criticism?

[rhysgroves]

Hi, boys and girls, I have been surfing this forum for weeks now and have discovered one main, aspect in the criticsm, this is that quite often a piece of work gets very high praise, for being of a quality higher than the pictures worth. this would be great if the only purpose of the forum was to make new friends and big up the ones you already have, this in itself is beneficial and is indeed commended, but it doesn't help the artist, he or she will go away safe in the knowledge that, for an example Shade and light, is well and truly mastered. but it in reality it is anything but. I believe that criticism should be given good or bad, so the artist should know how long along the road he/she has come and how far they still need to go.

Rhys (LONDON.UK)

[KwitcherBitchin]

Rhys, I am behind you 100% and it has been addressed in the Public Forums here http://www.airbrushtechnique.com/for...ead.php?t=8335
And a Critique section has also been put up in the Subscribers Forum............Kwit

[Diaz Dezine]

I guess sometimes not being able to totally have physical interaction( artist to artist, no matter what the skill level is) to help or be helped or suggest or not to suggest.....I guess what I'm saying is when I was young I always got support to go further with art, not to be forced to do but to have fun with and if it turns to something so be it. I think this airbrush forum is a very respectful and objective forum and it encourages and sometimes discourages no matter what the skill level is. One thing in common is for sure is that it is a very passionate,honest and respectful forum. I to surfed other airbrush forums including this one and I decided recently, after surfing for several months, to settle here because everybody seemed to be very down to earth and informitable and always willing to help at the drop of a hat, no matter what the skill level is. I guess it's just that care and nurture thing that we humans have when you have a certain bond.I like it here.

[lonestar58]

Welcome Diaz ,, ,And it's good to have another artist with your experience and talent on board for we ,the newones to this art form, to learn from .
As for Rhys comments . I agree . I too love to have my bubble pumped , but still need to have the honest comments of where my work is lacking so as to better that area. Then I don't assume that all my work is fine and not work on my weak points . Ms. Darla has been kind enough lately to do just that . She has been giving good , and honest remarks to me as well as many others trying to improve our lettering techniques . And I for one am so very greatful . It's hard sometimes to except the fact that you need work . But if someone who sees the need doesn't tell you , then you never bring that lower skill up to par with the rest , and thus develope the "whole" package ! So let the honesty begin , but be gentle , and be man ,or woman enough to use it and grow . Thanks Rhys !!!!

[grinnen30]

Rhys-
For many of us, we don't have the ability or knowledge on how to "constructively" critique...For example, I have only been brushing since late October...and I had one month off due to work, and then another due to airbrush problems that needed to be shipped off...I do okay with very basic stuff and turn out decent work...but other than "that looks nice", very rarely am I able to provide help...and there is no reason for me to say anything else...unless it is just technically glaring.

With all my stuff, I put please critique, as I want to get better...and many of the artists take that to heart and do help...sometimes I can understand what they mean, other times I struggle...but guys like Kimmo, Brush, Darla, Yardart, Kwit and others do help out...and I appreciate it and my work shows...

So Rhys...please join in in providing help...we do appreciate it.

Ike

[brushbyair]

Ryes, this subject has recently come up on the forum, all good comment, no criticism when due. As Kwit indicated Don put up a special thread in the subscribers forum for subscribing artists specifically asking for their work to be critiqued, the reason being some people post their work and when they recieve some criticism it could make them angry or even hurt, so if you post in that thread you are telling people to critique their work. Surveys were taken to establish the guidelines for the new thread, I believe this was not done in the "Open to the Public" only because it was subscribing members that made the request for the new "Critique my Work" thread. I don't believe there is anyone here that would not critique your work if asked when you post, but there is a resentment to doing so in fear of hunrting ones feelings if not asked for. Hope this helps to explain how we at least got to this point on this subject.

[zero420]

Originally Posted by grinnen30

Rhys-
For many of us, we don't have the ability or knowledge on how to "constructively" critique...For example, I have only been brushing since late October...and I had one month off due to work, and then another due to airbrush problems that needed to be shipped off...I do okay with very basic stuff and turn out decent work...but other than "that looks nice", very rarely am I able to provide help...and there is no reason for me to say anything else...unless it is just technically glaring.

With all my stuff, I put please critique, as I want to get better...and many of the artists take that to heart and do help...sometimes I can understand what they mean, other times I struggle...but guys like Kimmo, Brush, Darla, Yardart, Kwit and others do help out...and I appreciate it and my work shows...

So Rhys...please join in in providing help...we do appreciate it.

Ike

i agree 1000% with what you said its like you read my mind

zero420

[rhysgroves]

Thanks guy, your answers were very well thought through, and from the heart, thats what makes this, the best forum there is. some of you, gave the inpression that because of your lack of expirence ( I myself fall into this group) you cannot have a voice. most normal people that the pro-painter, do work for, have few or no artistic bones in there body. But this would not stop them telling you that the picture you have painted, with the backing of there money, Is CRAP!!! most people that draw can see something wrong in what they paint,just cant put there finger on it, it just needs a knowing eye to pointed things out to us once in a while. looking forward to the criticism page on this sight, and to thank everyone who has helped me, ( Just want to learn) you guys have been great, all the best to you all

Rhys (LONDON.UK)

[shovelhead]

I do think that constructive critisism is a very good thing. Especially in this format, where it is coming from people who really want to see you get better. I am sure some of us (including me) have done some with their new AB, that you are very proud of. You rush around to find a camera ,so you can show your work to your peers(and friends),on this forum. Only to find out that you used the wrong color for something, or something is out of wack on the painting. I want that kind of feedback. Afterall folks, we are not 5 years old showing mommy our little stick people we drew.I'm not sure I would want someone to tell mee my painting is crap,but I sure don't want them looking at it and saying its really nice ,when it is in fact crapola. We want to get better,and this type of forum will halp each and everyone of us to do just that.

