The Studio

1:47 AM

0

Q: What's the policy on questions about the "best" way of doing X?

An edit was just suggested to my question, replacing "What's the best way to ... ?" with "How to ... ?" I approved the edit, since SE automatically gives a warning that questions containing "best" in the title might be subjective and liable to be closed. But on looking around a little, I discove...

Matt

3:13 AM

@CreationEdge Ack.... I would have used the plural adhesives

Also... damn man... that is quite the rep jump

Sure you will catch up soon anyway.

user132126

@Matt It already existed in the singular, so I couldn't change it.

Matt

I hate that.

user132126

Watercoloring should be watercolor, too

Matt

Well, It will get fixed eventually though. Not like we have to live with it forever.

user132126

3:28 AM

Wow, didn't realize I'd lost that rep already. Shame. I thought it was just because I posted in my other chat. :(

Matt

So I am not crazy then.... you had an extra 200 ish rep earlier?

user132126

Serial upvoting reversal. Someone got too enthusiastic, is my guess.

user132126

Oh well, we'll all get up there soon enough.

Matt

So you already have a fan then!

user132126

I guess so!

user132126

3:34 AM

TBH I'm not really concerned about rep itself, but having people with higher privileges sure helps. If I can get them quick, then good.

user132126

Otherwise, we'll have pro tempore mods soon enough to handle the stuff the community lacks tools for

Matt

I hoping people, other than the mods, start getting rep as well. I know it will happen overt time though. I want to ask questions tailored to people strengths for that reason. It's why I keep asking that question from everyone. Also want to broaden the crafts to attach other subject matter experts. We have a bunch of unanswered questions as a result.

user132126

Yes, I want to be upvoting more stuff, but it hasn't been coming in as fast as I'd like.

Matt

I thought the same. Now that we are public perhaps this wont be an issue.

We can start advertising now I think correct? WW.SE is still in beta but I see some ads fro it on other sites. I would like to start investigating that.

@Catija Were you saying before that "meta" tags are discouraged? This is a concept I need to try and get used to. Its a 1 yr habit I, and others, have had at WW

user132126

3:50 AM

I don't know if we can get put in community ads yet. I was having a discussion about that recently, but I don't recall offhand.

Matt

I know there is something we can do. Community Ads might not be it but I know there is something.

DIY has a woodworking ad that I keep seeing that takes people to WW.SE

user132126

Is it on the righthand side of the DIY page?

Matt

Yes. Why?

I can't make it show up right now

user132126

That's the community ad, then.

user132126

We'd have to design one, and then post it to the meta pages of stacks we think it'd fit.

user132126

3:56 AM

See here:

user132126

9

Q: Community Promotion Ads - 2016

It's 2016 now, and we've made some changes to the sidebar size. As such, we can now restart the Community Promotion Ads for 2016! Keep in mind, we have updated some of the guidelines compared to previously - the changes are marked in bold in the Image Requirements section. What are Community Pr...

discussion community-ads

Matt

user132126

Tonight's session?

Matt

@Kanth I think you were looking to see this.

@CreationEdge yes. Second painting I ever did. It's real easy to be super critical of your own work. Every time I did something I wanted to make it better. then it got worse and I would have to back pedal to fix it. Just need more practice. Its a fun date night for me and the misses either way.

I just wanted to do something with cherry blossoms.

user132126

My first painting was recent, but digital.

user132126

3:59 AM

One of my more recent works is actually from last fall, I think. :(

Matt

Never did any digital painting. Just little things like logos and shirt designs.

user132126

That was just before the school year started. (I'm an adult student. Was out of school for about 8 years.)

user132126

I wish it were art school.

user132126

Matt

4:01 AM

Damn... I can't do people at all so that is impressive.

user132126

My digital painting, there.

user132126

I cheated a bit on the silhouette, since I didn't have time to just stare at a photo on another screen. I was doing it for an assignment.

user132126

But, IDC. I got something done, at least.

Catija

Yes, meta tags are bad. There's a post about it on MSE somewhere but I'm mobile so ... Yeah.

user132126

There's a whole blog about it, yeah.

