I have been asked by a young artist for my take on the subject of critiques and criticism of art so decided to write a few lines from my honest personal opinion.

A critique is usually welcomed, if asked for, by someone the artist trusts. Why would you want a critique in the first place?  Well, some of the many reasons could include the fact you the artist would like to improve in picture making, or something isn't quite right and you don't know what it is and need an objective viewpoint.  These are the two reasons I primarily request a critique.  Should I ask my non artist mom or brother, or spouse?  Not usually as from them I would probably get a biased opinion that whatever I do is nice.  I don't want 'nice' when I'm trying to problem solve - I want 'nice' when I am truly proud of what I have created and not before.  Even then, 'nice' is a term most artists cringe over. We want 'spectacular' or 'absolutely beautiful', but 'nice' usually means it's mediocre.  We are trying to create an effect that impinges!

Also I do not like anyone to see what I am working on until it is finished because any comment about it, good or bad, can sway my decision making if ever so slightly. If a well-meaning person walks into the studio and says something as simple as "I like that blue colour in the background", when I was going to gray it down with orange or whatever, my thoughts will then be muddled a bit when the brush is loaded with another colour - 'If they like the blue, am I making the right decision to change it" etc. etc etc....... Then it becomes their painting and not mine - to me a time waster in the straightforward thought process of painting.

That being said, on many occasions I have asked well-meaning non artist people if there is anything in a painting which bugs them or sticks their attention, or where their eyes go within the piece I am working on, always asking specific questions and not a general one such as "what do you think?".  This sometimes gives me a guide if I am too close to it to see any out-points. This works best if asked for instead of being originated.  Like this scenario - you are in that coveted zone working on a painting and happy with it's progress.  Someone, for any reason, pops into the studio for a second and says - 'that person's eyes look weird'.  "Really?"  (You like the eyes the way they are and resent comments otherwise). War, words, how dare you etc. The comment about the eyes may have been correct, but what will be resented is not seeing it and asking about it yourself. At least this is how it works for me - I am an Aquarian and a bit sensitive anyway, if that has anything to do with it.

So who is best to ask for a proper critique? Another art professional is best - at least then you would be speaking the same language such as - "reduce the values in the secondary point of interest" or " the vertical perspective does not correspond with the vanishing point" or " too many straight lines" etc. This I understand and can fix as it is more specific than 'something doesn't seem right.'

Now criticism is a whole other kettle of poisson.  Criticism is just that - criticism. Yes, constructive criticism is quite valuable if it gives some direction in how it could be done better, as in a critique, but if it just tears the art to pieces, that is the down side of the subject. There are so many varying opinions and tastes regarding art. Personally, I have had some doozie criticisms in my forty-year career, mostly in the early days when I was impressionable and not as secure in my craft as I am now, and a few times I was flattened and thought I would never paint again.  That unfortunately is one of the side effects of scathing criticisms - they tend to stop an artist from creating.  The tough ones plow through it and develop a bit of a thick skin, but some just give up. That is a crime in my books.

Not everyone will like what you do. Out of 6 billion people the odds are pretty even for every taste in art. If I like abstract expressionism, should I criticize someone who works in photo realism?  No, I have no right, and neither does anyone have the right to criticize any artist based on taste or opinion - unless their motive is to stop them from creating.

Ask for and accept critiques if you choose, but ignore criticism which invalidate at all costs.

ADDENDUM: We often talk about being on the receiving end of critiques, but not much about the responsibility of the person giving them. Whenever I am asked to critique an artists work, the first thing I do is ask them what they were trying to communicate, what did they want their center of interest to be etc...that way I am better able to ascertain if they achieved what they wanted and be better able to suggest ways to do it better. This way, the communication remains theirs and not mine. I will help with the technical means to get their communication across better if I can.  It is their creation after all.





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