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Yersinia88 — Critiques 101 - How to write a good critique.
Published: 2017-04-20 13:23:54 +0000 UTC; Views: 9016; Favourites: 28; Downloads: 0
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I'm writing my second article concerning critiques, since my last one received very positive feedback. This time we will look more in depth on how to write a good critique. Hopefully if you read my last article about How to properly ask for critique (Which can be found here: Critiques 101 - Do you know how to ask for it? ) you have received some valuable critique and you may be wanting to give some value back by writing some critiques yourself. But how to you do it? I prepared some simple guidelines to help you out.1. Undesired/Unwarranted Critique
You should not give people critique if they don't ask for it. In ideal world this wouldn't present a problem. But we don't live in ideal world and we have to deal with strange human rituals like not being rude and others. I mentioned this in my last article, but this is really important. Think of it this way, why writing a critique for someone who is not interested in it. When you can instead write a critique for someone who intentionally reached out for help.
2. This is not a critique.
"I don't like it."
"I hate it."
"It's bad."
"Everything is wrong with this piece."
"It can be improved."
Sadly there are too many people posting this sort of "critique". If it's one sentence long and doesn't give you any meaningful feedback, it's not a proper critique.
"You need to learn more anatomy."
"It could've been done better"
"There is something wrong with face."
"You need to practice more."
"You need to brush up how to draw human."
This more elaborate than last examples but still far from critique and still far from being useful. This are general statements, they are short and never talk about what is actually wrong with the piece. They don't tell you where the issue lays or what caused it or how to fix it. No useful advise what so ever.
"Critique" like this won't help anyone. It will only make things worse by discouraging artists and making then feel bad about their art.
3. Listen to the artist.
Listen to what the artist has to say about their work. Read the description. Find out what they already know is wrong, find out what they need help with in particular.
4. Explain what's wrong.
If you find something wrong with the piece, explain it in detail. Say why is it wrong, what's the cause. Just saying what's wrong is often not enough. If you can you should also include some tips on how to improve their work.
5. Grammar.
I know, I know. English is not our native language for most of us. Especially if you are not that great english speaker, you should take time to double check your grammar. Also things like proper word choices and word order may be decisive factor for proper understanding. Look my grammar is not perfect too, but I always make sure to check afterwards to avoid any misunderstanding.
Bottom line. If you write critique in order to help out, people will appreciate it a lot. On the other hand if you write "critique" in order to poop on someones work, you are just gonna get more poop in return.
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Comments: 15
You do not need to worry--I do this every time I critique--all of this. Since I find short handed critiques annoying, I make it my businesses to be as thorough as possible when I review someone's work, wether its on FF/Wattpad or on DA.
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These are some really good, basic tips! I try to be a helpful critic, myself.
Tip: Constructive criticism is just that: constructive. You are helping someone build something. People really like that.
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Well if you're ever bored you can go throw my rubbish gallery and critic on anything if you'd like
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I agree with this except for #1.
While giving a critique on a piece labeled "Don't critique, is OLD!!1!!" would be a stupid idea, (which is why reading descriptions is so important,) I've found through experience that a lot of people who didn't directly ask for critique actually DO appreciate helpful feedback.
(Emphasis on "helpful"- crummy "critique" that's just some troll trying to defend their nonsense is unappreciated by everyone.)
Often, they didn't realize they could get critique without the core-only feature, have had difficulty getting feedback, or barely get comments at all.
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I would ask the artist if they'd like feedback on their art before I go saying anything because I know that if someone tries to critique your work and you weren't even trying to or tried really hard to create your art piece then someone comes and tells you everything wrong with the art it will just make you regret doing the art piece
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Telling them "everything that's wrong with their piece" isn't critique, though. ^ ^;
Critique is meant to be helpful, and just insulting- or, conversely, just complimenting- a work is neither.
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Very well written and useful! Thanks for your effort in such good explanation <3
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your " How to write a good critique" is bad
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This is very helpful! I have given my opinion on a couple of my friend's pieces, but I was using critique in the second examples you gave. So I just gave the general idea instead of actually pointing out where and what exactly I felt was wrong. But I didn't want to be rude or anything. So this is a help to me! And this is really well done too!
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Thank you for making this detailed journal entry. I think the idea of critiquing has been polluted by unprofessional people who don't actually yield constructive criticism, and lazy people who would rather just leave a "it sucks" comment instead of a detailed analysis of pros & cons. People who take the time to make helpful, insightful words of wisdom are the real MVPs.
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Oh boy, I really needed this, thank you. I saw someone asking for a critique in their artwork here on dA, and I chickened out last minute, thinking I'm not qualified to make one. XD
One problem I also have is sugar-coating things a bit too much when pointing out flaws. Any suggestions for that? ovo;
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I know of a simple strategy I learned from volunteering with a retired art teacher at some art camps.
She called it "two stars and a wish".
Essentially, just take two compliments (stars) and add one suggestion for improvement(wish).
This works best if the wish is sandwiched between two stars- although if you're short on time/compliments, putting the wish first and following it with a star works as well.
(You can easily expand it as well- just try to end on a positive/encouraging note, regardless of length.)
It sounds a little silly, but considering that it made it possible for elementary school kids to discuss each others works without fighting, and that I've successfully used it on this site for the past three years now, I'd say it's pretty effective. ^ ^
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Ooh that's an interesting method. And it does seem like a harmless (?) method, happy on both ends of the critic and the one getting criticism. XD
Thank you very much for sharing! I'll try to adapt to it when I give criticisms >v<)9
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