A good Critique

[virtualTune]

Today, I will be sharing with you guys what a good critique should look like.

1. First of all you want to tell the artist what they did well. Either something that you like about the piece, or something about the artist's effort. For example: a person might make a sig that you think looks like crap even though they might have spent an hour working on it. So you tell them that you appreciate their effort and that they tried something new.

2. The second step is, telling them what you do not like. Try to be fairly kind when crtizising. Don't say "the whole thing looks like ****!" That will discourage the person from trying again even though they might be better, if they would be given some advise.

3. Which leads us to the third and last part: How to Improve? It is important that you tell the artist, what he could change about the piece to make it more pleasing. Otherwise, the next try will look the same, and the artist will be "running in circles", so to speak. Don't tell them to "work on the overall flow". The artist will most like not know how to work on that, otherwise they would have done so already. Therefore try to be specific. It is also very helpful, to link tutorials, that will teach some helpful effects or general key ideas.

I hope you guys will respect these "guidelines" (sorry i couldn't find a better word) in the future, as I have encounter some very rude critiques on mine, as well as other people's art work, by fellow gimpers. This is not meant to be a lesson, but more a reminder of how frustrating and discouraging a bad critique can be for any artist.

I thank you guys, (and I am sure many others will do so too),
for reading the above and keeping it in mind.

-Sincerely, your virtualTune

[please do not leave comments about who did what and why did who and all that; simply recognize]

[Jay.Davies11]

Very good article, should be stickied.

[Maffe811]

you didnt like the critique (?) pepole wrote to you ?

but i agree far to many of the good gimpers here says: work on flow, try smudging, maybe add a c4d... well im trying to smudge, flow? how do i fix... that, and c4d... well a link?

[Cyrilshark]

Stickied. Good job, vT.

[virtualTune]

thx!

[Cyrilshark]

No, thank you

[IrishWolfhound]

It's usually forgotten to compliment parts of a work that someone has done well on when offering advice/help on the areas that could be better. We is just as important to remember when being critiqued against. We are all here to help improve each other. I believe the main goal of this community is just that. Great guidelines for critiquing VT. Just wanted to add the part about being critiqued also.

- Irish

[Stanley]

Also it might be useful to use such a template:

Code: Select all

[b]Depth[/b]
[i]  [/i]

[b]Flow[/b]
[i]  [/i]

[b]Lighting[/b]
[i]  [/i]
[b]Focal[/b]
[i]  [/i]

[b]Colour Scheme[/b]
[i]  [/i]

[b]Flow[/b]
[i]  [/i]

[b]Overall[/b]
[i]  [/i]


Some areas are less significant for Large Pieces, though.

[raeaven]

I just thought that it would be quite helpful to share the first of what I hope to be a long series of pieces emphasizing with creative piece. One of the most basic aspects and perspective of growing, improving and advancing as an individual artist is to learn how to evaluate your own work, others in a way that it gives positive help.

Above all, avoid comments such as "Yeah, I like it." or "Awesome, man." but I think that it can't be avoided in any ways, but please, if your gonna do so, add it after your thoughts about the work to avoid spamming. Such comments do not in anyway contribute anything useful to the artist itself, hence the rule against one-line posts in some forums. Though, such comments can also raise spirits and isn't a bad thing to do when looking on the positive side.

Now, to the main part. So if such comments aren't helpful at all to anyone of us, what shall we do in order to be proud of ourselves that we've become a part of an improving artist? First of all, think about what it is you like about the piece, whether a design of any artwork, or any other creative effort/piece. Now, ask your self WHY you like the piece. You should be able to give a concrete and concise reason. Not just it's pretty or cool or magnificent but what is it about the thing that makes you think that. What did the artist do well? That goes into into the first part of the post in response to someones creative work!

After that, move on to the next part which is pointing out the things you don't like and what causes you to not to like it. Where could the artist have done better? Why do you think it could have been done better? How do you think it could have been better? But keep in your mind, that everything to say is purely your OPINION.

One last caution: you are commenting on a person's work. You are not commenting on the person himself/herself, and personal comments or insults are not appropriate, or permitted.

Old article from me. I actually wrote this when kreativeflow.net is still active, I'm a global mod there and it's quite dead now.

[virtualTune]

soo, we agree? (@rav)

[raeaven]

Of course.

[BookerT316]

Nice Posts!!!!

[Soewut]

Can I repost this?
I've run into a forum that has a bit of a problem in there art section...

[virtualTune]

yes sure just quote me!

[Maffe811]

and link kidnapp theire users!