Cat's Corner

This was originally an editorial I wrote a couple of months ago for the news pages at Deviant Art, but I since it deals with how different people feel about art critique, I thought I would also post it here for your reading enjoyment to help kick off the launch of this site. I do hope you find it interesting and informative.

So some of the people who watch my Deviant Art page regularly probably might be wondering why the subject of critiques has been on my mind lately. No, I didn't get a rude critique, or a harsh one, or really any critique. I really don't get that many in general, and certainly not when my gallery isn't being actively updated. The reason why is actually that I'm reading a book right now on etiquette for ladies that was originally published in 1853. A friend posted a link to an on-line version of it in a recent Live Journal entry, and I have a fascination for such things, as some of you who know me outside of Deviant Art and my artwork probably already know.

I know that 1853 and 2007 are practically a universe away from each other, as far as how times and society have changed in the interim, but the surprising thing about reading something like a book of advice from such a time is how relevant some of the information still seems, or could still seem depending on someone's mindset. For instance, the subject of criticism came up in the book, and it was actually presented as one of the rudest things a lady or a gentleman could do -- criticise or advise someone (even constructively) about anything unless the person has specifically and personally requested his or her opinion. Of course, we all know that if people tend to be offended by criticism today and prefer not to get any, then they are considered to be stubborn, disagreeable, and over-sensitive individuals who are in desperate need of an attitude adjustment. Is that really fair?

Naturally, I began thinking about critiques on things like artwork. Especially on Deviant Art, since a lot of people there, sometimes myself included, really don't like having their work critiqued unless they've specifically requested it on a particular piece. Not that I'm saying no one should ever again critique someone's work, or that artists shouldn't at least try to accept the critique in the spirit with which it was intended (I'm assuming it was a gracious and constructive critique, of course). I'm not saying that. What I am saying is that I think it's perfectly all right not to want criticism as well, and that people who don't want it shouldn't be blasted or put down for it.

As with any other community site, people are on communities like Deviant Art for all different reasons. Many are there because they want general feedback on their work, good or bad, because that's a tool they are using to grow as an artist, and that's great. However, some people may well be there because they just want to share -- and perhaps offer for sale -- what they've done. Deviant Art offers a very convenient way to do all that, as well as network and socialize with other artists at the same time. Those people are probably the ones that don't care for the criticism so much, and I would say that I probably consider myself to be one of that camp.

Such people's dislike of critical comments on their work does not mean they think they're perfect or cannot learn from anyone else. It probably doesn't even mean they think their work is perfect. Really no one's is, right? They're probably aware of it, and like most artists, they most likely consider themselves to be in a state of perpetual growth. When it comes to figuring out where they can improve or how they can grow, they may just prefer to self-evaluate, or perhaps request critical feedback from people they know really well as opposed to just wanting it from any stranger who happens by with an opinion.

That said, I just think that we should remember that criticism, even constructive criticism, assumes a lot. It assumes that the person doesn't know what they've done isn't perfect and needs to be told. It also assumes that the person wants you to point it out to them. I'm sure we've all had some teacher at some point or another tell us that we should never assume, right? Maybe we shouldn't. Maybe we should party like it's 1853 and make sure the person in question really wants to be critiqued before we do so. It's only polite.