[Novacaptain]

I felt like ponting out something that has been on my mind lately.

It is often that a very experienced artist will produce some piece of artwork that is not quite up to his/her own standards. Some painting, perhaps done in a rush or without much enthusiasm, in the end didn�t turn out exactly as planned (not to say that any painting ever does or is supposed to). Still, it is posted for critique (and I personally appreciate that a lot) but with a little comment that goes along with the post saying something like: "This is a really ugly picture, it really sux ass!" It�s this self-battering remark that I am not too fond of.

Instead of doing so, I think that it would be a lot nicer to specify the things that should�ve been done differently or why the painting/drawing isn�t satisfactory.

Saying that something "sucks" (even if it�s a self-made artwork) doesn�t help a lot of people IMO

Example:

1 the artist who did the painting; because it is important, i think, to have a positive view about oneself�s work.

2 the less experienced artists who view the artwork and imagine how "ugly" or "sucky" their work must be considered by the artist, seeing that his/her, although not up to the desired standard, is still a very good picture.

Worse than this case is when an artist deliberately says his/her art is ugly (even though it is not even his/her true opinion about the work) just to give off a message similar to "i�m a kickass artist and this is what my lousy work looks like".


People do this, either to make others think higlier of thems or to keep others from thinking lowlier of their artwork.

I�m not aiming this post at anyone, in particular; nor to everyone, in general.

I neither want to pick a fight here, nor tell anyone what to do. I merely think that this might be an issue worth talking over. If you think I�m all wrong and a fool: reply. If you agree and think I�m the greatest thing since leather-bikinis: reply too.

[Lunatique]

This is kind of interesting, as it deals with the neurotic psyche of the artist. It's seems unique to artists only, as I've never heard a musician or writer do it.

People do it for all the reasons you stated and more. I have done it simply because I really DID feel that way about the finished piece.

My mentality was:

"Man, I finally finished this, but it's nowhere near what I had imagined, but it's the best I can do right now. So, I might as well post it as it's been too long since I posted anything."

And I would type something like, "I finially finished it, but I think I failed. The rendering is too dead, and the hair is too stiff...etc etc."

When I criticize myself, I get really harsh, but I don't hold that standard for everyone else. I have an image of the kind of work I'd like to do, and I know very well other people's visions and goals are very different.

All artists are hyper critical of themselves, but that's not to say people don't post self-deprecating comments for the reasons you stated.