and maybe even "rebuild" it in a sense, possibly getting it back to what it used to be; a community. However, I'm of the opinion that this just isn't going to ever happen.

Maybe the people of this site will let me know what THEY think. This posting is an attempt to allow you to do just that. Do YOU all think something should be done here, or are you content to let GFXartist die on the vine? I'm willing to take on the challenge of possibly doing something here, but I can't do it alone, and I'm going to need you, the community, to let me know if the effort is wanted. This is part of the reason that my posting about this is going in my blog, rather than plopped onto the main page of news. I'm looking for those people that still spend the time here, looking over everything.

Anyway, I thank those of you in advance who happen to stumble across this, and choose to let your thoughts be known. Maybe there's a chance to do something here. Time will tell...

ThruMyEyez

05/13/09 @006

Four years since your last blog!!
I do think you should post this either on the front page announcements or at least as a forum post.
Obviously any help and contribution to the site will be a help and a plus.

Your quote:
"Even though my own personal time is limited still, I would LOVE to try and help fix GFXartist, and maybe even "rebuild" it in a sense, possibly getting it back to what it used to be; a community. However, I'm of the opinion that this just isn't going to ever happen.'
implies that a community does not exist here. I must strongly disagree. In spite of a lack of time and or interest by the owners we the members continue to contribute in many ways and as such constitute the community of today. If the owners stepped up and decided to spend some effort here the community would grow even further.
Do what you can Colin. It will be appreciated of course! The members who have been here for years and the newer ones are already doing their share and I'm sure will continue to do so. Now the time has come to see if the owners can do the same. Good luck!

wildlifehoodoo

05/16/09 @956

I agree with Gary that this should be on the front page. Believe it or not I only got here by accident ( I clicked on member blogs instead of general news )

Anyway I also would like to see this site resurrected from the ashes.

patrickdeza

06/23/09 @983

I think it's the upload that made GFXartist so unpopular compared to the other sites where it's just so much easier to share his work.
At least that's one the reasons why I left years ago.
But I am aware of the fact that it just doesn't have the money to rent servers for imagehosting.

GFXartist was my very first community and I learned a lot about digital painting here. My favorite section was the tutorial page which is not up to date anymore. I'd love to help rebuilding it. I came back to reupload my portfolio and to update it and I will try to make it more popular again.

So Colin, you could first of all delete all the tutorials that aren't working anymore (Adi Granov etc).
I will add you on IM.

Patrick

Nocturnetus

08/03/09 @433

Hi

I'm Robert from Sweden. Have been a member for a week (or two? perhaps). Noticed that this site is not as active as I thought. But the direction is excellent. The basic idea with comments on artwork for feedback is great, and tutorial and other content. The forum fills its purpose.

I hope for a snowball effect if some members come back and new ones enter then it will be more and more content and more activities.

Keep it up!

L-iNC

08/21/09 @037

Yes, you should put some effort in to GFXartist. Would be glad to help in any way I can. (:

Piffle

10/27/09 @128

I came across this site while following some of my favorite artists. In just the last year all of them have abandon the site and closed their companies down. I know the problems with this site have been here long before I signed up but from my perspective it just keeps going down hill. Still I love the site and want to support it in any way possible. So I wish you good luck.

dakoo

11/19/09 @858

there is nothing that is not none.
i suppose
1. upload for free on this server.
2. connect it to flickr using API allowing upload here easily, i have seen it on BrooklynArtProject site, its easy & will bring a lot of flickr traffic as it doesn't have any voting widget.
3. Auto image resizing & thumbnail creation. (a norm on all websites)

Simple things really...that can be fixed if owners allow..

For more maybe Groups/personal blogs for artist for free..

The main skeleton of the site is good enough to stand with the rest of art websites.
And the concept is timeless..

The owners really should open the code to the supporters of the site who continue to fight all odds. Its sad to say the biggest enemies of the site at present seem to be its creators

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