Catija

4:05 AM

7

Q: What tags would be considered "meta-tags"

As per the latest blog post, what (specifically) are considered meta-tags? Jeff gave the examples best-practices, subjective, beginner, and Shog9's answer added poll and faq. What other tags (that currently exist) should we discourage? (Forgive me if this has already been addressed)

discussion tags meta-tags

There's a link to the blog post there, too.

user132126

I need the thumbs up emoji.

Catija

👍

I guess mobile has some benefits.

user132126

Yup!

user132126

Digital drawing, there. That was just before my oldest was born, so my studies stopped again.

user132126

4:07 AM

C'est la vie. Someday I'll be healthy and not have major life events happening and can devote my time to drawing.

user132126

My summer goal is to do just that, when my family is gone this summer. Better than playing computer games all summer.

Catija

I'm having my first in August (if you hadn't heard in Mos). Should make things interesting.

user132126

:O

user132126

I hadn't heard, that I recall! So exciting!

user132126

This summer I should just draw Rey from The Force Awakens and pandas non stop.

user132126

4:11 AM

Well, time for bed. Catch ya on the flip side.

Catija

Night!

Matt

@Catija that's awesome

See you tomorrow.

I have 3 and they are great.... for the most part.

So if we look at those tags like this that should be a good start.
---
1. If the tag can't work as the only tag on a question, it's probably a meta-tag.
2. If the tag commonly means different things to different people, it's probably a meta-tag.

Catija

Yeah. That's why things like techniques is meta... Techniques for what?

Matt

Yeah. even if I could make a good case for it it will just end up being misused. I thought it made sense when I understood meta tags as being useful. Really though I guess it does not add anything to the question.

Kanth

6:01 AM

@Matt Wow!

You did the whole thing in one day(yesterday)?

Matt

10:25 AM

@Kanth It's easy when someone is teaching you as you go. Only took 2 hours. It was an instructor lead session. there were 38 people painting the same thing.

Kanth

10:44 AM

@Matt Still, you painted it well. If I had to, I would have painted it hideously :)

Was it a one time class or you have few more sessions?

Matt

It was this if you are curious to learn more. paintnite.com

I got tickets for one sessions and I can choose to do others if I wanted. I selected that painting as the one I wanted to paint as well as the time and place based on what was being offered. Might go to another one next week.

Kanth

11:09 AM

When I searched for painting institutes, I have seen this too. But I found that it's not in our country

Matt

11:32 AM

Something might be though and if nothing else you also have video tutorials but that is a matter of preference some people prefer the "in class" experience more.

Kanth

12:05 PM

Yes, that's true. You would have a person to guide you and clarify the doubts that you have if you are in a class.

But that doesn't happen when you watch video tutorials.

Matt

1:01 PM

Were comments flagged on this question: crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/457/…

There was two that were removed it seems.

StackExchange

1:40 PM

0

Q: How strict are we going to be with comments?

On the question What is the proper way to sharpen a pencil? there was at least one comments that was removed. It was from me and was something along the lines of: Yes I was interested in this as well after reading that question. I agree that it is not asking for clarification from the autho...

discussion comments

Catija

2:04 PM

I have a feeling that some of the CMs are deleting comments that they don't feel are necessary... which is fine. If anyone knows the rules, they do. Personally, I'm not a fan of comments like "me too" because there's no purpose of them. They don't add anything to the discussion.

StackExchange

2:22 PM

0

Q: Refine definition for material-selection/medium-selection tags?

material-selection and medium-selection strike me as very similar tags. How should their definitions differ and/or overlap?

discussion tag-scope

Matt

3:28 PM

@Catija I understand. Other communities have different approaches to this which might not be right. Site activity plays a large roll in this.

Matt

4:07 PM

I feel like I am going to be in Meta.AC more than the regular site. So many things to hash out.

Catija

Welcome to Beta!

user132126

Well, that took up my morning:

user132126

0

A: What is the proper way to sharpen a pencil?

Alright, full disclaimer. I wrote that original comment: I sharpen my drawing pencils the "proper" way, with a knife. I was intending to be tongue-in-cheek, because you may find a lot of comments or tutorials online insisting that this is the right way to sharpen a pencil. I don't think t...

Matt

@CreationEdge seems wordy :)

A sandpaper pad or black is that supposed to be block

user132126

Yeah, I didn't proofread. Baby is being grumpy and touching the laptop, so had to submit before he hit delete.

user132126

4:19 PM

Ugh, a spammy answer mentioned Rees. The book and video make it hard to find actual, helpful tutorials at times.

user132126

Rees comes off as a total tool.

