Critiques

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Isynia-Artessa's avatar
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Hi all!  Well, I felt I left my complaint against DA here long enough.  I guess I've decided to stay on with DA, but not post my professional work here.  On to new things.

I was thinking about what to write, and decided to talk about critiques.  It's rears its head periodically as a hot subject here on DA, sometimes literally.  People get all hot and bothered on every side of the issue.  There are the people who "want feedback", but what they really mean is "tell me how great I am, because I had a fight with my lover last night and need to feel like a special snowflake.  Also, buy me ice cream."  There are also the people who say "Hey, if you're an artist, you need to hear what I think of your art".  To these people, they might consider writing an essay on the personal application of the phrase "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

The truth about critiques.
Yes.  They are part of the art world.  If you expect to improve, you need to submit yourself to two harsh realities.  1)  You need to practice.  2)  You need peers and better artists (yes, I DID just say that) to give you a critique.  If you don't care if you improve or not, well....that's another story.  

How to give a worthwhile critique.  Remember that "If you can't say something nice..." phrase.  Artists need to know what IS working as much as they need to know what IS NOT working.  If an artist can't see what's wrong (presumably if they did they would fix it), then it is an equally likely assumption that perhaps they can't recognize what is right (since it might be hiding amidst all of the wrong stuff).  So, before you expunge your righteous indignation about how the artwork in question looks like it was drawn by a toddler, point out some positives.  Here are some starters:  "Your composition is very balanced."  "I can see that you are trying to experiment with different perspectives!  Kudos for pushing yourself!"  "I like the diversity of your characters".  Then, point out a few things that you feel the artist might have missed:  "Using textures everywhere makes the piece confusing. You might want to tone those down a bit."  "The eyes look like they aren't focusing on anything.  Try moving the irises up or down, or adjusting the upper eyelids."  "The fabric does not look like it is draping naturally.  You might want to revise those folds, or make them less straight."  Then, end with a friendly word of encouragement.  It could be a smiley face.  It could be a phrase like "I used to struggle with that too, so don't give up!"  Manners, people.  Manners should not be underestimated.

Now, let's get hard core.  Let's take critiquing out of DA.  I am a professional children's book illustrator.  This means (for those who think I am trying to sound all elitist), that it is a fact that I own a business and make my living by creating illustrations for the children's publishing industry.  Now, in professional art world, we are not afforded the luxury of having self esteem.  We are expected to constantly improve, seek out intense criticism, and then internalize all of it with every subsequent piece we make.

True Story:
Here is something I like to tell people when it comes to critiques.  I have an agent.  Not everyone gets an agent.  Agents are not service providers - they are partners with whom you hope to have a long term business relationship.  You have to submit a portfolio to them.  They have to like you.  Some don't want to sign you unless you are already published.  Well, I had 8 books via a big name publisher by the time I was 26.  I thought I was hot sh**.  I wanted to further my career and began to seek out representation.  My Great Agent signed me on.  Happy story.  Then came the PORTFOLIO REVIEW.  After Great Agent said "I like you. I like your stuff.  I'll work with you. Let's sign a contract", I then received a 8 page document which I like to call the "Why Jenn Sucks" files.  It is a lengthy document wherein my portfolio and every piece in it was picked apart to identify EVERYTHING that could stand to improve.  Everything from "Why do you only have 2 shades of brown that you like to use" to "Your perspective does not vary enough from piece to piece" to "Do about 4 more pieces this month and make sure they are contemporary scenes, not fantasy or historical" to "Eyes...what's the deal with your eyes..." was in there (Those are not exact quotes, btw).  

Aside from my contract with her, this is the most valuable packet of paper that Great Agent has ever given me.  Was it hard to read?  Yes.  Did my pride get bruised a bit?  Yes.  Did my artwork improve more in that last year than in the past 3 years combined?  Absolutely!  Great Agent has a life.  Great Agent is busy.  Great Agent does not write portfolio reviews as long as research papers for giggles.  Great Agent does this because she believes that with this information, Good Artist Jenn honestly has the potential to become Fabulously Awesome Artist Jenn (still a work in process....), and make her more money.  I think about this document every single time I draw a piece.  I value it so much that once or twice a year I schedule 1-2 hour long phone conferences with her so that I can receive more dissection.  I love you, Great Agent!

Moral of the story?  Think you are a serious artist?  Then learn to give and receive critiques, and when your pride aches a bit from a healthy dose of honesty, you need to find the inner strength to eat a box of chocolates (or your guilty pleasure of choice) and get back to the drawing board.  The world will become a more beautiful and compositionally balanced place.
© 2010 - 2024 Isynia-Artessa
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Rita-Ria's avatar
Always when I get a "hard" critique at first moment I just DONT WANT IT - later then I think again about it, and most time I agree and try to do better the next time :D
So honest critique is rare and PRICELESS