I'll try to explain my views by using sports as an example:
I've spent most of my life around sports. Started playing baseball at the age of 4, and continued through college (passing on a small offer with the Texas Rangers). Constructive critisim is the foundation of coaching in sports. You increase your athletic ability by practicing. Coaches give you constructive critisim to keep you from practicing bad habits, or the wrong things. Some coaches motivate with talk, while others scream and yell.
If we all went out to a little league baseball game, we would hear coaches and fans giving mostly, if not all, positive feedback. "Way to go Johnny!"..."Nice try Suzie"..."You'll get'em next time!" Why is this? Clearly when compared to professional athletes their skills are horrible...not even close.
If we all went to a professional game, we would hear "Cheers" as well as "Boos". You'd see coaches yelling at players, players yelling at players, and fans shouting profanities at their yesterday hero. A much more harsh environment for critisim, some may be constructive, but most can be hurtful. Even the article in the tomorrow's sports page will blast a few names and critique their efforts negatively.
Now, take what you guys and gals do here...ART. And instead of the age difference used above, substitue skill level or how long you've been drawing or creating art. Like an athlete, an artist has to start some where...and it's always at the beginning. Positive and supportive comments will increase confidence and the desire to continue creating ART! If we had told the young athlete that his arm motion was terrible, she couldn't hit the ball with that swing, or they just weren't good enough...I doubt their confidence level would even allow them to continue playing.
Professional artists, much like professional athelets, get critisim whether they want it or not...comes with the paychecks. But by now, they should be able to take it, and use it as motivation to become better, or toss it aside as just another opinion.
So basically, if I know of an artist that's just starting, and no matter what they post, good or bad, I'll try to find a positive to comment about. I'm not gonna point out the obvious flaws or bash their attempts just to prove that my opinion is right. I wouldn't want them discouraged and give up. As they mature as an artist, then constructive critism would greatly increase their confidence...keeping them from continuing bad habbits.
It all comes down to YOU...the coach. Nurture the young, and tough love the experienced. Not all coaches can DO what the athlete can, they might have been able to at one time, but now, physically it's impossible. Some great coaches have never even played the game that they teach. Doesn't make them less of a coach.
Bottom line: Encourage, don't discourage the beginning artist...no matter what. Feel free to critique the advanced artist, but bring a solution to the problem, don't just state the obvious. The professional artist had better have tough skin, becasue it comes with the paychecks.
xoxo
Pyro
