Thursday, June 3, 2010

Mid-Session Critique

Just a few comments about our critique before it gets too far away from this past Tuesday. The grouping format worked well and seemed to generate a lot of constructive and instructive comments to which everyone seemed receptive. I think posing some pre-critique questions for consideration was also helpful. Based on that experience (a few more questions):

  • From the response of others, are people seeing what was intended, or are you seeing one thing while everyone else sees another?
  • Can you resist pressure to be pushed in a direction you are not interested in, but remain open to other's ideas at the same time?
  • When you hear constructive criticism, can you listen without feeling defensive?
At this halfway point, it is now important to budget time, set priorities, and move toward a cohesive group of completed drawings that inform, inspire, engage, educate, and move us. Looking forward to the 22nd!



Shawn, Allison, Sue, Kim, and Greg the secretary, discuss their responses to Miri's drawings of distorted and skewed points-of-view.


Connie, Elle, Aberlyn, Will, and Randilyn discuss Shawn's diptychs of psychological narratives.

11 comments:

  1. Personally, I came in hoping for the criticism. And I was hoping for the suggestions. Many of the things that were suggested I had debated on myself as I was doing the drawings, but I wasn't sure on the direction I should take. My thought as I did them was not to shirk doing these things, but that it's easier to add to the drawing later than it is to take away something that doesn't go over the way I planned.

    I'm still a bit mixed on what I want for the final project, but I'll be working on this more this weekend and hopefully resolving some of these thoughts.

    I remember my first critiques in the first couple art classes I took I was a nervous wreck! And I hated them. Today I look forward to them because it's feedback from friends that is intended to help me grow as an artist. I for one appreciate that.

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  2. I wish we had time for more critiques. Anyone interested in having after-class or before-class critiques? We can do this on our own as well.

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  3. I'm in. I think maybe either before or after class on a Thursdays? That would give us a chance to spread the word this week.

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  4. Oh, I did take the day off from all school work. :) We had one of Pit's daughters, who we thought knew where we've been find me on Facebook Thursday. We discovered our little grandson Kaleb. He's going to be 3 in July. We went Grandparent shopping. And yes, we spoiled him!

    Oh by the way, I'm going to do a big drawing or painting for the new bedroom he'll be getting when they move soon. It's going to have matchbox cars in it..... I'm thinking primary colors at this age.

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  5. For anyone that wasn't in class, it was approached that we have the student critique's on Thursdays till the semester is over.

    We were to discuss the possibility of either before or after class on Thursday tomorrow in class and see who is interested in this.

    THIS IS NOT A CLASS REQUIREMENT AND IS TOTALLY VOLUNTARY. This is strictly Student to Student.

    Our goal is not to hear that, "This is great", but that this can be made better by.....

    When I saw Shawn after class and mentioned I broached this in class he suggested that if there is some interest we could meet before AND after class if it's split between times. I'm open to that as well. The more feedback I get the better my art will be when finished.

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  6. I'd love to be a part of this.
    I'm available before and after class, but I'd prefer to do it before if that's at all possible.

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  7. I like this idea too and hope there's a good turnout.

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  8. We will meet 12-12:30 Thursdays before class. Bring anything you would like advice, tips, help, or feedback on. This is informal and not mandatory. If you do not have work for critique consider showing up to offer help or opinions. If you can't make it to Thursday critiques before class, bring something to the cemetery, park, or wherever we are that day. I'm sure a few of us can find a few spare minutes before or after drawing sessions. I'm glad there was some interest. Thanks, guys. It gets lonely being the only drawing major left alive.

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  9. For those of you who missed the first of our homegrown student critiques, we had a pretty informative meeting. We discussed how to draw more life-like eyes, we offered Aberlyn some ideas for using found-objects in her series, and talked about how to punch up values in drawings to make them stronger. Aberlyn also offered some suggestions for using Photoshop to help in the drawing process. All in 30 minutes or less. Thanks guys.

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  10. Thank you for suggesting it. I don't know that I'll ever match some in the program with my skill level, but I LOVE drawing and am light years ahead of where I was when I began at IUS in just under 2 years time. I hadn't picked up a pencil to draw with any seriousness since I was a kid and my skills were never developed like many are at such young ages. It's a real pleasure to see and experience this.

    My goal for the next week is to add deeper values to my existing drawings and to continue the blocking in process with the 3 additional drawings I want to add to the series. Actually there are a LOT more I would love to have included. Along with my Empty Plates series I may add a '2nd' page to my photo album after the semester is over. With 8 weeks off school I'm going to have a lot of time to create. :)

    I know I'll be there and prepared for our next Student to Student critique.

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  11. Shawn and Aberlyn, you would be so proud of me so far this morning. :) I've been working on the values and I have not picked up the black colored pencils ONCE yet. :)Some parts are really starting to jump forward.

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