What Critique is [and isn't]

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Hello patients! I've written a few blogs and tutorials on critique that I'll link at the end of this blog (along with some others I think you will like too) for you to quickly reference! In light of the previous blogs <Avoid That dArama and <No more excuses, it's time to improve your art I wanted to write some things about critique to bring both blogs full circle. I also realized that I failed to fully explain what critique even is in the previous things I've written on the subject :XD:Before I begin let me start off by saying that I don't write each blog for Artist's Hospital in a vacuum :XD: Each blog is about one specific topic, I can't throw in everything because then I would be writing a book!

So here's how I'll do this: we'll talk about what critique is, what it isn't, break it all down, explain common issues, then let's have a taco party!
I can hardly contain my excitement too!

:bulletred:What Critique is

The Critique - The Artist by NeonWhales
  • An objective overview 
  • A constructive formal analysis 
  • An intelligent conversation about an artwork's strengths and weaknesses
  • A detailed evaluation 
Just so you know I didn't make those points up myself, here are the dictionary definitions of the word 'critique:'

cri·tique

kriˈtēk/
noun
1. a detailed analysis and assessment of something, especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory.
synonyms:analysisevaluationassessmentappraisalappreciationcriticism,reviewstudycommentaryexpositionexegesis 
verb
1. evaluate (a theory or practice) in a detailed and analytical way.

:bulletred:What a Critique is not

Critique by Minnome
  • A personal opinion
  • Only negative/critical
  • A personal attack
  • Only positive
Based on dictionary definition of the word, it's easy to see that critique is none of the above (although those methods are used frequently around dA). 
For education purposes here's the dictionary definition for the word 'critical.'

crit·i·cal

ˈkritikəl/
adjective
1. expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments.
synonyms:censoriouscondemnatory, condemning, denunciatory, disparaging,disapprovingscathingfault-findingjudgmentalaccusatorynegative,unfavorable

2. expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art.

:bulletred:The correct way: let's break it down!

  • An objective overview
Critique Stamp by CaraidArt

What does it mean to be objective? Being objective simply means leaving your opinions and expectations at home. Think of it this way, if you're having a tough time making a decision it helps to have someone who does not have an emotional attachment to the outcome to give you some perspective. Art inspires our deepest emotions, and while acknowledging an emotional bond you may have with an artwork can be helpful, it can easily cloud up your critique magnifying glass. 

  • A constructive formal analysis

If you're unfamiliar with formal analysis, read <Getting better at critique: Formal Analysis for a detailed explanation in this critique tool. For the sake of keeping things moving, let's continue with this point. For our purposes (artists who are working on improving our work) constructive comments are what we are in desperate need of. What does it mean to be constructive? It means not simply offering an observation of what is not working, it means offering ways to improve it. In your constructive comments, be sure to offer realistic advice. For example, it's unhelpful to tell someone that they need to work on color temperature when it's evident the artist has an elementary understanding of color theory. Break things down to the level of the person you are critiquing, you will help them even more. 

  • An intelligent conversation about an artwork's strengths and weaknesses

Speaking intelligently doesn't mean being bourgeois or highbrow (or an asshole, everyone hates those XD). It means using appropriate language. "Values," for example, is a more intelligent (and correct) way to talk about "lights and darks" in an artwork. Words like ineffective, unsound, and inexact are less likely to be construed as an attack than words like wrong, useless, bad, or broken. It's also helpful to remember that a critique is also a two way conversation. Allowing an artist to explain their intentions can give you further insight into the work and help you give an even better critique!

  • A detailed evaluation 

Being as detailed as possible is both for your benefit and the artist! It will help you digest all the information in the artwork so that you can begin your critique, and it will help the artist recognize things they might not notice they put in their work. 

:bulletred:The incorrect way: let's break it down!

  • A personal opinion

Personal opinions are really important, but they don't have much of a place in a critique. Personal ideas, morals, beliefs, likes, dislikes, etc. can get in the way of helping the artist. Check yourself consistently throughout a critique to be sure that you are not inserting your opinions. That's an entirely different conversation altogether. You may mention you're not a fan of something in the piece, but only do so if you are eloquent enough to instill that that fact does not render the work a "bad piece of art."

