Dealing with Criticism
How do you respond to “reactions” or “criticism” of your work? The good the bad and the ugly.
Here is a little artistic backstory…before we dive into this topic.
Out of high school I was uneducated in the multiple movements of art, disciplines, and mediums. To no ones fault the resources, money, and know how to foster artistic growth just wasn’t present. I lacked discipline in my artistic skills but created as much as I could, when I could, and how I could. What little schooling I had (in public school) somewhat prepared me for the Art College visits, portfolio reviews, and self sabotage I created in my own mind (only to find as an entrepreneur this imposter syndrome is something every artist…and likely most people deal with).
Only later in a liberal arts college studying under various brilliantly talented and skilled art professors did I truly learn the depths of artistic style and movements. I even went on to teach High School Art for three years.
Why the mini glimpse of my artistic back story? Well, a lot of habit forming research, study, discipline, and criticism has developed through the years and even more in my business. I am not immune to criticism, constructive or deconstructive. But I welcome it with open arms and conversation.
Constructive criticism: a form of feedback that focuses on delivering critique and negative feedback constructively and positively to improve performance or behavior.
Deconstructive criticism: discovering, recognising and understanding the underlying and unspoken and implicit assumptions, ideas and frameworks of cultural forms such as works of art.
I do bring up this artistic back story to share that our education in the arts are stifled or even constructed to meet certain ideals or standards. Even as far as to bring up artistic stereotypes or labels.
Realism is not the only art form. I myself am very guilty of believing this as I left High School and went into artistic studies. There were multiple open debates in my art history classes discussing “what is art”. Some of these turned into very heated arguments about skill, style, theory, influence only to further dissect works; marks, colors, positions……needless to say my eyes and ears were open multiple times and made me aware to my close-minded opinion of art. These conversations are important, need to be had, and fostered with artistic and with communities.
I have had to sit in front of a panel, critique, classmates, community, strangers, and had to defend and describe my works. These are what I feel to be appropriate times for this open conversation and feedback. There is time for the artist to prepare….
When is it appropriate to critique artistic work? The answer to that may be, “I don’t know”. It may also be, “when feedback is invited”.
All of this came about from a caught off guard and instant critique in a public space (may I note that other people were present). This individual addressed my art, my style, and my methods in a not so pleasant way. They made sure to make a spectacle of themselves at my expense and with little, but only ever positive responses from me. I was completely caught off guard and forced my internal defensive self to bite my tongue, remain tactful, and go about my work.
I don’t know this person, I have never met them in my life until that very moment. No conclusion in my mind can tell me why this individual is the way that they are, why they said those things to me, or what may have influenced their decisions. But I learned a lot about myself that day….and a few days after. Mentally, it took me a few days to process those words. I second guessed myself and my work. I literally laughed out loud multiple times in a most sinister manner at the nerve and thought of it all. At times I let imposter syndrome take full force control of my thoughts and go down dark rabbit holes.
In the grand scheme of it all I grew and became better in my artistic practices, interactions, and as a person.