The ConceptArt.org forums are a goldmine for talent and inspiration. They feature artists of all experiences and styles, from elites to newcomers. What they all have in common though, is a lust for art. Since you are reading this, I assume you also share the same passion.

Those of you who have visited ConceptArt.org or have joined the CA family already, probably understand when I say that the site can seem very daunting at first. Almost every user seems to of started by hiding in the shadows, just observing the work being uploaded, before finally signing up. Well I’m telling you now: come out of the shadow, and sign up.

If you still need a few reasons why, then read on:

1. Self Improvement

Self improvement is probably the main reason to get set up on ConceptArt.org. If you are seeking to improve in your creative abilities, whether it be drawing, painting or any other medium, you will definitely benefit here. Setting up a ConceptArt Sketchbook is probably the first thing to do. It is essentially your own thread where you post anything and everything you have, as you do it. Others can then post on your thread about your work. Click here to see my own sketchbook.

Why is this a good idea? Feedback. Feedback is the key. This worries some people, but you probably won’t get far without it. I don’t mean feedback like ‘wow that is so amazing, wish i could do that’, but genuinely constructive criticism. Yes, criticism. The harsher (but still constructive) the better. I’m not trying to say you will only get dragged through the dirt, but those sort of comments are probably the most beneficial. You should encourage people to pick holes, so that you can improve on those areas and get an idea of where to go next.

Not only will people comment on your most recent work, but as you provide more and more, they will start to notice the progress you have made. After being paranoid about my anatomy work, I felt a great confidence boost from being told that I had come along way with all the practicing I had done. Trust me, feedback really goes a long way.

2. Community

We all need friends. At ConceptArt.org there is a huge community just waiting for you. As I mentioned before, feedback is essential. The other users at CA are all at different skill levels themselves. What makes CA feel so much more welcome is that the ‘elites’ (for example those in industry) will come down to ground level, to provide valuable and encouraging feedback too. From my experience that is quite unusual, and definitely worth taking advantage of.

With people at so many different skill levels, it is very easy to find someone at your own level and interest that you can bounce off. This can really give you the motivation you need to keep working at it. You feel obliged to respond to any work they upload and vice versa, starting a relationship which will likely result in you both accelerating your progress.

With all this relationship building going on, it will naturally result in some valuable networks. A lot of people end up creating clans and collectives, linking to each other in their signature and potentially setting up websites together / putting in good words for each other.

3. Inspiration

If you are seeking inspiration, this is another big reason to get involved. The most obvious form of inspiration here is just the huge amounts of eye candy artwork that is being produced from all angles. Though it isn’t just searching for artwork to inspire you, but artists themselves. I have discovered so many artists through CA, including one of my new favourites Wesley Eggebrecht.

As mentioned before, it is very easy to find artists to bounce off and use as inspiration to push your own artwork further. It is good not only to have artists to aspire to, but to also those who you can improve alongside and be inspired by each other mutually.

4. Digital Footprint

I know this isn’t always an interest to artists, but it is certainly something you should be thinking about if you want to gain exposure and get noticed for your work. I personally think it is essential for an artist to spread themselves. Any site which allows you to submit your own work is giving you free advertising. The wider (and richer) the coverage of your digital footprint, the more recognition you will receive.

This ties in with the community / networking aspect mentioned above. If you continually update and post to the forums (or almost any site, for that matter), you are leaving a value trail of bread crumbs to follow. This doesn’t just include people, but search engines as well (essential for when you set up your own site). It all adds up.

5. Competitions, Activities and Resources

There is always a lot going on at ConceptArt.org in terms of activity. In the activities forum, they have community activities going on every week. These include Character of the Week (CHOW), Creature of the Week (COW) and Environment of the Week (EOW). Each week has a theme and descriptive brief designed to help you hone and push your artistic skills. As the titles imply, there is a winner each week. Think you are up to it?

There is also a huge resource for artists, which can be found here.

How to make the most of it

If you are hoping to make the most of ConceptArt.org, you need to stick at it. The people who receive the most feedback on the site are those who update regularly and consistently, rather than just dumping huge piles of scraps every so often. Not only does posting in bulk overwhelm any potential feedback providers, but it means your thread will rarely reach the top of the pile and quickly disappear to the bottom.

Every time you post (or someone else posts on your thread), the thread will move to the top of the forum front page for all to see. Posting regularly means that you can maintain a spot where you will certainly be noticed.

Get involved with the community and be sure to post constructively on other peoples work, or at least spare a few kind words if you are in a genuine rush. People will almost always return the favour and will take note when they see your name crop up regularly on other peoples threads. Remember you will only get out, what you put in.