i am posting lots of smiley emoticons before i make some people angry with me on todays post. so here they are. breathe deeply and hum your favorite tune till youre sufficiently calm.
Hi Mike, what a beautiful revision of" Conch Colors" and a nice synopsis of"the art of critique". I have a dear friend who helps me get unnecessary things out of my paintings by simply stating"that's too much information" for the viewer! Happy painting-I think you're doing great work!
Hi Mike - Personally liked the original with the sense of "crowdedness" the cars gave to the scene - very KW. But I appreciate the way the focus is really on the houses now.
Mike, IMHO, I don't know if this is an improvement or you now have made two good and different paintings. When I saw your March 26 post of the first, I liked and thought that the cars served as a lead in and helped by overlap to create some depth. The cars also add story of how on these small lots how close to the street the houses are built.I liked the cars-roof triangular relationship of purples and lavenders that leads the eye around the painting. I think your instincts on the first were good.
I often give both positive and negative criticism and can be less tactful than I should. I don't mean to offend but I should show more sensitivity to feelings.
I know there is a strong emotional relationship between we artist and our work. They are like our children and know no one takes negative criticism of our children well without some knee-jerk response. A person does have to be very careful and sensitive when doing it.
I think the "post a Comment" like "Criticism" invites both positive and negative responses. Maybe the "Post a Comment" should be accompanied by qualifications: "Favorable Comments Only," "I really don't want your comment unless it is favorable," "Criticisms appreciated," " Please no criticism." Your response to this question is a good one and maybe should accompany all "Post a Comment"on blogs.
The artist can't help but here or overhear negative comments ( gallery openings, art shows, internet) and would be wise for emotional health to learn to deal in a less emotional manner to negative or positive criticism even though much is nit-picking and not really constructive. I like to say Artist beware of both positive and negative criticism. I do think that even the uninitiated or uninformed person can sometimes give valid and constructive comments.
I recently posted a comment on another artist blog that I felt was fare both positive and negative. Some other comments felt it was too negative. The artist came to my defense and said she appreciated my criticism and thought there is to much of only favorable comments on blogs. She said that I had qualified my comments and she had considered it but liked what bothered me and plan to leave it unchanged. I thought this was a very good and sincere response to my "comment." One commenter made a very good point that negative criticism may affect sales and should be given by email. in a more private way.
I have really enjoyed following all of your Key West post.
I realize that the purpose of your post today was to show how you responded to Doug's negative comment about the first conch color post and how it influenced the painting and what you found good about his post and what you find wrong with some "negative" post. I didn't think Doug's comment: Blogger
Douglas Clark said... I like how you cropped this painting. I think I would have been tempted to edit out the cars but it works just as you did it.
was a negative one. I thought it was positive with an innocent comment that he might have handled it different ( and what artist could help but do it different) but that you had pulled it off successfully. I guess it could be interpreted as a backhanded dig. I guess all comments are open to individual interpretation.
This "comment" is sincerely given from by a fans and not one once of offense was ever intended.
fay- thanks for the nice words. its nice to have a sensitive friend (like you have) who can give us good advice about our paintings. my contention is that it should only be at our request right?
Barbara- thank you. i'm with you. the cars give the sense of crowdedness that IS key west. but i kinda like the one without it too.
william- please dont think that i cant accept criticism or that doug did it wrong. indeed he did it right as i showed by changing the painting. i'm only saying that people who dont paint shouldnt go on an artists blog and denigrate their work "in public" in front of his buying customers. what are their qualifications to do this? i wouldnt go to their Surgeon website or accountant firms website and say they werent performing surgery properly or doing their accounting the way i think it should be done. i agree with you, if they must say something do it in a private email. thats the solution. i dont want only positive comments on my blog but the negative post author should have to at least show me some reason we all should give the negative critique merit. doug did it exactly right and i'm grateful that he helped me do another version of the painting (which i'm happy to say, sold today) and opened up the lines of communication and free expression of ideas on my blog which i enjoy and hope to foster. thanks for your input here on this topic as well!
I agree, unsolicited anonymous critiques, are creepy to say the least and put it nicely. I enjoy opening your daily email and looking at your lusciously colorful paintings. During our brief, to some but long to me, coldsnap, it was the only color around, and I was grateful for it! Some of us just appreciate your painting ability and great sense of humor!
Most Plein air painters crack me up with their, "oh it's so hard with the bugs, weather and pesky onlookers" I was born painting on Bourbon Street surrounded by filth, 110 degree heat indexes, back seat drunk paiters and people trying to save me when I don't need a savin'. Baptism by fire as they say.
I'm sure you know that almost everyone is "an artist too". You comment on food don't you? How many loves have you baked? Not many people know the first thing about surgery and that's why they won't comment on scientific matters. Your analogy falls flat. Num, Num.
Who gives a rats butt what "they" think. Do you like the painting? That's all that should matter to you personally. Does the painting sell? That's all that should matter to you professionally. Outside of realism, all of painting is a matter if opinion, and no one's is right.
Use comment moderation or stop being sensitive, pussy. ;)
Funny story: I met a "student of art" in supply store in Winter Park. He was months away from getting his PhD in painting and felt the uncontrolable urge to critique my art and insult the paint I use. Turns out if it's not more than 15 bucks a little tub, it must be crap. He gave me the exact opposite critism that you gave me. I mentioned you and he knew who you were through Artarama. Turns out he's lives and goes to school in NC.
i am posting lots of smiley emoticons before i make some people angry with me on todays post. so here they are. breathe deeply and hum your favorite tune till youre sufficiently calm.
