If you are an artist and someone who isn't an artist critize your work, how do you take it?

Question

I'm a graphic designer, but i also draw time to time. I hate it when someone who isn't such an artist or skilled has something to say about my work when I didn't need their input.

Answer 1

it depends, is the critician a paying customer or at least a possible customer? Then listen carefully, you might learn something about the marketing of your art.



if not, then they don't even qualify as a friend, unless they know something about what's marketable.

Answer 2

As bad as this sounds -- being an artist isn't being a scientist or a lawyer; anyone with a bit of talent or creativity can be an artist. This means that anyone could critique your work, draw pictures, etc. I'm an artist. I paint in oils, draw, sketch, and I'm attempting to complete a mosaic. If someone came by and didn't like my work, I'd be like "ok... It's your call." Now, as an scientist or lawyer, not every tom-dick-and-harry will be able to perform valid judgement calls on anything substancial. Lawyers are trained and certified to practice law and give advice that you might not like, but have to follow. (You kill, u have limited choices) On some sense, you can read about law, but cannot give valid legal advice without breaking the law. On the other hand, lots of phycisists criticized Einstein's theories of Relativity. Unfortunately, all they can do now is to determine it's accuaracy. Mostly everything has been proven to follow the laws of physics (or else phenomena such as gravitational tugging or even the concept of a global positioning satellite (GPS) wouldn't work).



What I'm saying is that being a graphic designer is something that you don't have need college. You just get the paper that sez it and it will open some doors a hs diploma won't. Don't think too highly about yourself when you're wondering who's complaining about your work.

Answer 3

If you want to get a message or mood across with your drawing it is excellent if you show it to somebody who doesn't know what you are doing. If they don't get it, then probably the communication part of the drawing is not strong enough and you may want to work on it if that is important to you.

If you ask somebody to give some critique it may be helpful if you ask them a specific question. If you are not sure about a specific question, I like the idea thinking about the 4 Cs: Creativity, Craftmanship, Communication, Concept.



Generally listen politely, use what you think helps you, you are always free to ignore the rest.

Answer 4

I don't like it and a part of me gets defensive...this is a natural reaction. But then I realize that everyone interprets art or anything else through their eyes...I paint and many of my friends don't know anything about art...I realize that their opinions are uninformed...one friend told me that some red in my painting said "I don't trust my mind!" so I pretty much ignore these type of comments...all opinions are not equal! Also, keep in mind that when the Impressionists displayed their paintings the art "experts" of the time hated their work...the main thing is if you are happy with your work...or the customer if you are trying to sell it.

Answer 5

One of my paintings sold at an auction, it was a painting of telephone poles. I really liked the painting, I live in Los Angeles, the poles at sunset look comforting to me, and these days, utility poles are becoming archaic. My fellow artist friend said to me "Wow, you must really hate LA, these poles are saying f*ck you! They look so sarcastic and dark." I started to laugh, because I realized that even your best friends will sometimes not understand your pieces.

When you paint from the heart, the outside world is free to interpret what it will, we can't escape our subjective nature.

I found out later that my painting was sold to a good friend's sister, she didn't know that I'd painted it. When she found out, she called me and said "I can't believe you painted that, I love it! It's so beautiful, the colors really speak to me, it feels so authentically LA."

Once again, laughter, because 2 different people had experienced completely different reactions to the painting.

You can never control what people are going to think, it frees you up to make whatever you want, and enjoy making work. If they don't get it, it's your secret!

Answer 6

Have you ever seen a movie you disliked? Ever hear a song that you thought stunk?



I bet you criticized them. But you aren't a filmmaker or a songwriter... You can still have an opinion based on things you have seen before.

Answer 7

Ask more questions about their opinion, especially WHY they like and dislike the work, and what they like or dislike about it. Ask how they might improve it. You might learn something about your work, other's perceptions of it, and possibly about them, too. Since they're being open about their feelings, feel free to offer them criticism in return, too.

Answer 8

Take it as a compliment. It got there attention and made enough of an impression for them to bother to comment on it.

Answer 9

take there complaints in stride. If you like what you did who cares what they think. Don't let it get to you, and don't change you work on what they said bcause then your agreeing with them.

Answer 10

I beat them up untill they can only crawl. Then they really love my work from a low angle!! Muhahahahahaha!!!!

Answer 11

take it with a grain of salt,somtimes anyone can point out somthing you missed,use what you can and dont let bad/useless crits get you down.