So I post ads on craigslist.com periodically, in the "artists" or "creative services" sections, with the heading "Muralist/Portrait Artist for Hire," and include pictures of my work and a link to my website. One day, I saw that someone had posted a "RE:" to my ad:

Dude, Stop it already. Your portraits suck, you post every other day. Take your stuff to the arts and crafts section, it's obvious that nobody is coming to you because your art work... sucks. Spend more than 2 weeks working on them, that chick's face seriously looks as bloated as a fish. Honestly man, give it a break.

This was pretty exciting, because now I knew that my art could truly change someone's life. Someone out there was affected so powerfully, they felt compelled to post something on the Internet. Unfortunately, I'm just trying to get business, and not really looking for any sort of approval/criticism from the online art community in Chicago, otherwise that would have been really helpful. Actually, the purple girl had thanked me for making her face skinnier, and that one didn't take two weeks, it took two hours. Anyhow, I had a good chuckle and went back to looking at porn. The next, day however, the artists' section had EXPLODED with more responses, both defending and condemning both me and the original offended party:

wow. what an ass. just because you don't like this guys art or think its "good" doesnt mean you have to be a dick. I'm not a big fan of it either but its got every right to be here. Why don't you show us some of your art if you are so talented.

What gives you the right to tell someone their art sucks? Why not mind your idiotic business and go suck your brother's cock! What a retard! I bet he could barely draw a stick figure and have the audacity to judge someone's work. GO SIT YOUR STUPID SHIT HEAD ASS DOWN YOU FUCKIN' CLOWN!

You are doing the artist a favor by letting them know that they are not very good....perhaps this individual should look at other people's art and figure it out......reminds me of the "actors" who get taken into spending gobs of $ at Second City and the other improv venues. 99% suck

It's not up to you to state your opinion about an artists work. Are you GOD? Go tie your own shoes before trying to tie someone else's!

The problem is the art school face paintings. Yes, you have some likenesses here and you have tried some interesting color combinations. The yellow man's face is an impressive illustration. The problems are edge control, lack of paint, passion, and power. Richardson, Picasso's biographer, once told a story about how Picasso showed him three portraits and asked which is the strongest. Which moved him the most. There is a pretty good interview with Lucian Freud, grandson of Sigmund, at youtube. Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D_euSA7ryg

Are you an art teacher, if not why bother? I don't care about your opinion concerning my craft.

everyone has a right to their opinion and this idiot has been posting their hideous art everyday for months.....I am an artist that is in a prominent gallery and also I do fine art illustrations for major publications.... I am doing the individual a favor....Why in world would you post so often?

In general, I think we could all benefit from less of these "Please look at my art" posts around here. It is pretty annoying, plus it clutters it up here for the actually useful posts. It's one thing if you have a show coming up that you are advertising, but it's another if you just want people to go to your website. That is teetering on the edge of spamming. Limit yourself to once a month and I'm ok with it-- any more than that and you are being obnoxious. Plus, if you are out doing shows in the neighborhood then you won't need to rely on craigslist to get your art seen. And, in reality, I think the audience here is mostly other artists anyways, not the people who are interested in buying your art. Thanks and have a lovely day.

Who put you in command? Why is your time being concerned with someone's art? Look pass it and get a life. That would be a more productive thing to do. You would trash art that you feel is not up to your standards, but you will flag the fine art instead.

If you're an artist you should have integrity and keep your low-life opinion to your self. And if were doing that artist a favor, it would be better to send him/her an email and not post your garbage where others could see. You said, "get a job". But how do you know he or she doesn't have one? Why not find yourself a fuckin' life and ignore what another artist is doing, stupid!

You potty mouths sure sound smart!

I guess you're smart also wasting time judging others. Wow, that's really smart as well.

For one thing, if you think good galleries or business's look on here for good artists, lol you need help. For the person that is complaining about bad artists posting on here is a joke. I'm sure you are a great artist and work in a great gallery. You are more pathetic than than any bad art poster. Craigslist is for everyone, not just for people who work in galleries that can't actully be represented by one because their work is not good enough.

Amazing. There were even more, including a really really long one, but the novelty wore off and I had to stop reading them. Obviously, I didn't feel the need to respond to any of this on account of not giving a fuck. But it was definitely the most important I've felt since the comments scandal over Places You Should Not Try to Pick Up Chicks. Life went on as usual, but then a few months later, I received this e-mail:

god bless you for trying but you really are not a good artist, why don't you check out other artist who do portraits as well as illustrators you do editorial portraits, you will see why I have this opinion there was a controversy over you continually posting your "portraits" can't you take a hint? why don't you try another art discipline or take classes in order not set yourself up for failure. My heart goes out to you......but you need to stop posting I am sure you are getting mean people emailing you...

So I don't know if this person understands that craigslist is actually an online classifieds, not a World of Warcraft chatroom, but you have to admire their gumption.

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