After a few years of running an NSFW art discord server and helping others improve, I always make sure to pause before giving critique.
It’s easy to point out mistakes in someone’s piece, but is the feedback you give actually helping them?
I notice that a lot of people give unusable advice. For example, a beginner artist asks “what can I improve”, then gets feedback on advanced topics like anatomy and perspective.
Good critique considers skill level, the goal of the art, and where the artist is at in their art journey. Here are things I recommend you include when you ask for feedback, so others can help you better.
Want to get better art critique when asking for feedback? Here are some things to include the next time you ask for feedback. Click To Tweet1) Share your goal
Different artworks have different goals, and need different feedback. For example, pin-up art focuses on the character, so usually doesn’t need rigid perspective or composition.
What do you want to accomplish, or what are you having difficulty with? Do you need help figuring out lighting, maybe the hands?
Let other people know how to help you, otherwise you’ll get unwanted (and unusable) feedback.
2) Share the resources you use
Give as much context as possible. You’re intimately familiar with your work, while others aren’t. Who are your influences? What are you referencing and having trouble understanding?
I always ask to see references before helping someone. It helps me give contextual feedback, bridging the gap between their art and what they want to accomplish.
3) Try your best
Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. If you’re going to ask for general feedback, I recommend sending your art at a polished stage, so others can give you feedback accurate to your skill level.
Polished doesn’t mean finished. A sketch can be critiqued for gesture, but maybe not fine anatomical details. Don’t give others an unfinished drawing, then ask for critique expected for a finished artwork.
If you’re trying something you’ve never done before, I recommend giving it a good go. No matter how your attempt goes, it’ll be a stepping stone for people to help you properly.
Not all feedback is good. Some people will misunderstand what you want to accomplish, so don’t feel obligated to accept all critique as ‘right’. Also, make sure to filter between objective and subjective critique. Will it help you improve the drawing towards your goal, or is it already becoming a question of personal preference?
Hope that helps you get better feedback in the future! I’m planning to host art critique sessions where I do draw-overs and also show how I would approach art-making. Let me know if you would be interested in joining.
Cheers, Beats.