CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
Blue Dress No 3, 16”x 12”, pencil, acrylic and collage on wood. A little less intense blue on this one. The blue that I was using on the earlier blue dresses was getting a little intense for my black and white aesthetic. Do you prefer the brighter blue? Or this blue?© 2020 David Limrite
“For a painter, I think there is nothing better than that his works are really looked at - and seen.”
Richard Diebenkorn, Artist
Constructive Criticism
As artists, we do not often have someone to show our paintings in progress to for a little constructive criticism. Someone whom we trust, feel safe with and respect.
As a result, we more often than not, have to evaluate and critique our own work. Which can be very difficult to do.
It is so easy to be overly critical, unkind and unforgiving with ourselves. It is so easy to be a hater. It is so easy to be negative with ourselves about what we have accomplished or not accomplished.
It is so easy to beat ourselves up because we think we should be able to do what we want to do with our painting.
And when we can’t, we tell ourselves that we are just not good enough. Or worse yet, we convince ourselves that we are a terrible artist.
The key to a healthier, more constructive critique of your own work is to first remember that you are not your painting. You are not your skill or talent. Separate yourself from from your art and evaluate the work on its own merits and what has been accomplished so far.
Remember that your painting is not finished until you say it is.
If there are things about your painting that are not working or that you don’t like, it just means that you are not finished yet. That you just haven’t figured it out, yet. All it means is that you have more work to do.
It does not mean that you are a terrible artist.
Critique your work through the lens of education.
What can you learn right now? At this moment. So that you can make your painting better.
What do you need to practice? What do you need help with? BTW, it’s OK to need help and to ask for it.
Focus only on the painting itself. You are not judging you, your character, or your artistic ability.
When I am looking at my work, I ask myself these 3 questions:
1. What is working? ( It is very important to start with this question first, because it is so easy to go right to the negative).
2. What is not working?
3. What does this painting need or want from me and how can I improve it?
None of these questions have to do with me, or my talent, skill or ability. Its all about the painting.
There are a whole host of other questions you can ask yourself while you are critiquing your own work, and I've included them in this guide:
The Art Of Critique: How to Assess Your Own Work
You will receive this resource immediately, when you enroll in Critique Week, which starts tomorrow, Monday, May 4th.
Click now to grab your seat in Critique Week along with your copy of The Art Of Critique: How to Assess Your Own Work. You'll also be able to join me live as I critique the paintings of 10 lucky artists who previously submitted their work for Critique Week.
Best,
David