Lately l have had to deal with more criticism than usual. I am not sure if it is because people are just becoming more aware of my work but whatever the case maybe, l thought l would share with you how l deal with it. Criticism always makes my heart race, l find it hard to hear sometimes but l have learned to know the difference between destructive and constructive criticism. You have to know where the feedback is coming from and understand the intentions of the person who is giving it to you. I also think that it is important that you accept that you are not perfect, no one is. This is a great way to deal with criticism, every person has flaws. I have also had to learn to not take it personally. If the criticism is constructive, then it’s intended to guide you and help you improve as a person, not bring you down and make you feel inadequate. Recently this has happened to me. I felt inadequate and it took me a few days to realize that I need to work on being less sensitive. I just controlled my emotions and focused my energy on practicing what l was being criticized on. It’s important to understand what you are really being told. Sometimes, it’s hard to break down the message and start figuring out what to do next, because you are so focused on the hurtful aspect of the feedback and let’s be honest it’s easy to wound our pride. But it’s important to be determined and see if there is some truth to the feedback you were given. If there is truth to it, then it is important to thank the person for being honest, but only if they are being kind about it. If the person was kind and honest then take the time to thank them, it’s a sign of maturity. This has made me a better person for being able to take it on the chin, as well as being appreciative of constructive honesty. Be careful with the destructive criticism. You need to understand the person’s true motives. If you have recognized the criticism is completely destructive and hurtful, then you need to think about why the person might have said what they did to hurt you. It could be jealousy, maybe they were in a bad mood, it’s not an excuse for their words to sting you, but l tend to put myself in their shoes, l try to be the bigger person and find the underlying message. It’s hard but l try to stay confident, positive and maintain self-worth. I just try to accept the things that l can’t change and figure out what l can do to enhance as a person and refine my work. I think it is also important to hang out with people who make you feel good about yourself but at the same time are able to be honest with you and not in a hurtful way. If the criticism has no point whatsoever, then the best thing to do is to ignore it. Don’t feel bad if you are not able to push all the negative feedback aside right away. It takes practice to stop caring about what people think and just do what you love. As for me, l do what l do, and post my work, not only because l have a passion for art, but to hopefully be an inspiration to others. I am learning and trying new things all the time. It is the beauty of not being perfect and l love that l can show that side of me, so that people can see that l have learning curves too. Stay positive and have a beautiful day. AuthorRealistic Acrylic Artist in Kingston, Ontario
2 Comments
Feedback is a tricky thing. If it is unsolicited I tend to ignore it. If it goes against your basic instincts as an artist, I would also ignore it. Trying to express what and how you feel inside is a very personal thing. I wouldn't accept anything that threatens that expression. The more you paint, the more refined your artistic expression becomes and the more secure you are in what you are doing.
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AuthorAlice is a realistic full time visual artist with over 25 years of experience in her art career. Passionate about helping others grow in their creative process. Alice shares invaluable tips and strategies on her blog to help readers improve their art practice. When not in her studio, Alice enjoys teaching and cooking. Connect with Alice on Instagram, Facebook or visit her website at www.alicemelofineart.com Archives
August 2024
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