Community guides · Art
Posting in r/artstore: the unwritten rules a sidebar won't tell you
r/artstore treats art critique with respect for the artist's intent. Replies that engage with what the piece is trying to do get traction; replies that impose external standards don't.
What's hot in r/artstore now
What people are actually discussing
Top threads from the last month — what's getting engagement right now.
What this sub rewards
How replies earn upvotes here
- Offer multiple options or perspectives, not a single prescription. Give 2 readings — 'as composition X; as concept Y' — rather than a single verdict.
The one rule that gets posts removed
Commerce-friendly but values transparency and authenticity.
Your pre-reply checklist
Before you hit Reply — four quick checks
Does my comment add something specific, not just an opinion?
A useful reply names a number, a method, a personal experience, or a concrete example. If you could replace your draft with "I agree" and lose nothing, rewrite.
Have I read the top 3 comments already on this thread?
If the highest-upvoted reply already says what you were about to say, your comment will sink. Add what's missing — counterexamples, edge cases, the next step — not what's there.
Would my reply still work if my username was removed?
If it only makes sense because it promotes you, your product, or your platform, this sub will spot it. Frame the value as "this solved it for me," not "check out my…"
Did I skim the sidebar rules one more time?
Every sub has at least one rule that surprises outsiders — peer-review only, no images, no specific tags, no off-topic. Five seconds in the sidebar can save you a removal.
Want to draft this reply with the rules already baked in?
Try Redimates — free, 10 replies / week