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Having people in your life who can provide solid useful critiques is a priceless gift.  Nothing will move you forward faster in your growth throughout your entire career than having such people around you.  That said, it is worse than useless if you are not able to properly receive a critique.

Sometimes, they are priceless and sometimes they are dangerous. 

Here are some guidelines for Receiving and Giving Critiques:

RECEIVING CRITIQUES:

1- Don’t only seek critiques from other Artists, Seek a critique from someone that is not an artist.  You’d be surprised what you will learn about your work from them.   

2- If someone you respect is not happy with your work, you have to ask yourself a hard question. “Do I agree?” 

I have a person in my life with an amazing sense of art. She is an artist herself, and she finds every single part of the canvas I was hoping would not be obvious.  In other words, the things I had doubts about myself but was willing to ignore.  Once she has done that however, I can’t ignore them.  She’s my secret weapon!

On the other hand...she doesn’t alway like what I am trying to do.  In other words, things that are not mistakes but are in fact my intended result.  It is up to me (not her) to separate her remarks into two groups.  

Group A, is when she catches oversights or lets me know sweeping something under the carpet didn’t work.  Sold gold!  

Group B, is based on what she likes--more than what I am trying to do. 

It is up to me to decide which group a comment is in—while doing my best to not inhibit her.  The last thing I want is for her to not say what she is thinking.  If that happens I lose something wonderful.

Learn to accept the remarks about what needs correcting and reject the comments that are based on the person who is giving the critique’s personal preferences.  (This is very hard to do this but well worth learning.) 

3- Don’t Challenge The Critique!  That is just you trying to protect yourself.  However, you can ask the one giving the critique to elaborate on something they said that doesn’t seem to make sense to you.  If it’s a good insight you will learn something valuable, and if it was vague because it was not well thought out--you will prevent a nonsense statement from taking root in your mind. But don’t argue. If you think it’s not helpful, thank them, and just forget it.

GIVING CRITIQUES:

1- Try to understand what the Artist is trying to accomplish and keep your comments close to that goal.  Keep your preferences out of it.

2- Always allow for the possibility that what you see as a problem could have been done by design.  Find out the Intention of Artist and target your comments towards helping them reach their goal--not yours.

3- Be specific. For example, “That hand is quite vague, did you intend to do that--which would be fine--or are you having an issue painting hands?”

4- You need to be respectful.  Try to find something positive to point out for each negative.  Add a little sugar to the medicine.  If you think that isn’t necessary it’s been too long since you’ve received a critique yourself.

5- Understand that even if you add the sugar--they may cry.

Always remember that you are an Artist and a Critic. You are constantly critiquing yourself and should follow these guidelines--even inside your own head.  

Be helpful, specific, and gentle.

When you are in a classroom environment and there is a group critique, NEVER denigrate your own work. If your Instructor asks what you think you might do differently—be specific and positive—without denigrating your own work.

Someone else might be thinking that they wish they could do as well as you! Hearing you put down your piece is a slap in their face—even though it was your intention to be honest and even humble. 

The bottomline is simple. Critiques are about acknowledging what works and suggesting changes if you believe they are needed. It is no time for egos—even small ones.