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Post by toonMom on Jan 30, 2006 20:06:08 GMT -5
I know this subject has come up in the past and it seems to be surfacing again so I thought I would address it from my standpoint. When I started this forum my intention was to create a place where anyone can feel comfortable posting their work. When I first started drawing caricatures I would post my work and either get no comments at all or ones telling me to come back in a few months when I have something that looks like a caricature. This board was started because I knew I wasn't the only one who was treated that way. The way I look at it, if someone posts their drawing it's because they are proud of it. That doesn't mean they think it is great, just that it is some sort of a milestone for them. It takes a certain amount of slaps on the back to get that person to want to keep trying.
There is a mixture of skill levels on this board most of which seem to be at the mid to lower range. I don't mean this to sound like I think the work here stinks, I'm just saying there are more of us establishing skills than there are fine-tuning them. I know for some of us (myself included) it's hard to critique a drawing that you are amazed by.
I know I am guilty of back slapping. I also know that this isn't the place to come if you want to be pushed, sorry Niall. Part of the reason is because I am well below the skill level of many of the members here. The other reason is that I see so much improvement from everyone and that is what I notice.
What does everyone else think? Do you want to be pushed more and encouraged less?
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Post by horate on Jan 30, 2006 21:25:34 GMT -5
I like to hear critics of my works, please give me big and more back slappings... ..ouch....arggg...ouch.....argggg....ouch......argg....yes,......yes......argggg....ouch.....yess...ohh.....yesss.....
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Post by lifedoesntimitate on Jan 30, 2006 22:24:40 GMT -5
This is a really good topic to be addressed, I think. For me, I want to be encouraged as well as pushed. What I don't want is to be lied to. I don't want someone to "find" good things about my work. If you only see bad things and don't want to say the bad things, then I prefer you don't say anything at all, instead of inventing positive things. I really don't have a problem only hearing negatives, if that's all someone sees. I think everyone here who has read my recent posts knows that I'm no stranger to finding negatives in my own work.
A flip side to this is that I personally find it difficult for me to post negative things on others work. I think the main reason for this is that I feel I'm not qualified to critique, because my work may not measure up. It's weird, because if I see something negative in, say, Lauren's work, I hesitate to say it, because I know she's pretty new to caricature and I don't want to discourage her from continuing. Oddly though, I also hesitate to critique say, Niall's work because I know that I'm about a ".05" to his "10," so it seems strange to me that I would critique him. That's something I need to work on, I know. I know I'm ranting here, but I hope a point is found somewhere in here.
Wrapping up, I want to say that recently, Don said of a Steve Buscemi drawing I did that the likeness wasn't there to begin with, so subsequent caricatures didn't get any better. He also, however, said he thought it was good that I felt better about exaggeration. I liked this post, because though there was no positive about the drawing itself, it was not a mean spirited response of Don's. Thanks for reading.
-- Eric
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Post by horate on Jan 31, 2006 0:15:53 GMT -5
Eric this is good stuff, and it's accurate. It is all based on the atraction or rejection, .....we feel more atraction in some drawings than others, that´s natural. The REAL key to this situation is that ATRACTION ISN'T A CHOICE. ATRACTION is a POWERFUL EMOTIONAL and PHYSICAL response.
And, as you might know, when you're feeling a powerful emotion, it's difficult, or in many cases, almost impossible to override that emotion with LOGIC.(that´s why i understand some simple post, sometimes we express that emotions with simples words like, wow, impressive, sucks, awesome, ....etc....) anyone, with any level of knowledgment can say 2 words about any else, don´t be shy express yourself with your comments, is good to hear all people.
There is no logical "decision" being made. When it comes to atraction, "choosing" doesn't even come into play, then to made a good critique you need to learn how to communicate and behave in the way to do that. I think a good begining is only speaking of the technique, the way the work was made, color used, in the way it was used, shadows, lights, outlines etc.... i think the point of exageration is very personally, but the likeness is a good point to comment in every drawing here. At last, you gona see, that giving good or bad comments, give to you, some new tools when you are working, drawing, etc.... and in most of the cases, with positives results, cause in a subconcient way, we begin to develop better a lot of forgiven things.
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Post by JC on Jan 31, 2006 7:55:20 GMT -5
First of all, Horate, your English, wow...so much better in your last few posts...outstanding....
i honestly don't think it takes much to say what you think....people usually know what is missing or needed, and one can do all of this in a positive manner.
so, everyone on the virtual art forum.....SMILE....HAVE A GREAT DAY! ....and become a better artist today than you were yesterday!!!!
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Post by lifedoesntimitate on Jan 31, 2006 14:58:44 GMT -5
Well said, JC! And yes, Horate, I have also noticed your English improving.
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Post by horate on Jan 31, 2006 16:04:47 GMT -5
hehehe...you think that ?? when i write so long, i use a traductor....i don´t wana missunderstoods !!
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Post by craig on Jan 31, 2006 16:45:02 GMT -5
Whats a traductor? ....solamente bromeando con usted!!! C ;D
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Post by Lauren on Jan 31, 2006 16:54:46 GMT -5
I think there's a nice balance on here.
I learn better with encouragement, but I also get encouraged by constructive criticism. If someone explains why something looks totally wrong and suggests solutions then that is perfect.
I think that's what generally happens on here, which is really cool.
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Post by toonMom on Jan 31, 2006 16:57:08 GMT -5
Nice to see you again Lauren!
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Post by horate on Jan 31, 2006 17:12:57 GMT -5
Craig : hehehe,..that´s right .... it is : solo bromeaba con usted... Lauren, ...nice sun-glasses....you look now as a cow girl.
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Post by jong on Feb 1, 2006 17:17:01 GMT -5
i agree with what most people have said. you really need encouragement as well as constructive criticism. it's hard to develop if one of those is missing. i really appreciate it when someone says they like my artwork, but i'd rather have nicely given criticism then to have someone tell me they like it and be totally lying. i think it's good to always believe what you say, but not always say what you think(if it'll discourage). for me, i also appreciate it when someone tells me how i can bring my caricatures to a new level.
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Post by Lauren on Feb 2, 2006 15:05:54 GMT -5
Thanks toonmom! I have kind of been around but things have been a bit crap lately with work and other stuff so I haven't been drawing at all. Will get back into it soon hopefully.
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