Receiving Criticism

It has been a great week for feedback!  Last Saturday I participated in a critique session at the Frank Juarez Gallery with artist and instructor Michael Davidson.  Then, just this past Tuesday I had an opportunity through MARN to have my work reviewed by Milwaukee Art Museum Director, Dan Keegan.  At both of these critiques I also received feedback from fellow artists.  My brain is now brimming and bubbling with thoughts about my work!  I have jumped in quickly and am currently making work that in a sense responds to the feedback, criticism, ideas I received.

I am reminded of how hard it can often be for an artist to hear criticism. There were times during my college experience that I was brought to tears because others criticized my work.  Now in the professional world I find that I am less emotionally effected by criticism.  Don’t get me wrong, it effects me deeply intellectually.  Yet I am not crushed by the success or failure of a single painting or even a body of work.  Embracing the process and realizing that we are all in the same boat softens the blows when they come and makes me more receptive to the ideas they generate.  Receiving feedback and criticism happens so seldom after college.  An artist must seek out these experiences and soak them up.  It is an invaluable tool to making better art and growing as an artist.  I am grateful to live in a place where I have access to these opportunities!

Photo courtesy of Frank Juarez, Frank Juarez Gallery