  • Only negative

It seems counterintuitive to say that a critique should not be only negative. Calling out problems in an artwork is important, are you saying that we shouldn't, Xadrea? What are you talking about? What does water taste like? What is the meaning of life? What is the universe?!
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Calm down! There is a method to this madness! Here's an example of the dangers of a purely negative critique: Japanese American visual artist, interior designer, and architect Isamu Noguchi created a sculpture of a lynched black man titled Death in 1939. The overwhelming response to the piece was intensely negative and reported as being "a little Japanese mistake." Those words stayed with him throughout his career because they called upon his insecurities of his mixed ethnicity and the horrors of racism in the United States.
Balance is necessary to any and every good critique. Breaking someone's confidence as an artist is not necessary to give a good critique. And to handle what I mean about an artists's confidence is not me saying that you need to avoid bruising an artist's ego. Everyone's egos need a slap every now and then. I'm saying that you should never, ever, cause someone to question their passion as an artist. 

  • A personal attack

If you are on the receiving end of a critique, it can be hard to hear some unsavory things about your artwork, even if you asked for it XD! If the person you are being critiqued by is not insulting your intelligence, calling you names, insulting your skill level, they are not attacking you. I repeat, you are not being attacked. Do not respond childishly if your ego gets bruised during a critique, rather wait until you cool off to continue the conversation. 

This goes for those of you giving the critique. If there's an artist you don't care for critiquing them is not a cloak and dagger way for you to find fault with them. Don't use critique as a way for you to exact punishment, hurt feelings, or undermine someone else. Cutting someone down is a vicious way to bolster your own damaged self confidence. Do, not, do it. 

  • Only positive

Critiques should contain positive observations because they will let the artist know what is working. However, your observations should not only be positive! Likewise, if you are asking for a crit, you should not expect only positive feedback! If you only wanted positive feedback you were never asking for a critique in the first place. Only positive remarks will not help you in the long run because they overlook the things that are in need of work. 

:bulletred:A critique is no more a pat on the back than it is a punch in the face

Balance is key in giving critiques, and remembering that it is for your benefit is the key to receiving them! However even the best laid plans can be spoiled by a misunderstanding. In this section I'll lay out some of the most common issues that come up during critiques. 

  • _____ can't "take" my critique!!!

Ok. And? I will be forever confused at the outrage that comes from (and I'm assuming) well meaning artists who are spurned by whoever they were critiquing. Carrying around resentment because someone did not like your well planned and laid critique is like being mad at a baby for crying. For as much time as you wasted giving the critique, you'll waste double that fuming about your smarting ego.

  • I don't understand the advice I'm being given/words they are using/technique they are describing!

That's an easy one! Just ask! Asking questions throughout the critique should be a two party process. Never be too intimidated to ask questions. 

  • This person is not on my level, therefore I can't accept a critique from them!

Nope. Wrong. You don't have to have experienced something to know about it in detail. It may offer an extra level of insight and empathy yes, but non-artists and those who are no Leonardo daVinci can still give kick-ass critiques too! If you know your basic art elements/principles of design (outlined below), you are qualified to give a critique, 'nuff said.

Principles of design

Basic Art Elements

  • This is my style/the style of _____

Believe it or not, there is a right and wrong way to properly handle stylization whether it's personal or an established international style. If your marks are appearing unintentional in your artwork, that is a weakness no matter what you call it. Accept the challenge and improve your work. There are innumerable amounts of books written about stylized drawing whether it's cartoony or fantastical, you're not unique, please accept the critique.

