Rainman Artwork 2013 Pulp Fiction Project 2- Jules the Shepard

[Bullet]

A lot of people have been rude with their comments and pushy with their suggestions but Rainman can't forget about the rest of us that are still here supporting Jules and anxious to see what we have purchased, the fans greatly outweigh the nay sayers.

It really sucks that Rainman is feeling low what with recent developments in this thread but the only criticism if any is because we all know what Rainman is capable of and would love another Bill or Dude quality like release. I really think Rainman should have been allowed to do this one the way he wanted (real hair etc) would have been interesting to see the result. I voted for sculpted hair regret it now should have allowed Rainman to go with his gut would have perhaps yielded a different result with the sculpt.

I think most or at least a few peoples concern is with the statement highlighted above 'what have we purchased' we still don't know but its good to hear everythings on its way back from the casters . I have every faith in Rainman if I didn't I would buy his work and would not be as big a fan as I am makes me feel really bad that any suggestions etc have been taken in a negative vein. I can only speak for myself but never intended any offence towards the man merely offering up suggestions for improvement if Rainman doesnt want to act on them then fine no problem this is art afterall. These figures are his vision not mine. If I like the result I'll buy and 9 times out of 10 I like the result.

 

[Lejuan]

TBH, I think it just comes with the territory, being top dog, or top of the heap, whatever cliche you want to use.

Velvet Morning posts WIP shots, and there's never any drama there.

Though with Serang, he just posts when he's done. He doesn't show WIP stuff, so no one ever has a chance to offer criticism. For whatever reason, people understand and accept that Serang has a style, and so does Rainman, but people want Rainman to be realistic, but don't understand that that's not Rainman's style.

You're right, I was thinking he provided updates because he'd show accessories as they were completed, but these aren't so much updates inviting comment as "this is what has been finished so far".

Serang has been focused on more historical figures as opposed to movie themes figures which have a lot more references than Van Gogh or Beethoven.

I think it has more to do with the type of customer who is drawn to the subject matter. Beethoven fans don't whine as much as Pulp Fiction fans

If RM is bummed about the feedback he's getting, he should just stop inviting feedback. Any artist who sets out to please others before himself will experience what he's apparently going through. He should have the self belief to deliver a work that HE is happy with. I'm sure if he loves it others will accept it. And if they don't, that's unfortunate for them but RM will be far happier as an artist imo. It'd suck to have the joy taken out of a work because of the perceived need to constantly accommodate the input of punters.

I like Kara's suggestion... if you like what you see from RM, let him know.

 

[Raymond F.]

IMO the solution is the opposite. Open it up to more feedback, more WIP shots, less room for surprise and disappointment. It also might be a good idea to find another point person who can translate the feedback to avoid misinterpretation.

 

[Lejuan]

IMO the solution is the opposite. Open it up to more feedback, moremapWIP shots,Miles's room for surprise and disappointment. It also might be a god idea to find another point person who can translate the feedback to avoid misinterpretation.

I think if you go with the first bit, the second bit is essential.

 

[Raymond F.]

Definitely! I also edited my post, damn typos on iPad.

 

[Lejuan]

I was gonna correct it in the quote, but I liked the hubris of it being a god idea

 

[marlindesign]

I think RM likes to please - unfortunately you can't please everybody.
There will always be someone saying you need to do this, or add that, or hope you do this because I want it...

But it is a forum - opinions are necessary! Not every one will be in love with every RM figure. Its the hobby...

 

[karamazov80]

If there is one area where I would fault Rainman a bit, it is that he does reinforce this behavior. He ignores some of it, but then takes some of it to heart and changes things, and it goes back and forth. Some members understandably get to thinking that he will listen to more requests, then push it more and more, and at some point it seems almost expected, though the reality is he sometimes doesn't do what folks want.

I think that's where some of the difference exists between collector behavior toward Rainman vs., say, a Serang happens. If Rainman just ignored people and did whatever he wanted to, folks might still complain, but no way it would happen to the extent that it does with palpable frustration when he didn't cave into collector requests. Would it affect his bottom line? Possibly. But if the comments really frustrate him then I personally think the only solution is to ignore them to a greater extent than he has in the past. Or, he could just try to cave into the consensus every time in order to appease customers (assuming some of what is asked of him is even possible). But I think the back and forth of ignore/concede/ignore/concede sets him up for frustrated customers who often expect more than they get.

I think another part of the frustration customers have comes from his inconsistency at nailing likeness. Sometimes he hits a grand slam, and sometimes it's a foul ball. But seeing the grand slam, some folks expect that any sculpt he goes after can reach that same level of excellence. But maybe it sometimes just can't.