Matt

ah. I can do some touch ups when I am done reading if you are ok with it.

user132126

Feel free.

Matt

Never heard of Rees

Erica

@CreationEdge technique How do I learn how to craft with a baby attacking my laptop?

user132126

4:20 PM

Family is home. I was lucky there was a playdate this morning that let me do the whole set up.

user132126

@Erica Maybe that belongs on Parenting

user132126

lol

Erica

;)

user132126

For my first, my computer desk was in the living room and I had to buy one of those adjustable play pens to create a fence to keep him out.

user132126

Babies really like to push your buttons, especially your power buttons.

Erica

4:25 PM

Is that pencil sharpening service anything but a joke? $500? There's no way.

@CreationEdge Maybe that's why I'm always so tired.

Catija

@CreationEdge Woah... are those photos yours?

user132126

Yeah.

user132126

I took them all this morning.

Catija

Wow, that's a lot of work... Nice one.

user132126

Except the last one of the aluminum sharpener, I got that from google.

Erica

4:27 PM

> Shipped with their shavings and a "certificate of sharpening," these extra-sharp pencils make wonderful gifts.

user132126

@Erica He's a cartoonist and a humorist, and the book and his service reflect that.

Erica

No, this is not a joke. You pay David Rees money and he sharpens your pencils. It actually happens

Fair enough.

user132126

But, it is a joke.

user132126

Like, the whole service itself. People do it because they have the money and think it's funny or cute or whatever.

user132126

And I've seen his tips. They're ugly and not useful for what I'd be doing.

Erica

4:31 PM

Yeah, I'm not in agreement with his limited definition of "joke" in that context.

Catija

... or it's just a way to support his art and give him some money to live off while he does it?

user132126

He found a way to make money, good, but it wasn't because he has a $500 service.

user132126

Here's the first testimonial from his book:

user132126

> Dear David, Your artisanal pencil you sent me for free stabbed me in the neck. I am not happy with it. It is too sharp, too perfectly hand-shaped for violence, too much care and time was put into it to craft the prettiest, most arrogant pencil I’ve ever met. I felt it sneering at me, laughing at my uneducated, unsophisticated idiocy and I had to stab myself in the … I mean, and then it stabbed me in the neck. Unsatisfied customer, SPIKE JONZE (filmmaker)

user132126

Here's one from someone whose name you might recognize:

user132126

4:34 PM

> Looking back, I cannot believe that I spent so many years of my life mechanically sharpening my own pencils with pencil sharpeners. Truly, my life before I was presented with correctly sharpened pencils by an artisan was a dull and ill-sharpened void. Learn from my mistakes. —NEIL GAIMAN, writer

Erica

@Catija he also has a TV show exploring the complexity of simple things

Catija

I've never heard of him, so it's mostly conjecture...

user132126

At least he uses a really nice pencil.

Matt

So he would be an odd choice to source as a reputable reference in this regard then.

Erica

@Catija I learned from Wikipedia ;)

Catija

4:38 PM

@Erica I'm being lazy today... Everyone tells me that I only get another three months of being lazy before I have to spend every waking moment attending to a squalling human infant... so I'm doing it now. :P

user132126

The whole book is a mix of comedy writing and some tips on sharpening pencils.

Catija

It will be interesting to see how long I delay before running to Parenting.SE for help.

user132126

It has a couple pages devoted to doing warm up stretches, if it gives you an idea. It's more a book to read for a laugh, than anything.

Catija

Sounds like Scalzi's Your Hatemail Will Be Graded...

user132126

@Catija I want to keep contributing to Parenting.SE, but I have my hands full doing it right now that I ran out of steam trying to help others do it.

user132126

4:40 PM

Maybe when the little ones are more independent.

Erica

@Catija Congratulations!

Catija

@Erica Thanks... It's going to be an... adventure.

user132126

I don't know about every waking moment, especially if you have a partner or family helping.

Erica

@Catija As a mother of three, I can testify that IT'S FREAKIN' MAGICAL. O.o

Matt

With our first kid I would take a shifts every night or so for a while to let my wife sleep. Take the little guy down, set him on the rocker, watch some Babylon5. As long as you have the support of friends and family you will be fine.

