See art in a fresh way.

Art Tutorials
Critiquing Art: Look for What is Alive

Courbet, The Painter's Studio, 1855, oil on canvas, 12 x 20 feet

Representational art students are taught to be critical. During critiques the stress is on the work's problems. It is not uncommon to see students turning red with embarrassment or anger. Sometimes one will cry. Aside from a bully or two, most of them will except the critiques as a necessary evil. "Grow a tough skin" is said to oneself and others. The idea is that in the art world only the tough survive.

Alone and long after college artists agonize over their work, aggressively gripping problems, holding on to an idea of perfection. But is this the way to go? No. This activity serves no purpose other than to crush their spirit. The process is wrong because it doesn't address the one issue that matters: what makes an artwork alive. Telling us what is wrong has nothing to do with what is vibrant and alive.

Artists have to forget the primitive formal critique, let it go, and radically change their perspective towards focusing on the elements that have energy and life. The harder critique of the two, is analyzing those special elements, and figuring out how it is created.

Any moron can see that something is wrong with a blemished artwork, but it is the wise that understand what makes an artwork work. Focusing on what is alive will vitalize the critique process, open doors for great discoveries, and fortify artists creativity.

Michael Newberry
Santa Monica, January '12

 

Video The Eye, Time-Lapse
November '11

copyright 2012 by Michael Newberry