9 comments:
I'd love to hear an art critique's critique of your critique of art criticism.... Sorry to hear about the troll.
p.s. I never agree to disagree.
sutton- ditto's
thanks
Hi Mike, what a beautiful revision of" Conch Colors" and a nice synopsis of"the art of critique".
I have a dear friend who helps me get unnecessary things out of my paintings by simply stating"that's too much information" for the viewer!
Happy painting-I think you're doing great work!
Hi Mike - Personally liked the original with the sense of "crowdedness" the cars gave to the scene - very KW. But I appreciate the way the focus is really on the houses now.
Mike,
IMHO, I don't know if this is an improvement or you now have made two good and different paintings. When I saw your March 26 post of the first, I liked and thought that the cars served as a lead in and helped by overlap to create some depth. The cars also add story of how on these small lots how close to the street the houses are built.I liked the cars-roof triangular relationship of purples and lavenders that leads the eye around the painting. I think your instincts on the first were good.
I often give both positive and negative criticism and can be less tactful than I should. I don't mean to offend but I should show more sensitivity to feelings.
I know there is a strong emotional relationship between we artist and our work. They are like our children and know no one takes negative criticism of our children well without some knee-jerk response. A person does have to be very careful and sensitive when doing it.
I think the "post a Comment" like "Criticism" invites both positive and negative responses. Maybe the "Post a Comment" should be accompanied by qualifications: "Favorable Comments Only," "I really don't want your comment unless it is favorable," "Criticisms appreciated," " Please no criticism." Your response to this question is a good one and maybe should accompany all "Post a Comment"on blogs.
The artist can't help but here or overhear negative comments ( gallery openings, art shows, internet) and would be wise for emotional health to learn to deal in a less emotional manner to negative or positive criticism even though much is nit-picking and not really constructive. I like to say Artist beware of both positive and negative criticism. I do think that even the uninitiated or uninformed person can sometimes give valid and constructive comments.
I recently posted a comment on another artist blog that I felt was fare both positive and negative. Some other comments felt it was too negative. The artist came to my defense and said she appreciated my criticism and thought there is to much of only favorable comments on blogs. She said that I had qualified my comments and she had considered it but liked what bothered me and plan to leave it unchanged. I thought this was a very good and sincere response to my "comment." One commenter made a very good point that negative criticism may affect sales and should be given by email. in a more private way.
I have really enjoyed following all of your Key West post.
I realize that the purpose of your post today was to show how you responded to Doug's negative comment about the first conch color post and how it influenced the painting and what you found good about his post and what you find wrong with some "negative" post. I didn't think Doug's comment: Blogger
Douglas Clark said...
I
like how you cropped this painting. I think I would have been tempted to edit out the cars but it works just as you did it.
was a negative one. I thought it was positive with an innocent comment that he might have handled it different ( and what artist could help but do it different) but that you had pulled it off successfully. I guess it could be interpreted as a backhanded dig. I guess all comments are open to individual interpretation.
This "comment" is sincerely given from by a fans and not one once of offense was ever intended.
Will
fay- thanks for the nice words. its nice to have a sensitive friend (like you have) who can give us good advice about our paintings. my contention is that it should only be at our request right?
Barbara- thank you. i'm with you. the cars give the sense of crowdedness that IS key west. but i kinda like the one without it too.
william- please dont think that i cant accept criticism or that doug did it wrong. indeed he did it right as i showed by changing the painting. i'm only saying that people who dont paint shouldnt go on an artists blog and denigrate their work "in public" in front of his buying customers. what are their qualifications to do this? i wouldnt go to their Surgeon website or accountant firms website and say they werent performing surgery properly or doing their accounting the way i think it should be done.
i agree with you, if they must say something do it in a private email. thats the solution. i dont want only positive comments on my blog but the negative post author should have to at least show me some reason we all should give the negative critique merit.
doug did it exactly right and i'm grateful that he helped me do another version of the painting (which i'm happy to say, sold today) and opened up the lines of communication and free expression of ideas on my blog which i enjoy and hope to foster. thanks for your input here on this topic as well!
I agree, unsolicited anonymous critiques, are creepy to say the least and put it nicely. I enjoy opening your daily email and looking at your lusciously colorful paintings. During our brief, to some but long to me, coldsnap, it was the only color around, and I was grateful for it! Some of us just appreciate your painting ability and great sense of humor!
Most Plein air painters crack me up with their, "oh it's so hard with the bugs, weather and pesky onlookers" I was born painting on Bourbon Street surrounded by filth, 110 degree heat indexes, back seat drunk paiters and people trying to save me when I don't need a savin'. Baptism by fire as they say.
I'm sure you know that almost everyone is "an artist too". You comment on food don't you? How many loves have you baked? Not many people know the first thing about surgery and that's why they won't comment on scientific matters. Your analogy falls flat. Num, Num.
Who gives a rats butt what "they" think. Do you like the painting? That's all that should matter to you personally. Does the painting sell? That's all that should matter to you professionally. Outside of realism, all of painting is a matter if opinion, and no one's is right.
Use comment moderation or stop being sensitive, pussy. ;)
Funny story: I met a "student of art" in supply store in Winter Park. He was months away from getting his PhD in painting and felt the uncontrolable urge to critique my art and insult the paint I use. Turns out if it's not more than 15 bucks a little tub, it must be crap. He gave me the exact opposite critism that you gave me. I mentioned you and he knew who you were through Artarama. Turns out he's lives and goes to school in NC.
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