Feedback You've Received On Your Art: Best & Worst

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Saul3903
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06 Apr 2014, 8:43 am

For all artists; writers, musicians, painters, graphic designers, etc.

What's the best feedback you've ever received on a piece of art that you did? What did someone say that encouraged you to continue your work as long as you live? Or, maybe a piece of constructive criticism that added a layer of polish to everything since?

And, what's the worst? What's the most disheartening, heart-shattering criticism you ever received? What prompted you to consider giving up, or at least give up sharing your art with others?


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-Aleksander Vinter, aka Savant, EDM Producer


BirdInFlight
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06 Apr 2014, 9:13 am

My music:

Best thing anyone ever said:
After I played an open mic performance of my songs, a local musician who was revered as a real singer songwriter talent told me "You've got it all -- keep going!" I was tremendously boosted by that, and it helped me feel I wasn't just crap at this after all.

Worst thing:
A music producer who was interested in hearing my stuff with a view to using the songs or making my album with me, told me my song lyrics change grammatical "person" too much and can be confusing. At first, I felt insulted and like he didn't get what I was doing with my lyrical POVs. But then, looking over my lyrics, I realized he was right. I realized I could in fact pay closer attention to that in future.
On the other hand, that same producer liked one of my songs enough to ask for it to be used on the album of another artist he was producing.

Singing:
Best: Was told I sound like Dusty Springfield! Other people have said "You sing like an angel."

Worst: a friend was very reluctant to give any comment at all, and I just KNEW she thought I sucked.

She happened to be into a very different vocal style of female voice, one that I'm the opposite of, so I felt that because she thought only that style was the epitome of "good" singing, she dismissed mine.
It hurt and made me wonder if maybe I suck after all. But other compliments make me feel that I don't, so, I've tried to hang onto that.

Photography:
Best: I guess comments like "Beautiful" or "how did you get that close to a cygnet."
Worst: Someone I know hates any image that isn't popping with color, and won't publish, for example, a picture of a white swan... :roll:

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Willard
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06 Apr 2014, 3:42 pm

BirdInFlight wrote:
Worst: a friend was very reluctant to give any comment at all, and I just KNEW she thought I sucked.


^^
This is what I find most disheartening and discouraging.

A criticism I can take as constructive, or just a difference of viewpoint - sometimes I can tell from a criticism that the person just didn't "get it," and that's okay.

Empty praise is disappointing because it's obvious they aren't really paying attention, they're just saying what they think you want to hear. What. Ever. :roll:

But no response at all says either they found it cringe-worthy and don't want to hurt your feelings, OR they have so little respect for your abilities, they don't think it's even worth a serious assessment. :oops:



BirdInFlight
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07 Apr 2014, 7:17 am

Exactly, Willard -- it's like they think you're so deeply, embarrassingly awful they just don't even want to address it. Yet it's weird to get that from a person when others whose honesty and opinion you respect considered your talent to be at least above the "awful" borderline, lol!

If she could have only said "I'm a big fan of another style of singing, but I can see how what you do really works for your material," or something. :roll:

I don't know. It hurt, but at the end of the day I guess we have to just do what we do, and when constructive criticism is offered, take the best of that, and forget the people who want to make us think we're worthless.

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Saul3903
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07 Apr 2014, 5:33 pm

I agree with both of you. Empty compliments are far worse than sincere criticism.


_________________
"I'm a weird dude, and it doesn't always work out in my favor, but the whole thing is supposed to say something: That a weak dude like me, odds against them, can make it, so can everyone else."
-Aleksander Vinter, aka Savant, EDM Producer


Marky9
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09 Apr 2014, 10:39 am

Best: Whenever someone would just stand admiringly in front of one of my works for several minutes.

Worst: "I like more casual, contemporary work." This was not disheartening though. My work is rather classic and traditional, and they were just stating their taste preference.



Geist
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21 Apr 2014, 10:28 am

I took every type of art class possible in school. From hand crafts to film. It brought me out of my shell.

My three absolute fav pieces all went on 'loan' to teachers that managed to pry them from my hands "Only for a semester". One was a fine mosaic seahorse, which took me hours to make. Another wax scratch of two raccoons, again hours.. and a stained glass. Never saw any of them again. All three teachers lacked enthusiasm to remember the deal let alone help me look for them through their ****. Life sucks at you from all sides, but when it sucks at an artistic standpoint it touches a nerve. I've not had my heart in anything since, I think I have this subconscious fear I'll lose it too.



IdahoRose
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21 Jun 2014, 4:40 am

On my drawings (note: I did not draw my avatar, in case you're wondering):

Best: A plush toy company once told me that they loved my style and it was right in line with the products that their company designs. They told me that they wanted to see more from me in the future.

Worst: "Ew... Just ew." Word for word quote on one of my pieces. To this day I can't figure out if she meant the anatomy/proportions (which are apparently my weak point, according to other critiques I've gotten), the color palette (which I admit was a poor choice), or the subject matter (a same-sex couple and their child).

Also, I once went on GaiaOnline and thought about opening up my own shop for commissions (not for real money, but for in-game points called "gold"). I posted a bust shot and asked how much I should charge my customers. Someone told me it was only worth 100 gold (to put it into perspective, most artists charged around 5,000 gold for their work).


It's also interesting to note that I received my best compliment after I had been out of practice for some time and my skills had noticeably deteriorated, while my worst criticisms were leveled at me while I was at the peak of my abilities.