Skip to main content

Do You Really Want a Critique?

My experience in taking the time to look at someone else's work and delivering well-thought out comments/questions considerately to the maker -- has suggested to me that a number of people aren't really interested in a critique when they ask for one...but rather are looking for a quick 'praise fix'.

Getting a critique can be difficult especially when it is on a piece I've made and love. But praise rarely helps me learn how to improve my work or technique. Take serious musicians for example, they generally take private lessons from someone who is a professional and has honed his/her abilities on the same instrument as the student's. This instructor can hear and see what the student needs to develop and gives the student feedback and lessons (to practice) -- for the student's development.

Serious artists need to work at developing their ability and honing their craft as well through learning about the masters of their chosen discipline, practicing technique, developing their design sense, learning to play, growing their imagination and creativity, and getting honest feedback from 'professionals' in their art form.

So, if you are a practicing visual artist -- who do you ask for feedback (if you do), in what form do you get feedback on your work, and what form of feedback on your work do you prefer?

Critiques from others...those you respect for their expertise...are vital. They are as much a key to producing fine art as one's muse.
Labels:

Comments

  1. Judy AlexanderJuly 23, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    Cay, I am so on-board with what you are saying... I used to belong to an art quilt group and suggested several times that we have constructive feedback (critiques) of our work. I was told more than once that they had tried this and it just didn't work.

    I would love for someone to tell me what they really think about my work. I know that art is subjective but I want to hear all opinions. Maybe we could find a group of like-minded artist and setup an online critique group. Hope all is well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cay DeniseAugust 1, 2011 at 11:01 PM

    LET'S! I'm looking for a small online group to work with and haven't connected with any in a long time (partly for the lack of time). Do you know of any, or who might be interested in participating in one?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beth BachussNovember 11, 2012 at 8:21 AM

    Usually I want a critique when I am 3/4 of the way done with a work but am not sure how to finish it up - or when I know something's not right, but I can't put my finger on it. Getting input from someone else helps me look down avenues I might not see on my own.

    Did you ever find an online group? I am currently looking for one, too.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Visiting The Hague and Amsterdam (Netherlands), and Paris!

Since late March, I've been planning an international solo trip that included meeting up with friends.   The planning is what makes a trip an adventure, and it was definitely fabulous -- now that it is in the rearview mirror -- so to speak.   During my two weeks abroad, the sights visited included the: Mauritshuis, a lovely art museum (The Hague, Netherlands) Binnenhof (The Hague, Netherlands) Delft (Netherlands) Kasteel de Haar, a castle (Haarzuilens, Netherlands) Museum Speelklok (Utrecht, Netherlands) Walking Tour of Amsterdam (Netherlands) Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Dutch Resistance Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands) De Oude and Nieuwe Kerks aka old and new churches (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Anne Frank House (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Sainte Chapelle/Conciergerie (Paris, France) Giverny - Monet's residence at one time (outside Paris) Versailles (outside Paris) Musee d'Orsay/VR Event titled 1874 Impressionists First Exhibition
Post a Comment
Read more

New Project in Progress

I'm working on a new project with multiple layers and shapes of different colored organzas.  It is an interpretation of lighting on an ice rink...from a show I recently saw.  There is a lot more stitching to do, but I like how its coming along.  I'm learning organzas are not easy to work with especially when you layer them and have overlaid edges.  The fabric also tends to ravel easily. This post also linked to  http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com .
9 comments
Read more

Concertina Dazzle Days

If you don't know what a Concertina Sketchbook is, it is folded paper (back and forth) that looks like the bellows of an accordion when done.  Concertinas can be home-made or purchased, and they are fun to work in.     The photos above are of three continuous two-page spreads from my own Concertina (the one on the right - the latest). The mark-making was done with Sharpie markers, Posca pens, Micron pens and Sakura PenTouch markers.   All the shapes and color choices in the images above were spontaneous as well as the details.  There was no plan.  What I like about these is that each two-page spread collaborates with the next one and so on (as the designs spill over from one spread to the next). As new ones are created, they  add to the wonderful visual feast. One of the things I love doing with these also -- is to crop sections and digitally mirror them to form symmetrical designs. The results are occasionally delightful.  In fact, this one was made from such a process and has a n
Post a Comment
Read more