Inner Critic

Trying to get a piece just right can sometimes be overkill.  Something I'm still trying to learn is knowing when to tell my "inner critic" to take a hike.  She can be really mean.

Everyone's a critic

Here's a piece I did last year for a project. I don't know what happened here...well, actually I do:

This was the second finished illustration I produced for a single spread, after the first one was nixed on an editorial technicality. I had an extremely small amount of time to produce the art in (we've ALL been there, I am sure ;) and continue to visit, no doubt!) and, at the time, my scanner was not good enough for me to use it to create a master scan myself, and then work photoshop revisions into it. In the end, I ended up completing a third piece, based on this composition.

Well, we all make mistakes, and here is one of mine, for your enjoyment!! :)

Everyone's a critic

Cowboy boots? With that dress? Where are your Mary Janes?

Listen politely. Mull it over. Then follow your heart.

I learned to appreciate critiques in art school. At first, it was
painfully awkward to have a drawing questioned, dissected,
scrutinized, analyzed, and just plain picked apart. Yikes.
But, as the semester wore on, our skills at giving and receiving
constructive comments improved. And so did our artwork.

Everyone's A critic

I'm my own worst critic.

Everyone's a Critic

I've recently joined my first in-person critique group, and I'm busy trying to adapt everything I've learned over the years about online critiques.

When giving critiques online, I read the work through one time just for pleasure before I start looking for places that might be improved. In person, you don't have this luxury. You have to have your critic's ears on right from the start.

I also like to scatter my positive comments in and around my not-so-positive-comments, to ease the negatives. There's just no time to arrange your thoughts in an in-person critique, especially if there are several people reading and commenting that day.

When getting an online critique, I like to let the comments sit for a while before I react. This is a lot harder to do in person. You have to respond somehow. I'm finding it's best to just thank the critiquer and then come back with an email if I need more clarification later.

The other thing I'm finding hard is reading my piece without "performing" it. If my character's voice is strong, I just automatically read it with his accent, inflections, etc. It makes for a great read, but since I'm not going to be sitting on the edge of my editor's desk reading it...

One way to combat this (although I haven't tried it yet) is to have someone else in the group read it for you. This is also a really great test for rhyme and verse.

I'm enjoying the heck out of my in-person critique group; if they can just hold on and put up with me till I learn all the ropes. :-)