:bulletred:Exemplary examples of critiques on dA


Critique for LukeLdh by Spork- Critique 7-1-2012 by jeffwamester Critique: Save MeCritique of Save Me. by JasmineMaille
Hi there!
I'm here to fulfill a critique request made to *Critique-It. I like to remind artists that these comments are my opinion, and should be taken with the proverbial grain of sand.
Thinking about the assignment mentioned in your artist's comments, I'm not sure how this picture tells me something new about the safety pin. It is lying in a hand that has lots of shadows around it, but there's no message in that composition. I'd consider asking yourself what kind of message you want the safety pin to send to viewers, then retaking the shot with that message in mind. Conceptual photography should tell some kind of story - or lead viewers to implying a story of their own.
As for the actual quality of the photo - your lighting and the details from the skin show up very well. But the technical skill is a moot point if the shot doesn't make me think/feel/wonder about something. I
Critique: Murder on the sec...Critique of Murder on the second floor by RedSky-atNight
I'm primarily a narrative poet myself, so I really enjoyed seeing more strict narrative poetry floating around on dA.  The pacing and plot work well for the piece.  The fact that there is no resolution to the "who dunnit" isn't a problem either.
The first thing I'd like to suggest is to go through a few parts of rough and rocky syntax.  I'm a linguist, so I'm all for rebelling against much of what our English teachers taught us in school (it's lies!  lies I say!), and it's true that in poetry you are given quite a bit of leeway with grammar and usage, but you can't throw it out the window, and you get much less leeway in narrative poetry than you do with lyrical poetry.  Even Jabberwocky uses proper syntax for the made up words.


:bulletred:Links to journals, tutorials, and articles about all things critique!
The Art of Feedback: CritiquesI Asked: Why do you critique art? How do you critique art?
In this poll, I asked you to tell me a little bit about your process on how and why you give feedback. I got some really interesting answers!
"...if I give feedback, the other will appreciate the feedback, and then they might give feedback, it's basically a cycle of giving and getting. Win-Win situations are always good."
SonicWolvelina99
This is so true and something I hope everyone can come to understand. You don't need a widget or special symbol to give a critique or to get a critique. You don't even need special training or knowledge! You simply must be active as a community member.
"...I first start out with a compliment or pointing something out that looked/seemed really good in the piece of art/literature. Then I get to the part where I point out what might need a bit more work, not sma
Essentials of Writing a CritiqueEssentials of Writing a Critique
DeviantART has a wonderful feature that allows people to give constructive criticism about other people's artwork, or receive it for theirs. But this can be rather limiting when you can only give one critique per deviation. You have to make it as perfect as possible - so the other person can understand your perspective clearly. Here's my opinion on how you could go about writing a critique. Enjoy~
-  -

