Guide to Constructive Criticism

[Icy]

So, with the advent that more and people are posting their Physical Art Works and the quality going down. People want quality of work yes? And with so few on YCM who know what they're doing with either spectrum's it's really no surprise as to why this is true. There isn't many people around to show what to do positively*, or if there are they are unwilling to post their art for various reasons. Either way none of them seem very productive to fix the complaint's located in this section. So after much discussion with the Moderator's of this section and a few others, I have asked to post this guide on how to properly look at a piece of art and judge it.

[size="5"][color=blue][center]Part 1 - Interpretation[/center][/color][/size]

The FIRST** thing you must look at when viewing a piece of Art is the style and medium it is done in. If you are not familiar with the style it is done it, you must adapt how you view the piece to appreciate it for what it is. Someone's idea that has been conveyed into this particular art form. If you do not, how can you give advice on something you fail to interpret properly? That is not productive to the artist in question and will seldom help them as your opinion is locked in a way that will deviate them from their own path. Everyone does their Art differently, embrace this and expect it.

Let us look at a few recent works shall we?***

[center][url=http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/topic/220732-depth-practise/][img]http://i51.tinypic.com/1g3cc9.png[/img][/url]
Made by ~Soul[/center]
This one is made with the foreground blurred to focus other details, using a sort of Abstract focal with a Solid Horizon on a Galaxy Stock. That was his basic intent that we can at least grasp. Brave but at least we know what he was going for. So we look at what we know and we help him while keeping that same raw design later on.

[center][url=http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/topic/220520-3-ichigo-tag/][img]http://a.imageshack.us/img831/7457/bleachigo.png[/img][/url]
Made by <3[/center]
This one is made with an Ichigo Render, using a busy foreground and a light source reflecting from the back. Minimalistic background. We know that he went for a little brave task on this and should not dull him for it. The bravery alone is commendable and with such good presentation on a first try we can appreciate his effort and adjust our review to attempt to help him.

[center][url=http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/topic/218389-my-firstish-tag/][img]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r83/nkop/Kev-Barnes-1.png[/img][/url]
Made by Family Friendly[/center]
This one is made apparently by prerendering the foreground figure. And while not a Tag as it is called as it exceeds the 450x200 px on either side limit; it is a piece of Artwork nonetheless. We can assume that he wanted a sort of warped feeling with it. Singing with passion not caring what is around us when we do so (I'm guilty of it myself), so he radial blurred the background. And even if this isn't his intent, it is something to go off of and a proper way to shift our views while keeping the integrity of the design.

[spoiler='Asterisks']
*: This means no insulting and showing them what to do, even if you're not sure on the direction yourself.
**: If you don't do this, where is the direction in your post? Nowhere and your post becomes Spam.
***: If any artists who gets their Art posted here for an Example (none will be negative) wish for their Art to be removed please PM me so and I will remove it without hesitation.[/spoiler]
[hr]

Part 2 - Wording your Opinion to be positive but still be negative as to show the person where to improve without insulting said member and genuinely helping them out. Coming next.

[So Legit You Quit]

You used my tag <3(:

However im not very sure that what you said about it was good. Thanks josh,

[Smear]

Nice, Josh.
;D

And my tag's an example. ;D

[JG.]

YCM needed this.

[Madsen]

...even though being short like this it's not gonna be helpful.

[Icy]

[quote name='Madsen' timestamp='1283787893' post='4606264']
...even though being short like this it's not gonna be helpful.
[/quote]

Lmao, don't kid me. Interpretation is 90% of it. I'm going to expand on it later. But for now, basics.

[Wardek]

OffT: Ah gawd. Madsen, why dont you say nice or good or something not about hatred?
OnT: Nice thread. Maybe i'll use it (or not).

[Madsen]

[quote name='JoshIcy' timestamp='1283789901' post='4606389']
Lmao, don't kid me. Interpretation is 90% of it. I'm going to expand on it later. But for now, basics.
[/quote]

Basics? Teach real basics. And love you too Joshy babay.

[quote name='Wardek the Scary Vampire' timestamp='1283790951' post='4606481']
OffT: Ah gawd. Madsen, why dont you say nice or good or something not about hatred?
OnT: Nice thread. Maybe i'll use it (or not).
[/quote]

It's constructive critique. It's what this thread was made about.
And being nice isn't in my dictionary.

[Icy]

[quote name='Madsen' timestamp='1283791645' post='4606541']
Basics? Teach real basics. And love you too Joshy babay.
[/quote]

If you're asking for an Art Tutorial that isn't about how to view it and comment, I might after this little project and the CC ones are done. But what I do, I have no idea how to simplify it without a paragraph per thing. Unless you want it to look like an Encyclopedia? (Looks like I am becoming an Art Teacher in the future).

Being constructive and critiquing as such doesn't mean being nice, however it does mean you can't be a prick.

[.Impact]

THANK YOU SENOR

[-DG-]

[quote name='JG.' timestamp='1283773017' post='4605690']
YCM needed this.
[/quote]


And so the hermit crawls out of his shell >:3




Interesting. Helpful for nubbies.

[Guest]

Well as I told you on MSN Josh let me know if you need help with this and such. As you know it already has my blessing.