@Catija Can we assume you are about 6 months along then

Catija

4:45 PM

@CreationEdge Husband, yes... but closest family (my parents) is an hour and a half away and not prone to travel.

@Matt 27 weeks on Thursday. :D

Matt

Do you know what the gender is or are you up for the surprise!

Catija

@Matt It's a boy. We still haven't picked a name. We're thinking something that's unusual in its full form but shortens to a common nickname... example: Pascal -> "Cal"

Matt

Love short forms

user132126

Names are fun.

Catija

@Erica :D I hope I have that same feeling.

Erica

4:47 PM

Just make sure you remember to laugh a lot.

Matt

We wanted to name our first kid Liam. Then we found out it was one of the tops for the last few years at the time.... Then we held off for 4 days after he was born. But we relented and called him Liam since he looked like a Liam. Love the little guy

user132126

@Matt Yeah, with my first, he was so restless and difficult to feed. So, when he'd wake up at night I'd usually heat up some pumped milk and feed him. I'd spend hours in the recliner.

user132126

As we went to bed, or towards when we wake up, my wife would do it, but I tried to let her sleep through the middle of the night.

Matt

@CreationEdge It's hard at first but you get used to it. Part of me actually misses the experience.

user132126

Our 2nd? Not so much. I'm a stone.

Catija

4:49 PM

@Erica I don't think that will be a challenge. We laugh at ourselves all the time.

user132126

I felt much more involved with #1, but he was so difficult. We were expecting #2 to be a similar challenge.

Matt

I sleep through everything. I have bruises on occasion because my wife has to hit me awake sometimes.

Erica

@Matt that's what elbows exist for

user132126

Then he's been so easy we're like "Wait... babies can be like this?"

Matt

The second is usually easier as long as there are not unknown medical complications. All the knowledge you gained with the first.

user132126

4:50 PM

Thank goodness we didn't get the easy baby first. We would've been absolutely unprepared.

Catija

I think that's what happened to Andy's parents... He was apparently an easy first kid but his sister was not.

user132126

My oldest is just 3 and youngest just turned 1 a week ago, and all I can think about is that in less years than I've been alive, they'll be out of the house and I'll only see them during visits :(

user132126

@Catija Lol, why? Is that why the dad left?

Matt

I used to slump over my first kids crib and rub his belly for an hour at times just to get him to sleep (my poor back). For my second we discovered that putting a pillow on top of him simulated that experience and he was out.

Catija

@CreationEdge ... Huh? I mean, his parents are divorced but that was later...

Erica

4:52 PM

@CreationEdge My oldest is 12. It's a gigantic shift and I'm already missing her.

Matt

My oldest are 7 and 5. I barely get a hi when I get home anymore.

user132126

@Matt For us it wasn't even just knowing stuff. Our first had issues eating, had reflux, would scream for hours straight some day. Like all the parts of the montage in the first Look Who's Talking movie.

user132126

@Catija Are we talking about Toy Story?

Catija

I swear... with the changes in tech, raising a kid has got to be a lot more difficult.

@CreationEdge No... I was talking about my husband...

user132126

OH! LOL!

user132126

4:55 PM

I thought it was a Movies & TV type reference, my bad.

Catija

It's ok. You had me really confused for a minute.

Matt

@CreationEdge At least now I understand what was going on I thought you were talking about another stack user.

Catija

@Erica parenting.stackexchange.com/questions/24998/… - really? wow. I haven't read the question but it looks like a super contentious topic.

Also, did you all notice that we have our (likely first) HNQ for A&C???

5

Q: What is the proper way to sharpen a pencil?

I wasn't aware that there could be a proper or improper way to sharpen a pencil till I read this (Keep pencil leads from breaking during transportation?): I sharpen my drawing pencils the "proper" way, with a knife. Why is sharpening with a knife considered better than sharpening with a sha...

pencils pencil-maintenance

Erica

@Catija Go us!!!

user132126

@Catija Any time you get into gender studies on Parenting, things can get pretty contentious. And if it's a hot topic and gets HNQ attention, like that one, then you get a lot of drive-by upvoting for some pretty negative answers. (Not in this case, I think Joe handled it pretty well.)

