You look at a painting, a sculpture, or any piece of art for that matter, how do you judge it? how do you decide if its good or bad. Do you have to be an expert in the field to criticise it? Or you can just go ahead and tear apart someone’s hard work just like that, someone's sweat( and blood in some cases) should be given some respect right? But what if in spite of all the hard work and skill its just not good enough, or at least you just don't like it that much to come up with something good about it?
The thing is, anything creative is a recipe for great disappointments as well as great joy. Whatever you may do, how so ever good you may be, you cannot escape criticism (I am not going to re-count all the great artists in history who have been ridiculed and then later celebrated for the same works(the list is too long and don't feel like so much research) any-who). Bottom line is, you cannot escape criticism, and its important to not let it get to you.
So the real question is not how you as an audience respond to a piece of art(you can say whatever you want), but instead, how the artist responds to the wide range of responses he can get from a wide range of audiences. Without sounding preachy, I just want to say, as an artist, you are already doing something great by pouring your heart out onto a canvas, or a piece of paper, (or a blog post :P) you don't need to subject yourself to the pain of criticism, at least not take it too seriously. And also, not take the appreciation too seriously as well, create something only because it makes you happy, not for an ego massage from yes men. Let onlookers have their opinion and be amused by it, that's all.
I know all this is easier said than done but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be said at all. Our eternal desire for appreciation leads us to use our creativity to sell ourselves, we can be on the top of the world one day and at the bottom of the ocean the next. The trick is, to manage to stay on the the same surface every day. :)
The thing is, anything creative is a recipe for great disappointments as well as great joy. Whatever you may do, how so ever good you may be, you cannot escape criticism (I am not going to re-count all the great artists in history who have been ridiculed and then later celebrated for the same works(the list is too long and don't feel like so much research) any-who). Bottom line is, you cannot escape criticism, and its important to not let it get to you.
So the real question is not how you as an audience respond to a piece of art(you can say whatever you want), but instead, how the artist responds to the wide range of responses he can get from a wide range of audiences. Without sounding preachy, I just want to say, as an artist, you are already doing something great by pouring your heart out onto a canvas, or a piece of paper, (or a blog post :P) you don't need to subject yourself to the pain of criticism, at least not take it too seriously. And also, not take the appreciation too seriously as well, create something only because it makes you happy, not for an ego massage from yes men. Let onlookers have their opinion and be amused by it, that's all.
I know all this is easier said than done but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be said at all. Our eternal desire for appreciation leads us to use our creativity to sell ourselves, we can be on the top of the world one day and at the bottom of the ocean the next. The trick is, to manage to stay on the the same surface every day. :)
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