Table of Contents
2. How do I subscribe to the Illustrators list?
3. What happens when I subscribe?
4. How do I deal with the high volume of e-mail?
5. What will the list know about me?
6. Slantville version of netiquette
Slantville is the term adopted for a community of artists and illustrators who've met via the Illustrator's listserve. Initially, the group met with the common interest of children's book illustration. The make-up of the group has changed considerably in the ensuing few years into a diverse list of illustrators, fine artists, cartoonists, fabric artists, sculptors, designers and other disciplines.
They are a motley mix of amateurs, professionals and other interested parties, (with the emphasis, seemingly, on the "party" aspect). The group has managed to blend irreverence and serious subjects with equal lack of skill, concocting a tasty stew of support, love, laughter and learning. By no means is the community a collection of digital artists and tech-heads. As many of them get their hands wet and dirty as those who tickle a keyboard.
There are no prerequisites to joining the list. However, a few tools in your kit may help your enjoyment while you visit.
a. A love of art, and an open mind about what constitutes art.
b. A curiosity of how different artists perceive the world.
c. A sense of humor (a slanted sense of what makes things tick)
2. How do I subscribe to the Illustrators list?
a. send a blank e-mail to illustrators-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
b. There are other options available, such as a digest version, online version, etc. For information on these options, or to subscribe online, click here.
3. What happens when I subscribe?
If you subscribe to the Digest format, you will periodically receive e-mails of the first 2 K-byes of the digest. The full digest will be in the form of an attachment which you can download to your hard drive at your convenience. The digest is generated and sent according to a mysterious, arcane formula, revealed only to a select few chosen ones who have been mind wiped so that even THEY can't say how it's done. It's enough to know that, depending on volume, you may receive one or more digests per day.
If you choose to subscribe to the list's regular format, all member's posts will come to you as individual e-mails. These are generated and sent to the list by ANOTHER secret formula, revealed only to a select few ... yadda, etc.
In either case, be prepared for a lot of e-mail traffic. Some subjects discussed can generate a great interest and the responses can create dozens of posts in a single day. Multiply that by two or three subjects being covered simultaneously and you can see how your mailbox can appear to overflow past the bottom edge of your monitor and spill onto the floor.
For your convenience, the first word of the subject line will be [Illustrators]. That should help you distinguish list mail from the "other" junk mail. When you post, you can simply add further items to the subject line. For example, "[Illustrators] Watercolor technique: Brushes"
4. How do I deal with the high volume of e-mail?
A high volume of mail was generated just because this question was asked. It was much like if a thousand dollar a plate dinner was hosted to benefit famine relief.
There were many suggestions, which included:
a. Read the subject line and only open mail which interests you. If oil painting technique is of no interest to you, delete that piece, or skip it to go on to the next.
b. Do your part by avoiding repetitive postings. If you feel moved to congratulate someone on a recently completed project, send your message via the member's private e-mail address. This avoids a great many "Me too!" mails.
c. Be sure to update the subject line before you post. It's too easy to simply click the "respond" button in your browser and send off an e-mail to the list with an inappropriate subject line. Updating or changing the subject line will help other members in dealing with the high volume, and it can help you in getting responses to your posts.
d. Consider lurking for a while. Read what kind of subjects are being discussed. Watch for how some subjects are handled. If you have a very specific question, you may decide to ask an individual member rather than post to the entire list.
When you are ready, dive right in and say "Hi".
5. What will the list know about me?
When you post to the list, your e-mail address will appear in the "From" line of the header. Some browsers add your name or whatever else you've instructed it to give in an e-mail header. This only happens if you've set this up yourself.
Anything else about you will have to come from you. A great way to introduce yourself is to post a short bio about your interests, particularly your connection with the arts. You'll find the caring bunch of Slantvillians also really do want to hear about your families, pets, hometowns as well as your careers, successes and flubs.
6. Slantville version of netiquette
No one has set up any rules of behavior on the list. Just consider that the rules of common decency apply here. Some members share the list with family members and some read the e-mails with their children.
One word characterizes just about everybody in Slantville. That word is "Supportive". Flame wars just don't happen in the public forum. This is not to say that tremendous debates about controversial subjects don't get aired. They do. People have their say, others respond and the thread carries on until they tire of it and move on. It may be that nothing of great import ever gets settled and winners might find they have to pat themselves on the back.
Rumors have it that some of the juiciest stuff goes on via private e-mail. That may be the best place for it.
Regarding forbidden subjects: There are none, but try to remember the family nature of the group. Also consider that the Mac vs. PC controversy, while never dead, has been hashed about ad infinitum. If the subject comes up, you'll probably not change anyone's mind. Politics, religion, sex, drugs, rock and roll all have made appearances and may again rear their heads to spook the rest of us into righteous indignation and that's OK. The list will respond or not as the collective will ... will.
Oh, yes. Tech-heads are welcome because THEIR conributions are just as valid in today's art world as those who paint out of squirt bottles. So be nice and don't make fun of their haircuts.
Compiled by Vince Marine
Slantville Answer Guy