 

[Lejuan]

Denny's relationship with this board and how he manages releases from interest-to-production seems exemplary. If I'm not mistaken he typically has a couple of 'advisers' through whom board input is channeled. The Neo Iminime put out, for example, was made all the more awesome for it.

 

[greatlakes6]

Karamazov80, You are exactly right. Once someone has a complaint, makes a suggestion, etc., and it gets done by Rainman, then they think they can do this all the time. They start to think they are entitled to have their voice heard and the changes they would like to see be made. Rainman wants to wear the white hat, but he may have to start wearing the black one.

 

[robbiethepainter]

Denny isn't the sculptor though. He can act as a buffer between what is shown here and what eventually gets to the artisans.

 

[Commtech]

Exactly. Plus, Denny is a businessman. Not artist feelings are broken there.

 

[Lejuan]

I wonder how much tact Denny uses in passing on the input to his sculptors

 

[karamazov80]

Karamazov80, You are exactly right. Once someone has a complaint, makes a suggestion, etc., and it gets done by Rainman, then they think they can do this all the time. They start to think they are entitled to have their voice heard and the changes they would like to see be made. Rainman wants to wear the white hat, but he may have to start wearing the black one.

But really, why wouldn't people expect that, if that's how Rainman responds? Going back to some old psychology terminology, it's a form of operant conditioning.

Denny's relationship with this board and how he manages releases from interest-to-production seems exemplary. If I'm not mistaken he typically has a couple of 'advisers' through whom board input is channeled. The Neo Iminime put out, for example, was made all the more awesome for it.

Denny actively solicits input from boardies, and in this sense is different from Rainman. As such, expectations of change seem expected from both sides at some level. From a business POV, I think it is definitely a good way to go. But not necessarily from an artistic POV. Since Denny wears his business interests on his sleeve, it certainly makes sense for him.

 

[Cheungkinmen]

Don't forget that Denny pays his sculptors, they work for a boss so any change HAS to be made, as for Rainman he is a one man gang thus it's more personal.

Who knows, maybe Denny's sculptors gets frustrated when there is a major change or critique to a sculpt, too.

 

[karamazov80]

Yeah, I would assume the artistic freedom stuff takes a backseat when you're on someone's payroll with a clear job to do, vs. a guy doing his own thing, trying to straddle the line of artist/businessman. Might still sting getting criticism, but that's got to be an explicit part of the job in the former case. Then you've got collaborations of Iminime with guys like Rainman which make things a bit more murky.

 

[greatlakes6]

People have been conditioned to believe they have a say in the final product. I like the way Scott (Velvet Morning) handles it. He on occasion will refer to comments made on his thread and say "I'll take a look at that"' or "Thanks for the input", letting you know you have been heard, but not that those changes will necessarily be made.

 

[greatlakes6]

We also have to recognize the difference between an artist/company who is looking to provide a figure specific to what the buying community wants and someone who is providing their interpretation of a figure.

 

[IKE-CON]

My post wasn't calling Rainman out by the way, not saying you or anyone thought that Johnny haha just want people and Rainman to know that his work is still greatly appreciated and I am very much looking forward to my FS Jules! Sometimes people need to realize that this is ART and though art has some guidelines it can be perceived any way the artist wants it and people are allowed to disagree but that doesn't mean for them to be rude and/or demand changes to the artists vision. I may sound like a Rainman fanboy right now but screw it! I thoroughly enjoy his work!

Yeah, several of us already said this like 10 times in the thread.
But then we get jumped on for suggesting more tact and less
thumping of the artist. And a translator as well to help filter the
tactless a bit.

We are still with you Rainman. Don't let people change your
artistic view on your projects. I can't wait to get Jules, changes or
not.

 

[Commtech]

People have been conditioned to believe they have a say in the final product. I like the way Scott (Velvet Morning) handles it. He on occasion will refer to comments made on his thread and say "I'll take a look at that"' or "Thanks for the input", letting you know you have been heard, but not that those changes will necessarily be made.

I completely agree. Scott handles it very professionally.

A big mistake that Rainman and other artists have also made, imo (and I'm sorry if some of you don't like what I'm about to write), is that they have allowed too many people to contact them directly, mostly to waste their time and for their own personal interests. People who want to be in the loop and whose only interest is to brag that they have news and inside info, more than help the project. Unless the artist is the one who approaches a regular joe collector/customer, we have no business bothering them like a groupie/fanboy. I work in the entertainment industry and see this happen all the time with sad individuals who want to brag about being "friends" with famous actors. To me, that direct contact is worse than speaking your mind in the thread. Who knows if they are transmitting the information in their own subjective (and more convenient to them) way to the artist.
I do, however, agree about having one person appointed by the artist as middle man between collectors and artist in order to give the artist a drama-free summary of suggestions and ideas.