Give constructive criticism

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2007-05-19 18:45:40

Last author: Levoton
Owner: Levoton

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Constructive Criticism.
That is a big, scary word. Two big scary words, actually.
We're in an artist community and somehow, somewhere you've heard of such. Found someone pleading for it or whining of the lack of it. It's as if it is the nature of human kind to either give one word or huge loads of bs as feedback.

"Awesome."
"Nice."
"Her leg looks odd..."
"Lol, his head looks like something I ate today!"
"There's something funny with the eyes but otherwise it's awesome! ^_^"
"Whoa, how do you do that?!"

Yet, it can be hard to give out good comments. I myself am a terrible commentor and feel more compelled to say "nice" and run than stick around giving my everything. Still, there are a few points even the lazy should consider.
I'm mainly talking about visual art here because it's my theme but with a few twists you can adjust these to many other situations where you wish or you should tell what you think.

WHY?

"I like this, great picture."

Oh? Why is this? Did you like the character, I spent a lot of time on it... or was it just the cute mouse I added?
You don't know why? You just like it?
Well, what did you think about when you first saw? Did it make you happy, was it funny? Is the style good? Were the colors the best of your morning? Does it somehow reflect your current life? Seek yourself. I mean, it will be better for you, too, to be able to understand yourself.
I mean, seriously, people. I gave comments like this on Elfwood when I was nine and I had untrained thinking and even worse skills of English to defend me. Be better than that.

Pointing out one thing doesn't make it constructive.

"There's something funny with the eyes but otherwise it's awesome! ^_^"

This is my nemesis. It always creeps up on me, attaches to the edges of my drawings more easily than my signature, and I can't shake it off.
Imagine someone saying: "There's something wrong about children dying of hunger in Africa, but otherwise I love the world."
First of all, the latter part sounds like a lie. Unless the 'funny' thing includes a major part of the drawing, there must be something more that caught your eye. But you didn't dare/care to say...?
Second, what does it help an artist if you just say "duh" to a foot they drew? Return to point one, tell us why. And tell us how to fix it, how do you think it should be. What exactly is the part that looks funny?

Take into consideration whom are you talking to and what about.

You don't rant to a 6-year-old about color theories and 5/8 cuts, right? Measure the style and skill, and if possible, find out more about the artist. If the artist is down-right amateur, you can't go hardcore about things. Don't be too harsh, but don't go woo-y and talk about eternal and unconditional love towards their work, either. Be polite, but honest.

Comparing one's art to someone else's (and fishing for love) might not be the best thing to do.

"I suck... you kick my ass so bad..."
"You should learn from S. O. Meone, she's a gazillion times better than you!"
Once again, where's the help? Where's the point? Someone being worse or better than another is an opinion and that opinion is in the mind of the beholder. If you need encouraging or want to tell of an artist you like, it is something rather discussed outside comment areas.

2007-05-19 [Levoton]: Feel free to contribute.

2007-05-19 [iippo]: *lurks* (I'll actually say something useful after a few days)

2007-05-19 [Sunrose]: Can I say it is a nice wiki, or do I have to explain why too? :P

2007-05-19 [Levoton]: I saw that one coming. x) No, but you can share if you think of other types of... incomplete comments. :P

2007-05-19 [Sunrose]: Well, I wonder what you have to say about non-artists versus artists. Because how can I give criticism when I know less than they do? :P
You explain about speaking to their level, but it's them that have to speak to mine.. :p

2007-05-19 [Levoton]: Well, saying what you think and giving reasonable explanations to why so is the basic lunch bag I'm offering... Artist don't draw for other artists only. And it's not like I know anything either or ever having stayed awake during art lessons. :P
I don't get that last part... who's "them"?

2007-05-19 [Sunrose]: The artists :P

2007-05-19 [Levoton]: Hm, where do I explain that? :P

2007-05-19 [Sunrose]: Not sure :P
I hope you will excuse me that I don't perform this on my featured art wiki (it is mentioned in the disclaimer actually :P), the wiki is not meant as a critique-wiki but just a wiki that shows what can be found on Elftown.. :)

2007-05-20 [Levoton]: *shrugs* :P
No, I don't bite. This is for those who comment for the sake of commenting. You add a little sentence to add flavor, but the wiki is Sunny Featured Art, not Sunny the Art Criticizer. :P

2007-05-20 [Sunrose]: Okay good :P

2007-05-21 [iippo]: Would you mind if I wiki-love (ie link to) this page in the Elfwood Selections?

2007-05-21 [Levoton]: No, of course not. Go ahead. :O

2007-05-22 [J Kale]: To be perfectly honest, I believe that people who go on about constructive criticism should stop whining. As you said, artists don't draw for artists only. I'm not an artist, I'm a writer, and I don't presume to speak for anyone other than myself, but as I writer, I write for my readers.

One of the most important things I was taught as an actor (when I -was- an actor :P) was that the applause is not about the actors, it's about fulfilling the audience's need to thank. That's why even when the actors are so tired they want to fall off stage and die, it's usual practice to allow at least two bows because it lets the audience feel like they've finished off the night. Commenting on posted writing and art is much the same. We comment because we want to express ourselves. We comment because we appreciate what the artist has given us and want to make them feel good in return. We comment because a piece means something to us and we want to be a part of it. There are many, many reasons that people comment on art and writing. Their intention may not be to suggest changes or future direction, particularly if the work is not in a medium with which they feel comfortable.

To restrict, criticise and reject certain types of comment is *enormously* presumptuous on the part of the artist/writer/etc. We are not almighty creators, we are beginning a process of interaction between works and their readers, and the readers have rights just like us. Being artists does not give us the right to be rude and abusive. And it makes very little *sense* to be rude and abusive to the very people we ask to be a part of our work when we post it on the web.

No one forces us to display our work. No one forces us to show them anything. When we choose to do so, we invite them to participate. There is no excusing, in my mind, following this with rejection and exclusivity. Yes, they may not always help us much, but they are our readers and our viewers and if we are kind, reasonable people, we care about them.

There is a difference between asking people for constructive criticism if they can give it and blasting those who cannot or do not. That is why I would strongly discourage anyone from posting abusive rants like that above.

2007-05-22 [Levoton]: Looks like I need to improve my writing skills.

1. It is not an abusive rant. I hate ranting. I have my reasons (some sort of sense of humor?) to write in the way I do, but if you wish, I will make it flowery so it could fall into the category of romantic literary and no one will misunderstand in times to come.

2. I was careful not to at any point say "I don't want 'Awesome'-comments". I never said "I don't give a damn if you say that", just that it may not be helpful, as you, too, said. I'm sorry if you assumed I implied it. I simply wish to make people consider what they write. I did not mean that every comment should be a masterpiece of verbal fickleness and helpfulness. This wiki is for two things: to make people think and to give hints to those who wish to but fail to give a constructive comment.

3. I repeat, I am not "blasting out" people.

2007-05-22 [Maketsu]: J Kale: a nice comment, but there is something funny about it...

Key: A good reminder. I degenerate to the polite, but meaningless "Very nice" commentor easily and hopefully your wiki will poke me to seeing more effort in the near future. ;-)

2007-05-22 [Levoton]: Make: :D

Yeah... Me too, actually (like I said somewhere in there). I'm poking myself here as well.

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