PoppyRow

Critiques can be a valuable tool in your maturation process as an artist. That doesn’t make it easy, though. Someone picking apart your efforts feels like someone picking on your child. It just seems unfair! But an honest critique means just that. That’s why it’s not called “praise” or “compliments” when your work is hung on the wall at the end of class or when the assignment is turned in.

When I ask for an opinion, I am suspicious of the observation if it is completely positive. My family members tend to do this! Something will be bugging me that I know just isn’t working, and I’ll ask for an opinion. And these loving non-artists will exclaim “Oh! It’s just beautiful! You’re so talented!” Okay, so encouragement is really, really nice, but that’s not what I need. You will not grow as an artist without someone telling you where your weaknesses lie.

In college, critiques are frequent and often brutal. I have left class angry, in tears, vowing to never make art again. But as I look back over the years of scrutiny, I realize that all of that negative criticism forced me to push myself beyond the status quo, and eliminate a lot of what manifested itself as immaturity.

I can often distinguish between the artists who have gone to art school and those who have not. Not always, but often there is this naiveté about the work of someone who hasn’t been forced to publicly acknowledge his or her artistic shortcomings. It’s humbling, but over time, empowering. A plant can grow on it’s own, simply being exposed to the elements. But a gardener will prune their bushes and trees in order to realize the plant’s maximum potential.

Now I realize that it may be unrealistic to expect someone who already has a degree, or who is retired, or working full-time to go to their local college to take art courses without any long-term benefit beyond personal growth. Although, it would not be a bad idea! In any case, how do you get honest critiques of your work beyond that setting? Become involved with other artists in your community and sponsor a monthly show-n-tell where work is displayed and critiqued. You may also take some classes at the local arts center. These instructors often will not have critiques, but there is no harm in asking for both group and personal critiques.

And also, don’t coddle yourself when it comes to your work. Loving what you do and falling in love with what you’ve created are two different things. They are both okay, but the latter only in moderation. You have to be willing to edit or prune out the parts of your work that are weak. It takes objectivity, which you can develop towards your own art over time.