Criticism, Shut the hell up and listen

PROTIP: Harsh criticism is the best kind if the one giving it knows what they're talking about.

Just keep that in mind and the differences between "helping" and "bashing" become a whole lot easier.

Not entirely true. If somebody really thinks that badly about something you made, then you know you have a problem.

Just throwing this out there but, when I started spriting. I received the harshest damn criticism ever. I doubt anyone would remember Pixeltendo back in 05(OSM maybe?). Back then, we had real spriters, and real **** spriters as well. I remember one dude, Zaknafien, he was a total dick. He would tear my stuff apart and vomit down my throat and make me feel like a terrible artist, but guess what? After like a month of taking that, my improvement was noticeable. I hate the guy to death but I do respect his harsh criticism as in the long run, it helped me a bunch.

Ashura

I haven't seen a single person criticize you unfairly, it's always you who freaks out and can't take the heat -- you really aren't in the proper position to tell us what proper criticism is

Not really. When they just flat out say "this sucks" there is absolutely no criticism to go by. I haven't seen that anywhere on MFGG though, yet.

I just don't understand how artists could listen and take harsh criticism. Yeah, sometimes the critic can be right, but critics seem to forget that artists have an emotional limit on how mean the critic's advice is.

I swear, if I saw a critic harshly criticizing an amatuer artist IRL, I would feel sympathetic towards the artist and tell him/her to not listen to that critic.

Why can't people be nice nowadays... critics should learn to be nice

This post has been edited by Ashura on Jan 18 2009, 03:43 PM

I'm not saying it's good criticism, but it can be a good... wake-up call.

Not to sound like a General douchebag, but if everyone followed your sensitive nature there would be FAR too much ass kissing going around and not enough progression in artistic skills overall.

True, but it depends who is saying it and what they have to back their statement up.

This post has been edited by OSM on Jan 18 2009, 03:45 PM

A kind member once replied to my kumatora picture in October, with this wonderful piece of advice:

"the anatomy


wat"

so yeah, I have been criticized unfairly.

just ask them what they think is wrong with the picture goddammit

if they can't think of a reason then just ignore them

no offense, but this is just stupid

Just because someone isn't nice doesn't make their crit wrong

edit: grammar

This post has been edited by Glukom on Jan 18 2009, 03:47 PM

Anatomy is a pretty important thing to know. I found that if you have a good handle on realistic proportions it rubs off on your own artwork as well. Everything starts to have more of a shape instead of looking like lines.

When it comes to cartoons and other abstract designs however, it all comes down to personal tastes. Nothing else.

This post has been edited by OSM on Jan 18 2009, 03:48 PM

Refusing to hear harsh criticism is naive and weak.

Though not presented in the best way possible, the poster is clearly trying to say that you should study anatomy more, because you're doing it wrong as it is now.

It's not that hard to read, dude.

Even still, even if they're harsh OR NOT, as the artist you have the right to disregard it, like this line:
"*This is my crit*, feel free to disregard" (btw, this doesn't mean you shouldn't read it, it's a consideration)

But you shouldn't ignore the fact it was someone trying to help, good or bad. Like Shawn said, the truth hurts, forget feelings, people are "brutally honest" in the artworld.

My $0.02:

I believe in good, honest criticism that helps the artist improve. Not sugarcoating and asskissing, and not bashing and *****ing. The best kind of criticism points out both the fortes and pianos (strengths and weaknesses) of the work without sucking up to the artist or making him or her feel like complete ****.

Likewise, it's also up to the artist to learn how to take criticism. Yeah, he or she isn't obligated to take **** from anyone, but that doesn't invalidate their critique. Art Guy can have a problem with his anatomy, then Bob says, "Your anatomy sucks, you suck, I HOPE YOU DIE," and then Jim says, "Your anatomy could use some work, but you're headed in the right direction. Brush up some more and you'll do great."

Bob is a complete ******, while Jim actually had the decency to show you respect, but that doesn't mean Bob's ****-eating critique is invalid just because he threw in some insults.

True, but it depends who is saying it and what they have to back their statement up.

I don't like ass-kissers too. They just go "WOW THIS IS GREAT", when the they know there's something wrong.

It is fine if the critic tells the artist how to improve, as long as the critic is being genuinely courteous. IMO, Artists should avoid Noxious critics and listen to Nourishing critics. Noxious critics may know what they're talking about, but they only swamp the artist and leave the artist with a huge agenda on what he/she should do to improve. They show no signs of support to the artist. On the other hand, Nourishing critics are courteous to the artist, and while they criticize his/her artwork, they show signs that they are supporting the artist, and that they know the boundaries the artist have (such as a busy schedule, etc). A nourishing critic will give the artist a reasonable agenda so he/she can improve (like "work on hands for 30 minutes every day, for about 2 months, and you'll see an improvement"), while a noxious critic will give the artist an unreasonable one (like "work on the hands"). For a lack of a better analogy, Nourshing critics keep the artist afloat in rather treacherous waters, while noxious critics do not. Nourishing critic = good, Noxious critic = bad

I hope that future critics will have most characteristics of a nourishing artist...

Fine, I'll be more of a douche bag and try to be a noxious critic. Let's see how that turns out..

This post has been edited by Ashura on Jan 18 2009, 03:58 PM

You clearly don't understand what we're all trying to explain to you.

First one to spot the irony in my post wins a cookie.

Wait there is none now dsfsdf

This post has been edited by OSM on Jan 18 2009, 03:59 PM

Somewhat agreeing with this post

I wouldn't listen to Bob, while I would listen to Jill

You clearly don't understand what we're all trying to explain to you.

First one to spot the irony in my post wins a cookie.

sorry... I kept rewording my post and I accidentally left the "not"

the edit button is not fast enough :< !