What a wonderful thing it is that we have art in this world. Whether it be painting or poetry or pottery– the ability to express ourselves and share ourselves with others is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful aspects of the human condition.
Art is our desire to communicate, to process, to connect, to create—and a million other desires I cannot imagine.
It makes sense, then that artists are deeply attached to the art that they create. However, as artists and as people, we need to focus on growing and developing. Part of that process is learning to take and give criticism.
Taking Criticism
I’ve heard art–or whatever project a person has worked on for a while— described as their “baby”. They have fed it and cared for it and probably stayed up many nights for it. There is a lot of emotion attached to all creation and art.
Understand first the intention and the purpose of your art—what is it that you are conveying? Who is the intended audience? Be confident in your message and its value. Know that what you create has value, that you as an artist have a talent worth honing and that you as a person are worthy of others’ attention and time.
Although it is easier said than done, when taking criticism, it is important to set your emotions aside. The goal is not to protect your own feelings from being hurt—hurt, too, is a vessel for growth. The goal is to grow your art and your self.
Remember that the criticism is of the project or the artwork, not of you as a person or an artist. Engage directly with the content of the critique. If it reveals your own biases for consideration, that is an unexpect- ed and useful side effect.
In giving criticism, a person may be intentionally or unintentionally hurtful. Even then, it is important to parse out the useful information from the emotions you may experience.
This does not mean that you must repress your emotions. Rather, accept that you feel them and cope with them separately from the process of bettering your technical skills. In the moment, you can feel them, recognize them and choose to focus on the criticism.
This also includes criticism that you may think is unfair or unwarranted, especially when coming from a person you consider unjustified or hypocritical in offering you advice or is someone that you do not particularly like. In these situations, it becomes even more necessary to take a moment to consider if what the other person is saying holds some validity, since you would not want your own ego or emotions to get in the way of your growth.
This process of delaying your emotions is difficult to learn, but one that can serve you well. One way I fulfill this process is by letting the emotion have its initial presence and remind myself that it is neither the entirety of my reaction nor the director of my behaviour. This is a conscious process, one that requires an amount of practice before it becomes natural.
While I have taken the time to reflect and consider others’ opinions, it is possible in that process to lose sight of your intention.
I recognize these moments when there are too many voices I’m remembering, too many points that I’m considering by catching myself thinking in endless circles.
Sometimes, after taking in a lot of information, I’ll notice myself ruminating on the same few points, stuck in the same thought and unable to move the thought process onward.
I went through that process while writing this article—when I talked to some of my friends about this topic, I took everything they had to say into consideration.
In these moments, we must go back to the beginning and remember the purpose, the message and the intended audience of our art. We must take in the critique, consider opinions and then decide for ourselves what makes the most sense to achieving our purpose.
Giving criticism
Now you know the secrets of being good at taking criticism, but you should not assume that others have the same knowledge.
Remember that the artist is not obligated to listen to your advice. Assume always that another person could take your criticism poorly or not at all.
Their emotions are valid and your criticism should be kind and straightforward.
I believe that the hamburger/ sandwich method, or giving a compliment, following it with a critique and then adding a compliment after – is deeply disrespectful.
It dismisses the importance of the critique, and is also an insult to the intellect and maturity of both the critic and the criticized.
It is important to share what is good about art, however, to require positivity to surround critique demonstrates that the positive comments also have a negative edge.
Criticism is not by default negative, rude or unwarranted–it is necessary analysis that aids in betterment of both the art and the artist.
As such, false or forced compliments only flatter the ego and do not serve the art or the artist.
When giving criticism, consider how much of yourself you are willing to give to the other person. This includes your expertise, time and energy. You are not obligated to give more than you are willing or compensated for.
In my case, as an editor, I am required to look over people’s work and help them create the best art they can.
I am required by my position to give more of my time and expertise to contributors. It is up to you to decide what your role is and how well you can fulfill it.
If a person chooses not to listen to your criticism because they are overly attached to their creation, then it is not your obligation to make them listen to you.
Above all, be kind—this is not the place for brutal honesty, only honesty. Regardless of the quality of the art, it took effort for the artist to create.
In criticizing the art, one must not forget the intrinsic value that it has.
This article was cross-published with The Cord.
Leave a Reply