Even More Art

How NOT to Critisize an Artist's Work

If you're going to give criticism, please don't be like this fella right here, be more specific if you can :)

Part of me is sad that my art is lacking, but part of me (the part that already knew that) is hugely amused by this comment. I mean, this person is SUCH a hypocrite. First of all, they're at a skill level considerably below I am, and their art is frankly lazy, inconsistent..just not that great.
This is their most recent piece of art:

I mean, it's okay, it's standard, but I personally believe that my skill level exceeds theirs. Their anatomy needs work, especially on that foreleg, the lines are messy and the drawing should've been done on a greater scale to counteract the thickness of a sharpie tip. Coloring is inconsistent, many details (the nose, the toes on the feet, etc.) have been left out, and even the photo quality is lazy and poorly done. And, before you defend them with 'oh but the idea is creative!' It's not. It was stolen from my friend. Her name is Splish Splash, and her sona, created about two months before this post, is pretty much just a blue version of this copied character. Like, c'mon man, you weren't even subtle!

But anyway, the funny part is that, on all of their art posts, they include this 'only constructive criticism' note

'Have the guts to steel my art'
*steal rather than steel
*desire rather than guts
..aaaand there! That's just about accurate now :)

No, in all honesty, their art isn't that bad. They need to work on it, and they need to be less lazy with it, but they'll get there. The problem I have with them is that they're so proud. Too proud, proud to the point where they think their own content is better than everyone else's, proud to the point where they think they can give out garbage criticism because other artists should just take their word for it immediately.

Well, -persons name- said my art was lacking, I'd better just give up.

No. Of course not.

My point is this:
You don't have to be an artist to give out art criticism, but you need to give the kind of constructive criticism that you, if you were an artist, would like to see. Keep in mind:

-be specific about what you think looks off! (Specific as in the foreleg is bent wrong, not your anatomy is off. The more specific, the better.)

-remember than artists have art styles. Sometimes anatomy is ignored on purpose, or things are purposefully cartoony. Don't think art is lacking just because it isn't realistic. (Just think how boring art would be if everyone just did it realistically!) If the art looks good even though some anatomy is overlooked and its cartoony, accept that it's good.

-be polite. Art takes a long time!

-be encouraging. I've gotten comments like "this art sucks, you need to do (some kind of suggestion/criticism)" and that's not gonna help me get better, it's gonna make me want to stop. Just phrase it a bit differently, "hey, if you don't mind, I'd like to suggest that you try (suggestion) because (reason), and I think it might help you improve! Keep up the good work!" (Based off of two separate comments on the same post about the same issue with my art. The second one was much preferable, as you could imagine.)

Some artists don't like criticism. I usually will ask for it when I want it and not not ask for it every other time, but some people will state on every post that they are not looking for criticism. So..don't give criticism in these cases.

Honestly, the best thing you can do is be respectful. Not necessarily a respect that you'd show a superior, but a mutual respect. Everyone deserves that, at least until proven otherwise.

Well, that concludes PJ's Guide to Art Criticism! Have a lovely day y'all ^^