Describe:
I suggest that you always start off by describing the other person's piece. Sometimes, even addressing the obvious can help to 'set the background in motion' so the artist knows whether his piece's significance got through or not.
Analyze: Try to think critically. Though you want to share your opinion, it is sometimes helpful to see it from everyone's eyes. Also, divide the main aspects while writing a critique. If you're writing a critique on a digital art piece, you can divide it into line-art, then shading et
5 Pieces of Critique You Should Always Disregard1. "I have a problem with your premise." This is the red flag to end all red flags. I don't care how flimsy the premise is. Every idea has the potential to be a good story. Execution is something else entirely, but if somebody doesn't like your idea: don't listen to them. What they're basically saying is "I am not an Ideal Reader, therefore not your target audience, therefore I am not the right person to critiquing your work."  I hate, hate, hate people who think you should be writing for broader audiences than your story is capable of reaching. If you're writing romance, you're writing romance for romance readers. You're not trying to reach hard science fiction readers. Very few people even know what makes a breakout mainstream novel that has high market appeal. If they did, every single book ever written would be Harry Potter. It just doesn't happen. And for somebody to ask you to make that happen is ridiculous and unfair. For the most part, writers are writ Getting Better at Critique: Formal AnalysisLike our artwork, getting better at critique takes practice! First let’s look at the definitions of a critique:
A detailed analysis and assessment of something, esp. a literary, philosophical, or political theory. –Google Dictionary
A method of disciplined, systematic analysis of a written or oral discourse. - Wikipedia
A careful judgment in which you give your opinion about the good and bad parts of something (such as a piece of writing or a work of art) – Merriam-Webster Dictionary
So, in layman’s terms, a critique is a careful assessment, a detailed observation, an objective analysis. Sounds really egg heady doesn’t it? Well, it doesn’t have to be! The simplest way to start off learning how to critique is by conducting a formal analysis. Sounds uber smancy huh? A formal analysis is a careful and thorough observation of an artwork. A formal analysis is totally objective, it considers the formal properties of the artwork. T
What is a good critique: how make your crits greatHi all, before I get started, I want to make it clear that there is nothing keeping every deviant from critiquing artwork. If you are not a subscriber, you can still offer a critique to a fellow deviant in your comments ;)
Now, even if you have not been in art school/classes, most of us have a general knowledge of what a critique is. The critique is one of the most beneficial tools on hand for the artist, but it requires an outside person's opinion and observations. Since deviantArt is a community of artists, there's no reason why we can't support one another through critique =)
__________________________________________________________
Introduction
The things said in a critique can stay with a person for years depending on what was said. For example: Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi's sculpture of a lynched black man (Death c.1934) was given an unfair review from many critics, but the words of one stated that the piece was no more than "a little
Before you throw that pity party read thisBeing in touch with your weaknesses is important in order to grow as an artist, but are you so hung up on what you can’t do well that it’s holding you back? I'm not talking about the intermittent (or frequent) attacks of complete blockage, or even lack of inspiration, but full out pity parties.
I’ve seen far too many people on dA who post exercise after exercise, writing in the artist comments that once again they’ve failed, they’ve read hundreds of books, studied the masters for so many years, and they still cannot draw a photorealist rending of a man’s head. First of all let me say that I highly respect “self taught” artists and I’m not discouraging anyone who chooses (or must) go that route. However, setting realistic goals and finding your niche is extremely important. Let me say this: not everyone will be able to paint like a Baroque period artist! But that doesn't mean you can't be a painter, it just means
Are you THAT guy?Hey long time no see patients! I've oodles busy lately, but still developing new topics for discussion with you guys :D This blog is about what to do what to do if you happen to be that guy. By that guy, I mean someone who gets offended, hurt, defensive, or otherwise moody after a critique on his or her artwork. Now, I've talked extensively about unhelpful and abusive critiques, but have not yet talked about this. So let's talk about how to get more self aware and what to do if you are indeed that guy :D
:bulletred:Critical Responses Are NEVER Fun to Receive
I should begin this investigation by empathizing with you. Critical (or negative responses) toward something you have worked very hard on can be soul crushing. Unnecessarily personal or hurtful comments about the work (or yourself) can also be troublesome. I'm not at all negating your emotions during a strong critique of your artwork, so please bear with me here, the remainder of this blog might seem har
Knowledge is Out There, Grasp It!EDIT 2/13/14:
Due to a few concerns that I'm overgeneralizing through my use of the word ignorant, I wanted to amend some things: 
1. This journal was not written out of a pretentious attitude, in fact it's quite the opposite. I feel the need to share knowledge, and I do whenever I can. I could never be upset with those who truly do not know where to start when it comes to enriching their minds.
2. This journal is not about lording knowledge above those who do not yet possess it.
3. This journal is not about bashing someone for the barriers that can impede or prevent their desire or ability to absorb new information.
4. I do not encourage people to "just Google it," that is why resources are listed at the bottom.
5. If you would like to contribute a resource, please link it in your comments.
I’ve been hearing the phrase “I don’t know what ____ is” a lot as of late and it’s been a little irksome, and here’s why: we are currently living in


Art Tutorial: Critique by Xadrea Guide to Giving Good Critiques by ThePhotoCritic<da:thumb id="26480863"/> How to Accept A CritiqueFirst, there's a common misconception that I want to address before I even begin.  I've heard way too many people try to claim that they don't write for an audience or that they only write for themselves.  In my mind, this usually translates to something like, "You or someone else gave me a critique I don't agree with, so I'm trying to justify why I'm going to ignore it."  You're going to have a hard time convincing me that you don't care about anyone else's opinion of your work if you PUBLICALLY SUBMIT IT ONLINE.
I don't know if you've noticed, but dA (and any other site like it) is essentially structured to be used for peer review.  That's the main point of the ability to leave comments in the first place.  If you're really only writing for yourself, you would keep your stories in a shoe-box hidden under your bed.  And, no, the "I was posting it so my very bestest friend Mary Sue could read it" excuse doesn't fly either.
<da:thumb id="193526812"/> Resources: Critique by Critique-It<da:thumb id="3819364"/>

Time for that taco party!

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retfarcimak's avatar
Personally, I actually kind of like that statue. Got this in my more from deviantart thing, and in my opinion the only thing that can come of bad art is good art when the artist realizes his or her mistakes and betters themselves, getting better with each picture until they are worthy to be with the greats.

I lack the talent for artistry, though I may have potential in other places. I just don't know those places yet.