I notice a lot of threads in here with titles like, "crits plz!" with nothing but a message asking people to look at their gallery and help them "make their art better". These are usually pretty unproductive. Why? I'll explain and along the way teach you how to get more helpful advice. In order to receive good criticism, you need to first take a good look at your art for yourself. Where are your problem areas?* What, specifically is difficult for you? Is it a media problem or a technique problem? I.e., is it that you don't understand how to control watercolors, or is it that you don't understand the forms you're trying to depict. After you've decided what kind of thing you want to get help on, pick out an image that you think exemplifies this deficit. Just one image! It will help you and your potential critics immensely if you apply some limits! Now, remember we're being specific, because specificity is going to get you better results. Sure you won't be able to fix every mistake you make all in one go - but you'll have a better chance at solving ONE problem, whereas trying to fix everything at once will basically just end in sorrow and probably more confusion. On to posting! PLEASE give your post a different Title than something generic like "crits plz" or "help with art". Mention something in the title about what kind of criticism you'd like or what type or style of art you're working with. This will attract the people who will be most likely to actually help you. It also keeps the forum from becoming mired in seemingly duplicate topics that tend to drive EVERYBODY away. So that's it! In summary: 1) Identify one problem (two or three is OK if they're fairly related) 2) Identify one piece that presents this problem 3) Explain your position as well and maturely as you are able 4) Pick a topic that will draw people who can help you 5) Post! *[i]If your "problem area" is something like "I can't draw hands" or "I can't draw backgrounds", the advice you're going to get is going to be along the lines of "draw from life", "find reference", or "take a figure drawing class". Just fair warning. :)[/i]

exactly

:nod: I do most of this, I try to figure out what ppl may need help on.

Actual criticism is a fun concept, isn't it? Sadly chances are slim to none that it will catch on in communities like this seeing as how the hulking majority of the people here are amateurs and amateurs don't like being told what's wrong with their art. A great community for honest in your face criticism is Penny Arcade Artist Corner.

a good point, they should have a club like that- the club for honest-in-you-face-critism :) i think critisism is a good thing and we should all encourage it and do more of it to each other, but sadly some people just post thier art here and simply dont comment at all, and reply with short sentences if any. TheBog, tell me if u wanna make that =P

[quote]a good point, they should have a club like that- the club for honest-in-you-face-critism :) i think critisism is a good thing and we should all encourage it and do more of it to each other, but sadly some people just post thier art here and simply dont comment at all, and reply with short sentences if any. TheBog, tell me if u wanna make that =P[/quote] I formed one a few weeks ago, though it's yet to see any action: [url=http://clubs.sheezyart.com/Critique/]Sheezy Critique Club[/url]

[quote][quote]a good point, they should have a club like that- the club for honest-in-you-face-critism :) i think critisism is a good thing and we should all encourage it and do more of it to each other, but sadly some people just post thier art here and simply dont comment at all, and reply with short sentences if any. TheBog, tell me if u wanna make that =P[/quote] I formed one a few weeks ago, though it's yet to see any action: [url=http://clubs.sheezyart.com/Critique/]Sheezy Critique Club[/url][/quote] sweet! im joined, and i would submit some stuff right now but ill look it up in the faq, then submit :D sweet. u should advertise it more

[quote][quote][quote]a good point, they should have a club like that- the club for honest-in-you-face-critism :) i think critisism is a good thing and we should all encourage it and do more of it to each other, but sadly some people just post thier art here and simply dont comment at all, and reply with short sentences if any. TheBog, tell me if u wanna make that =P[/quote] I formed one a few weeks ago, though it's yet to see any action: [url=http://clubs.sheezyart.com/Critique/]Sheezy Critique Club[/url][/quote] sweet! im joined, and i would submit some stuff right now but ill look it up in the faq, then submit :D sweet. u should advertise it more[/quote] Well, I"ve been busy lately. :) I'll see if I can get it mentioned more places, too.

[quote][quote][quote][quote]a good point, they should have a club like that- the club for honest-in-you-face-critism :) i think critisism is a good thing and we should all encourage it and do more of it to each other, but sadly some people just post thier art here and simply dont comment at all, and reply with short sentences if any. TheBog, tell me if u wanna make that =P[/quote] I formed one a few weeks ago, though it's yet to see any action: [url=http://clubs.sheezyart.com/Critique/]Sheezy Critique Club[/url][/quote] sweet! im joined, and i would submit some stuff right now but ill look it up in the faq, then submit :D sweet. u should advertise it more[/quote] Well, I"ve been busy lately. :) I'll see if I can get it mentioned more places, too. [/quote] ahhhhhhhhhhhhh ill try to help you, but firstly id like to post something, but i cant find the faq anywhere!! :o its not very prominent wherever it is.. could u lead me to it or tell me how to submit please? ^^;

The question remains, how do we give constructive criticism without appearing to be phony or couching the constructive criticism to a point where the person does not take it seriously?

Rikkdbomb,That is hard to find isnt it?:aurora:

Well, it's harder to get constructive critism on writing. Are people intimidated by words or something to that end?

Well, I'd do so, if it weren't for the fact that I'm unsure what my problems are half the time. X_x

how do you start the art do you do it at home or on this site:huh:

[quote]Well, it's harder to get constructive critism on writing. Are people intimidated by words or something to that end?[/quote] I think it's harder fpr alot of people to crit works with words because alot of people aren't very good readers or writers! Now I could be wrong but that's just what I have experienced. And me, I'm a bad speller and terriblee with grammer but a great reader, so I like reading works then talking about them, but not everyone so throughly enjoys reading.

Critism is ok, it's when they say bad things about your art work, and you've worked so hard on it. I don't admire critism, but it makes me happy to hear a few good things about my art work. I'm new and I would like to introduce myself I am DejaVuOctober and I would appriciate it if you'd look at my art. It's Harry Potter. Thanks.

It's quite possible that there's absolutely nothing good about a piece of artwork, depending on standards. And if it gets to that point, where if you were asked what was wrong, you'd end up listing everything, you're better off just saying "Start at the beginning. Draw from life. Build bodies out of simple geometric shapes. Leave color theory for when you get the hang of constructing one basic subject, and light sources. Leave environments for when you get the hang of constructing one basic subject and light sources. For the love of god, leave Photoshop for when you get the hang of the construction, light sources, and color theory! No I don't want to see your blur effects, lens flares, and saturated colors! Now quit yer whinin' and draw me a dozen hand studies and human body studies."

I've been banned for giving criticism. Again.

If you've been banned for giving critisism, it can be because you werent asked to gie crits, or it wasnt constructive, oooor, the way you wrote it was kidna agressive. people should be kind when giving crits, and making sure they are asked for them

[quote]If you've been banned for giving critisism, it can be because you werent asked to gie crits, or it wasnt constructive, oooor, the way you wrote it was kidna agressive. people should be kind when giving crits, and making sure they are asked for them[/quote] This... ...is... ...a... ...FREAKING ART SITE. The whole point of it should be getting crits. I mean... what's better than getting crits. Crits are wonderful.