Catija

5:02 PM

@CreationEdge I think that the title is part of the issue... Reading it, I imagined it being about the parent picking the color rather than the child insisting on pink.

Even just changing "for" to "to" might help with that.

StackExchange

5:39 PM

1

Q: Questions asking for resources - On or off topic?

Inspired by this question: Resources for Lost Wax Casting Should we make requests for resources off topic here?

discussion scope

user132126

6:05 PM

@Matt Just for clarification, clip-on ties don't look odd with t-shirts?

Matt

6:26 PM

@CreationEdge Yes of course they do. Some people prefer to have motivation to understand reasoning. I am also highly sarcastic. In my defense I do where ties on Fridays sometimes just for fun.

user132126

It made me laugh both times I read it.

Matt

I like having fun. It makes my wife roll her eyes.

@CreationEdge It's nice now to see questions get more than 30 views.

user132126

No kidding!

user132126

Still slow to get questions, though. We def need more.

user132126

I'm glad the sharpening one was asked. I was planning on asking a "how to sharpen with a knife" question, but didn't feel like writing up the answer yet.

user132126

6:38 PM

This forced my hand.

Matt

CreationEdge rolls up his sleeves "Looks like I have to do this now!"

@CreationEdge That question about the coating on the coloured pencils.... Do you already know the answer? I am hesitant to spend money on the pencils to prove my theories.

user132126

No, actually. I need to test out the answer given, too.

user132126

I haven't had the time to do that. I need to find a suitable brush somewhere in my supplies.

Catija

7:25 PM

Odd, someone downvoted my crochet hook sizing answer...

Matt

Argg... How can that possibly get better. It is all the right information.

Catija

I still have to work out the steel hooks thing but it really sounds like the only way to get accurate sizing with them is to use the mm sizes... which are on every one I've ever seen, personally.

johnp

9:10 PM

Hey guys

Kareen

hi

johnp

how you all doing?

It's strange knowing everyone in the graphic design chatroom on an almost personal basis and not knowing anyone here ...it's like a new school or something :3

Kareen

haha it does a bit

I'm pretty good, kinda sick, but oh well

how are you?

johnp

aw je suis desole pour d'entendre

I'm good, just sketching some cherry blossoms for a pattern im doing to design

Kareen

that's cool :)

do you speak French?

johnp

9:19 PM

haha a little though i have forgotten most of it... i will be frequenting the french stack soon i guess as i have been thinking of moving to france for a while

Kareen

oh fun

immersion is the best way to learn

johnp

the only thing that worries me is that graphic design is all communication based...my poor french could put me at a real disadvantage. i guess ill have to study hard! are you an interpreter?

yeah i imagine so, i think people learn anything best when they socially "need" to

my friends received their Canadian visas yesterday actually :) so they'll be moving over to your part of the world soon

Kareen

I'm a translator, actually, but close enough!

they're moving to the English part, then?

johnp

ah sorry, i didnt know there was a difference...you tranlate texts then?

i think they're moving to Toronto first and then traveling around

Kareen

yeah, translation is written, interpretation is spoken

johnp

9:23 PM

haha i feel stupid now :3

Kareen

Nah, nobody knows this stuff except translators and interpreters :p

Toronto is cool... I've had a layover there once lol

I don't live in Canada anymore, but I still love it

johnp

I'd love to see it sometime though I need to make some moula first. I have thought about joining my friends there though I'm fragile weather wise lol

what crafts are you interested in?

Kareen

I mostly do some crocheting, but I started drawing some... I'm not very good lol

you do anything other than drawing/painting?

graphic designing

I know there's a lot of stuff going in it

johnp

im just finishing off a graphic design degree but i like photography and anything visual really

i learned one basic crochet stitch overnight for a sculpture once xD

quick to learn, difficult to master i guess! id love to be able to knit though my poor little brain gets confused

at the moment im trying to think of unusual ways that i can apply my illustration skills...id like to be able to do something other than just produce prints. hoping to set up an etsy store

thinking of papercrafts but with a stronger material for home furnishings? really not sure

Kareen

interesting!

johnp

9:37 PM

posted a question for a stronger alternative to paper so ill see if there are more answers :) printing to fabric would be another option but it's a lot of money and know-how...

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