Unnecessary critique

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AvannTeth's avatar
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I haven't had this problem a whole lot, but I want to let everyone know that critique that I hadn't asked for has little to no effect on my future artwork. Infact, 80% of the critique given to me is about something that I've already noticed while spending 4 hours staring at the artwork as I drew it, or something I just didn't want to deal with. Trust me, if I wanted help I wont ever feel too proud ask for it.

Let me give you a visual example about how I feel about critique:

Imagine you're in the super market, right? Your shoe-lace is untied. You notice your shoe-lace is untied, but you're busy reading the ingredients for strawberry flavored Trojan condoms because you're curious and you figured that once you're done, you'll tie your shoe.

Some guy walks by you and notices your shoelace is untied and stops to point out, "HEY YOUR SHOELACE IS UNTIED."
You look at this guy and you smile and say, "Oh I already knew. I'm just reading right now." But this guy, a total stranger, despite given the information and hint, proceeds. "It's a common mistake to not see it untied, I see it all the time. I know the most easy method for tying shoes and you need to try it: make a loop with one end, wrap the other end around and pull a loop through the "hole" in the middle. Did you get that? Don't ever forget, it makes your shoes look better and I like it that way."

You're a little irritated right? You already know how to tie shoes, you already told this guy that you knew about the shoe-lace being untied and now he has the gratification of being the one who taught you how to tie shoes, someone who already knew the art of shoe-lace tying. Besides, what if you didn't WANT your shoe-lace tied?  Why does he get a say in how to wear your shoes?
"Well thanks, but I already knew." You say to him, but then this guy looks at you furiously and says, "WELL YOU DON'T NEED TO GET ALL PISSY." Before you can reply, he storms off and you hear him on the other isle talking to his friends about this awful person who didn't know how to tie shoes that got angry with him for teaching them how to tie shoes. You later find articles and blog posts dedicated to bringing down all those who do not wish to be taught the art of shoelace tying.

Does that make sense? Just apply that to DA and art and you'll catch my drift.

This is not to say it's okay to be aggressive with someone because they were trying to help. Politeness goes a long way. Some people are totally fine with taking critique and some are happy to give it; however I suggest getting to know a gallery before you start throwing your input. Don't be surprised if someone gets defensive over their hard-work because you don't like the colors or want a more detailed background.

TL;DR: Avann knows how to tie her shoes.

© 2013 - 2024 AvannTeth
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SkyMagpie's avatar
I agree with this completely (and I also love the shoe lace metaphor)
I know everything on every single drawing that is good and could be better, and I also know every single mistake. Im not an idiot and I can notice it. And I hate when people write an unnecessary critic, I politely respond that I know and couldnt/wouldnt/didnt want to change it. And then I feel like a bad person that is vain and cant take a critique. I would much more appreciate if they told me how can i improve generally not wherther her right eye is slightly in the wrong position but that means you cant draw eyes so here are 200 tutorials. I also hate when I have more than 1 character on the drawing and they compare them, like which one turned out better. I didnt ask for that. If i ask for a critique I will be happy to take it.