Chapter Two: Quest Log
LESSON SEVEN
Understanding Feedback
As artists we tend to be very passionate people - be it for the art itself, the meaning and symbolism we insert into our work, or just the sheer amount of effort and time that we dedicate to creating. Passion is a very personal, deep-seated, almost carnal emotion that drives us whether we care and nurture it or if it manages to flourish all on it’s own.
Due to this we tend to conflate a persons opinion of our work as an opinion towards us as a person. Negative comments can feel like a personal dig or insult and, initially, it really can be hard to distinguish between the two. This can make it almost impossible for us to share our work with people we know and trust, let alone ask a random person to pass judgment, or comment on how to fix it.
However, learning to ask for, receive, accept, and even provide others with feedback is an important aspect that allows us to grow as artists; especially if you are looking to improve, or if you want to actively participate within an art community. Here is just a gentle reminder to join our Discord Server, where you can chat with other artists, join us during our weekly hangouts, and share your work, or ask for feedback on your work and assignments.
Why is it Hard to Critique Ourselves?
Whether you are just starting out, or if you are a seasoned artist, it can be difficult to develop a critical eye that has the ability to spot and correct mistakes, identify bad habits, or recognize general oversights in our own work.
Initially, the problem starts because you are, let’s say, uneducated. You know something is wrong, but you don’t know what is wrong - so forget trying to come up with a battle plan on how to fix it. This means reaching out and getting help from another artist to point out your mistakes and discussing ideas on how to fix it. This will help you to bridge that gap of knowledge and improve artistically.
However, there is an additional problem which is, admittedly, a very odd phenomenon that happens to every artist no matter their skill level. For many of us, we pour countless hours, if not days, or even weeks into working on the same piece. And just like repeating a word so many times it starts to lose all meaning, the same can happen visually with our work. As we continue to press forward, the issues and mistakes start to blend in and become much harder, if not impossible to spot.
This is why it is important to seek out a community where you not only feel comfortable enough to spend time in that environment, but you are also confident in the opinions your fellow creators share with you.
What Feedback Is Not
Spotting good feedback can be a little difficult at first, as your emotions are raw and almost any comment can hurt. However, after some time it will become more obvious when someone is critiquing in good faith, or if someone is either trolling you, or just being cruel. Although, I will say that it is rare for fellow artists to intentionally inflict pain in communities like ours, it can happen online.
Keep in mind that insults, backhanded complements, and negativity are never the proper way to provide feedback. Artists should not pass judgement on you as a person, question your motives, or your sincerity. If you think someone is purposefully being a troll, cruel, offensive, or discriminatory, I suggest immediately reaching out to an authority and reporting that user rather than engaging with them. It is a skill to both recognize such behavior while also finding the strength to ignore it.
Asking For Feedback
Asking for feedback is, of course, very difficult and can be a daunting task. We are asking for you to be very vulnerable and open minded at the same time. These are two things that are hard to come by and can be terrifying to experience. However, it is important that you reach out to the community to ask for help throughout your journey.
When you are asking for feedback, you might be sharing the results to an assignment, or you might be looking for general, all-over advice. However, when possible, I suggest you approach the subject a little differently.
Now, not all tutors will prefer this, but I prefer a student be more explicit and explain what topic they are most concerned about. Explain what you are looking for feedback on such as perspective, design, or proportions for example.
Additionally, if you used reference, providing that reference - especially for things like portraits - helps provide context. So far, this has been the best and quickest way to get the advice you are seeking.
Responding to Feedback
Once you have received feedback, the way you react to that feedback is just as important as the feedback itself. Initially you may feel compelled to fight or defend yourself - this is entirely normal. However, this is not how you should approach a response. If you are angry, or worked up… give yourself some time to cool down.
In response, I suggest you merely thank the person for the feedback, say that you will take their feedback into consideration, and that you appreciate their time. This is especially true if you dislike or disagree with what they said, because our number one goal is to keep things friendly. You can of course asking clarifying questions, further discuss a particular topic, or discuss alternative solutions with them if you want to. Otherwise, take what they said with a grain of salt!
It’s not worth fighting or arguing with your peer, and doing so can discourage others from giving or receiving feedback themselves. A lot of people are more than willing to help those who are equally as willing to listen - even if you don’t end up taking their advice.