Dear fellow users, chances are if you read this, you're new to the art forum and / or to the art portal.
Recently threads about the scouting system or people asking to be scouted popped up a little more than usually, so I decided to create a thread dedicated to the matter that hopefully pops up when you search for the term.
Generally I'd like to refer you to the Art Forum Rules:
Feel free to post your artwork in the forum to increase your chances of getting scouted and get feedback. However, keep all your pics in one thread, so that your work is not dispersed around the art forum. Also please don't request scouting / re-scouting, see Ornery's Handy Dandy Scouting Guide..
Note the last sentence: 1) Please don't ask to be scouted. 2) Check this handy guide, written by art and forum moderator @Ornery
Now some of you some might ask: "How will people notice me if my art doesn't show up in the portal?". Here's how.
1) People do check the unscouted section of the art portal every day. Chances are very high you'll get noticed.
2) Do not ask to be scouted (I'll repeat this several more times). While there are some artists you MIGHT scout you even though you asked, many artists will not, just because you asked for, begged for or even just hinted towards it. Yes, it might seem like nitpicking, but when an artist scouts you, he not only vouches for your art, but also for you as a person. Not following a simple rule or not even reading it in the first place doesn't speak for you. Alas, it generally hurts your chances to get an invite.
3) I recommend creating a personal showcase thread. People will take note of your existence AND might help you improve AND if you also post WIPs, they'll see if you are making progress AND see you're not an art thief, thus they don't need to double and triple check if you're valid, before vouching for you. Name your art thread after yourself, for extra recognition value. Post the art IN the thread via the "include image" button when posting, links are good but images directly in the thread gain you more attention.
4) Post, review and rate. Seriously, let it be known that you're here.
5) You need 4 art submissions before you can be scouted. Some people only submit one and wait to be scouted so the next art submissions will get more views. Thing is, no matter how spectacular your first submission is, by the wonders of web development, the option to scout you won't appear before there are 4 pieces.
"But, I did all you recommended and still didn't get a scout invite?"
Okay, I'll be honest here, probably your art isn't good enough in the eyes of those who checked it out. What can you do?:
1) Make your own thread if you haven't already and ask for SPECIFIC advice. If you just ask "how can I get better", it's difficult to help you.
2) Still don't ask to be scouted.
3) You made some progress and yet no invite? Maybe the older, less good art is making them wonder about the quality of future submissions. Delete old art, delete art with less effort put in. Sometimes I don't scout people with one questionable piece. For example: Photo backgrounds slapped on, decent linework filter raped to death, stock images/patterns sprawled all over, giant watermark overlays and so on.
4) Don't submit art that isn't your own creation, even if you got permission from the original artist. Stealing art is bad and might get you banned, but even posting it in the art portal with the consent of the creator is not allowed. That kind of art should rather be posted in a newspost. Like, "hey look what sonicfan1038372 on deviantartz drew for me!" Same applies if "someone from your team" drew it.
5) Check your notifications and inbox, of course. For that is where a scout invite would appear.
6) If you read the rules carefully, you might have noticed that you need 4 art submissions before someone CAN EVEN ATTEMPT to scout you. Now here's the tricky part: When you submit a drawing, in the submit form is a checkpoint reading "This is not a sketch. Please include it in the art portal." By default, that box is NOT CHECKED. You'll have to check it before submitting. Only then this specific piece will count towards your minimum 4 that make you eligible for scouting. Not sure wether you checked the box? If you can vote on a submission, you did, if not, then not. You can always press edit on a submission page to check and change the settings.
I am aware this recycles a lot of stuff that is covered in Ornery's Scouting Guide and endless other threads, but I felt it was appropriate to repeat some info in this thread.
To every art forum regular, who read this far, please add whatever useful info you have. Are there things that prevent you from scouting someone, despite their art being okay?
I hope this is of some help for new artists on Newgrounds. Good luck and enjoy your stay!