[aixguy]

Personly I have stopped with the "That looks Great" post if it does not or if the subject does not intrest me (not into fire and skulls) . I also have a hard time with knowing how to critique a painting. I don't draw, and the critique portion was the hardest part of the darwing 101 class I took last year. For those poeple that have not been exposed to art of one kind or another for their entire lives, it's like speaking a foreign language.. or ever a native language... engilsh is a real PIA
The thing is, CC is a Very Good Thing, if the person that provides it knows how to do so, and can explain "How" to fix it or how it could have been done better.
I don't have this ability, so I would rather say nothing than try and do a bad critique or just an "Atta boy" over and over.
I don't think the Attaboys are bad, especially in the begging months of a person experiance with an aribrush. There is so much to lean in just getting the paint to come out where you need it, critique of the actual "Artwork" would be of little use.
There are several other factors that may stop people that can provide good CC from doing so.
First is that it takes a lot of time to put your thoughts into typed words. To sit in a class room and just speak you mind may take 3 minutes, to put it in writing may take 25.
The fact that you are looking at a low resolution photo, taken by, most likely someone who does not know how to properly photograph a painting, on a monitor, means you may critiquing something that is not really there.
Lastly, one thing that comes to mind is there maybe be many poeple that are skilled in other Art Mediums, that can give a great Critique, but lack the skills in the Airbrush medium to provide the "How to fix" part of the critique.
Ok.. time to shut up.. and go get coffee.. spent about 30 minutes typing this..

[redneck]

Originally Posted by aixguy

Personly I have stopped with the "That looks Great" post if it does not or if the subject does not intrest me (not into fire and skulls) . I also have a hard time with knowing how to critique a painting. I don't draw, and the critique portion was the hardest part of the darwing 101 class I took last year. For those poeple that have not been exposed to art of one kind or another for their entire lives, it's like speaking a foreign language.. or ever a native language... engilsh is a real PIA
The thing is, CC is a Very Good Thing, if the person that provides it knows how to do so, and can explain "How" to fix it or how it could have been done better.
I don't have this ability, so I would rather say nothing than try and do a bad critique or just an "Atta boy" over and over.
I don't think the Attaboys are bad, especially in the begging months of a person experiance with an aribrush. There is so much to lean in just getting the paint to come out where you need it, critique of the actual "Artwork" would be of little use.
There are several other factors that may stop people that can provide good CC from doing so.
First is that it takes a lot of time to put your thoughts into typed words. To sit in a class room and just speak you mind may take 3 minutes, to put it in writing may take 25.
The fact that you are looking at a low resolution photo, taken by, most likely someone who does not know how to properly photograph a painting, on a monitor, Lastly, one thing that comes to mind is there maybe be many poeple that are skilled in other Art Mediums, that can give a great Critique, but lack the skills in the Airbrush medium to provide the "How to fix" part of the critique.
Ok.. time to shut up.. and go get coffee.. spent about 30 minutes typing this..

means you may critiquing something that is not really there.


giving a fellow-painter a bad review may be a dirty-job when we see something that is not there but it may help to tell them what we see before the paying customer open their mouth and spill the beans

Thanks Doug well put. My biggest concern is once a forum takes a negative tone it takes on a life of its own and spirals out of control. Not going to happen while I admin this forum.

I believe those of us who see a problem with someone else’s work do our best to help out when we can. None of us are paid to do so; it’s done purely out of leaning a helping hand.

There is a poll right now asking if you’d like more personal instruction, I don’t believe that can be done at no cost. The experienced artist that take part in that should be compensated for their time just like the instructor of any other trade is compensated.

This is a free forum with many great features including a killer gallery full of great art work, the largest public airbrush product review to be found anywhere, great classified ad section. The forum is what you the members make it. Maybe instead of asking how I can get more out of the forum the question you should be asking is how I can give more. It’s infectious the more you give the more you’ll get out of this web site. Have you posted a product review today? Have you taken five minutes today to comment on someone’s art work in the gallery? Have you taken the time to welcome a new member today?


I also realize that else where on the Internet there are those that see the way the members interact on this forum as something bad. That being respectful, helpful, and encouraging instead of discouraging as something that’s not good, it’s very hard to learn anything in a negative atmosphere so we encourage a positive atmosphere here. That’s not a bad thing in my book.

It’s just paint, have fun.
It’s just a forum it will be what you the members make it.

Have a great superbowl day

[Ispray]

If you want strong critisism on your work post it and ask for it and they will give it to you. Most people have full time jobs and can only practice a few hours a week and would love to learn how to create a master piece on the first try. Turning a loud compressor on every night while the kids and wife are in bed is not going to work so they practice when they can and the progress is very slow and telling them they are doing well is ok, the longer your on the boards you will get to know people here trying to learn with a limited time to actually be airbrushing. So try treating the newbees like they are your children and fed them a little at a time.

[Snuff]

The care and feeding of a newbie is all well and good, critiques can be given in a positive way so as not to discourage them.
But when I post something for critique give it to me hard 'n straight, I want to get better,...... so if it sucks tell me, but tell me why. If it is good tell me that too.

[shovelhead]

Exactly Snuff. I agree with you completely. We all had enough of the complimentary comments when we were 5 years old. Remember when we were all young (long time ago for me),and we brought something into the kitchen for mom to look at. The first thing she would say is thats really nice(while trying to figure out what it was that you drew). I think that we are very passionate about what we are doing ,and everyone needs a passion in their life. I think that the best we can do is to help each other in whatever way we can. I ,although inexperienced in ABing,would let someone know if I see something that's real obvious. But only if they asked for it.

Here you go:
http://www.airbrushtechnique.com/for...play.php?f=371