Edit: pluv shows why he is God among men. He is a good guy with good thoughts. Read his post for the stuff I'm really trying to say with the following:


Ok, I think I know where you are going. Let's blame the confusion on clumsy formulations and language barriers.

Do I like honest critique? Yes I do.
Would I also want nonsensical appraise on my customs? Yes I would.
I have posted my customs here for several reasons, among them to get good ideas and input (and this point could include the general discussion around the custom. A very entertaining part of this forum, that you can't get from posting customs in the gallery). But I also post my customs to show them off, show that my skills (hopefully) are developing, to get consensus for a hobby, get feedback, and to simply get a pat on the back after hours or even days of work.

I'd rather think of it like this: Who do I want to comment on my customs?
Obviously, the correct answer to this is the persons that know me, or at least knows something about me. Cause critique can be as honest as possible, it doesn't mean a thing if you can't view the custom and the person behind the custom together.
It can be as simple as this: One person may have just started making customs, while another person have done this for a good while. You cannot expect the same from both, and you cannot give critique the same way. It can also be as complex as this: One person only makes figures for his own figure-universe, and one person always uses RAH parts in his customs. Would you criticise the first for only making non-existing characters? And would you criticise the other for never using new sculpt parts?
Lousy examples maybe, but I hope you get the point, cause these are factors you can't ignore when commenting, and in particular if you plan on giving negative critique.

Want to comment the custom but you know nothing about the person behind it? Stick to the "That's a nice custom!". It will certainly not do any harm.

I really really really hope that we continue to have tons of customs posted on this forum, cause I love more than anything to see new work. I have honestly yet to see a bad custom being posted, cause I know how hard it can be, so why would I give negative comments? I can remember vividly how it was to make customs before I even had the proper tools to make them. The community is not bigger than it has to be, so let's not make it elitist to the point where new guys are afraid to post their customs.

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Golden Rule: I critique customs like I'd like my customs to be critiqued.

I'm pretty hard on most of my customs...So a number don't get posted on the board...Part of that is logistic because of my computers age it's just too annoying to transfer a lot of pics. The other half of it is that I don't want to post somthing that isn't going to reflect the ammount of work I've put into it. I think I hold people to a similar standard when I critique...why bother posting if you're not going to take pride to finish off yoru work, same situation with the 400 character limit or photo quality in the gallery...take the time to put your best foot forward, there is no race

I don't want to waste your or my time with blurry pics, sloppy paint, or unfinished ideas. My pace is quite slow but broad...There are times I won't touch specific a custom for weeks or months...some even years... Thats part of why I don't post WIPs...its a bit selfish but when I've got what I think is an original idea...I want the credit for being 1st to do it...Dosn't happen all that often but I'm pretty sure anybody who's been customizing for a few years has been "Chad-Matted" on a custom they're working on. The other reason for not posting WIPs is because they're not fully formed Ideas...at that stage I really don't want input because I'm still working towards my vision for a figure or vehicle...There are times I've been stuck along that WIP path and needed to ask for some input...So while I say I don't post WIPs...don't hold me to it should I decide I need some input on a future custom.

When I leave a critique there are a number of reasons I will or won't. If I don't think I can add much, I won't post. If I think/know the customizer isn't looking for any input, I won't post. If I've made suggestions before to the same customizer...and I feel I'm being repetitive on my input...I don't post. Often there are styles that I'm just not a big fan of...I don't need to beat a dead horse so I'll leave threads by that customizer or style of customizing alone.

When I do post a critique: I try to be Simple and Honest...I always try to suggest ways to fix flaws that bother me. It's critique, not criticism...it should be beneficial to the artist and/or others reading the crit.

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I wouldnt stay involved with GTG if I didnt,GTG just pays for its self,itsmy love for the hobby that is my focus.

Dave, you have no idea how happy this statement alone makes me. The wealth of heads and pieces alone gave the hobby a much needed creative shot in the arm for some of us, and for that, I am appreciative.

Between your product, and both of the Johns (JFAK and Marauder), even if the customs I and some hope to make fail, at least there is the chance at making it that did not exist previously. Try as I might, I can't find a single head existing in GIJOE, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, or even BBI that would have enabled me to make my upcomming Conan figure, my hopeful Drizz't, and of course, I would have never gotten to enjoy my Resident Evil creations without John. But I found those heads at GTG.

But back to critiques, considering many of the figures and toy lines some create here and on other sites were never realized ever, even a failure is still better than it remaining an unrealized dream figure. At best, we come close, or someone here will suggest something that brings us closer.

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I like honest critiques of my work. Sometimes I'll explain why I did something a certain way if its not well received and keep it my way and sometimes it forces me back to the work desk and I'll fix the problem and bring it back for critique again. But either way I like to hear the truth.
I enjoy the ego boosting "nice work". "good job", and etc. but I would like to see that expanded by pointing out at least one thing that is "nice work", whether its the paint, part selection, or backstory. Point out one thing about the custom that is better than the rest and I feel like an expert in the area and can focus my attention in another area for my next one.
I don't give critiques much anymore though. I've seen too many people blow up over honest critiques in the past so I quit handing them out. Some folks on here I know can take constructive criticism and I'll give it but others get mad or don't even acknowledge my post ( or so it seems).
So after all that I figure you get what you give and I don't expect many critiques anymore since I don't give anymore.



Speaking of critiques, where the hell is Grand Slam? He was the master at critiques. He had a perfect way to give you a compliment and advice all in the same sentence.

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