(no subject)
When people ask me my opinion about a work of art, costume or some other creative piece; I generally tell my honest opinion. Many people it seems just want validation and not real opinions. Since becoming involved in all these arts and science competitions, I have wondered why I am so over critical of others pieces. Reading somthing the other day that was written by a college art student reminded me of why I look at everything with a critical eye. Duh...I was an art major for awhile in college.
I have noticed that those who have taken a lot of university level art courses tend to be more critical of others work. I watched quite a few hold back a bit when looking at a piece in competion that is from a non art student. Sometimes to the untrained eye they may come across as snobby because you can tell they aren't saying somthing. You can't stop someone from having an opinion. For some artists this perceived snobby attitude is real. They really do think their stuf is better than yours and that's just how it is. However there are many like me, where that isn't the case.
I'm not sure you can really understand untill you go through a semester of the grueling critiques that art students have to go through. Think about it..an art student on average takes at least 3 art classes at a time. In most University classes you have to undergo a full class critique on every assignment. Often it is not just on the final product. I've had critiques on the design idea, work in progress and then the final critique. I know people who have dropped classes because they couldn't handle being ripped apart all the time in front of everyone.
Looking at everything with a critical eye eventually gets hammered into you, no matter how resistant you may be at first. I had some professors that yelled at people for just saying things like "nice design", "i like it", "it's well made." That isn't enough. You have to be specific. In metals we always had to say somthing we didn't like about the piece. It could be somthing small and technical like a visible solder seam...point is we had to say somthing. Strangely this is why I sometimes get upset when people can't answer me when I ask what specifically do you like and what don't you like.
I have noticed that those who have taken a lot of university level art courses tend to be more critical of others work. I watched quite a few hold back a bit when looking at a piece in competion that is from a non art student. Sometimes to the untrained eye they may come across as snobby because you can tell they aren't saying somthing. You can't stop someone from having an opinion. For some artists this perceived snobby attitude is real. They really do think their stuf is better than yours and that's just how it is. However there are many like me, where that isn't the case.
I'm not sure you can really understand untill you go through a semester of the grueling critiques that art students have to go through. Think about it..an art student on average takes at least 3 art classes at a time. In most University classes you have to undergo a full class critique on every assignment. Often it is not just on the final product. I've had critiques on the design idea, work in progress and then the final critique. I know people who have dropped classes because they couldn't handle being ripped apart all the time in front of everyone.
Looking at everything with a critical eye eventually gets hammered into you, no matter how resistant you may be at first. I had some professors that yelled at people for just saying things like "nice design", "i like it", "it's well made." That isn't enough. You have to be specific. In metals we always had to say somthing we didn't like about the piece. It could be somthing small and technical like a visible solder seam...point is we had to say somthing. Strangely this is why I sometimes get upset when people can't answer me when I ask what specifically do you like and what don't you like.