- Posted
- Oct 21st 2009
- Mood
Here's something that's been rubbing me the wrong way for months.
People give my work constructive criticism. That's great, I love it. Thanks, guys.
Sometimes when I give the same to certain people, I get ripped on. By other people!
I get told to "lay off" because the person's a nice person.
Or the person is this, or the person is that.
I thought as an art community we're suppose to help each other grow. Sometimes you can't grow if you don't see what's wrong.
Critique shouldn't be given to be bitter and mean. So if I ever critique you, don't take it that way.
P.S. If you don't like critique, fine. That's fine. Just don't expect me not to. I'm not here to rub your belly, Rover.
-Nalem
Kodfish Says:
I think it has something to do with how people don't like having faults to correct. I don't understand it, either. How can people improve if they don't face what's wrong?
th1rt3en Says:
Some people just don't make things to improve their skills. They just want to "show off" and happen to think that their current skill level should count as a handicap. (Or in some cases this arbitrary 'niceness'.)
I find that the trick is to always have a complement to accompany the criticism.
Shanoshi Says:
Because they are Octopus and octopus's NEVER EVER LEARN. EVER.
AtroxChobatsu Says:
It depends on how you say the critique, really. There's nothing wrong with being honest, but as Ghandi said "Advice is like snow, the softer it falls the longer it dwells."
Not saying they're all bad, but I've seen a few to know they're not all good.
Hail comes down hard and fast, and will more often then not bounce off. You gave them the same critique, but in this case you might generate some resentment.
On the other hand, if it falls too soft, like melting in midair, then it's not going to do much good either because no one's going to take it seriously.
Now, I have not read the critique in question, so I'll assume you gave the critique straight without a lot of sugarcoating. If people tell you to lay off a person because they're nice you can do one of two things. You can attest that if they're so nice, they deserve an honest critique. Or you can just not critique them ever again. In that case, it's their loss, not so much yours, eh?
Something I usually like to do when critiquing seriously is point out what was done well and what was done not so well. Depending on what it is, they might get more goods than bads (like 1:2). This way you can give critiques, help the artist know what is working and what isn't (you don't tell someone to just add more keyframes to an animation, for example, but where those keyframes should go). There's less of a chance of anyone being offended, and you'll have gotten your word out without really pulling the punches.
And I assume you probably won't argue this, but you can find something done well in something overall mediocre, and you can find room for improvement in what's done amazingly. Give it a try sometime.
But all of this is just me, I have a very bad perception of critiques.
Junabelle Says:
wub my bewwy nawemmmm
Csonic Says:
Ahem that!
If you dont have anything useful to say then you're a horridle person and should reflect on your life.... wooooooooo
Tyokio Says:
That sounds kinda like white knighting, where the other person tells you to "lay off" the person your writing the critique to because they want to show the artist that they are their BEST FWEND.
You're dealing with the "I'm a precious snowflake" people who can't deal with someone saying something less about them or their artwork. They either have their friends and/or family constantly praising their artwork... so they see no need to change it. When someone, a complete online stranger, tells them otherwise... there you have the "How dare you say that!?"
On the other hand, there are artists who have an incredibly low self esteem. They may feel good about a picture and want nothing but praise to help stroke their E-ego. When that doesn't happen, the artist whines to his or her friends and more or less sicks them on the person who dared to not praise their lovely work of
crapart.Lastly, there are just some people who like to make a big issue about anything because they like to procreate the drama and test to see if he or she can manage to coerce the critiquer into starting a war.
That's just my two cents. I love critique. I need it since I never had an art class OR the support of my parents. I just view the people who crap all over those who do lend a helping hand as selfish brats. I have yet to see one person who doesn't fit into one of those three categories.
I'm too perfect for critique!!!!
KinopioT Says:
Everytime you've ever critiqued me I've sat at my computer and called you a bitch under my breath.