“Wow, thanks nice,” someone will say about a drawing of mine and the first words out of my mouth are…
“No, that sucks.”
This is the worst possible thing (aside from “Want to see my human ear collection? They’re fresh!”) that you can say. “But what if it does suck?” I hear somebody out there ask. Well, sucky is in the eye of the beholder.
There are a few things that you’re doing as you say “No, it sucks.”
You insult the person, making the statement! They made a judgment call, based on their own thoughts and feelings. You just told them that what they think and feel don’t mean squat.
You devalue your work in their eyes and as an artist, even if you never plan to sell a thing, you don’t want to make your work worth less. If you’re showing your work to others at all, chances are you wish for them to enjoy it. You want to make people glad they took the time to look. When you tell them it isn’t any good, they start to believe you.
You probably are not as bad as you think. I rarely look at anything I draw and think it’s all that great. If I do the feeling goes away soon enough. 
Kidding aside, I am my own worst critic. Many artist are. You may just not be the best person to be making any judgment about your work at all.
On this same note, you probably have a whole mess of negative internal dialog in your head already. Telling others that your work sucks only helps to reinforce the negative statements rolling around in your mind already. Why add to the pile your trying to work though?
The simple fact remains that so many people ARE NOT ARTISTS AND NEVER WILL BE. This is, of course, true of every profession and skill type. I will never be a figure skater. So when I see anyone do a turn on the ice I say, “Wow, you’re good,” because I will never even get THAT far.
If someone compliments your art, chances are it’s something they can’t do themselves. (Not always the case, of course)
Smile, and say “Thank you, I’m working hard at it.”
Bri
Angie, OMG it's said
May 23 2007 @ 7:31 pm
Isn’t the unofficial artist’s credo “I am an artist, therefore I suck?”
I agree, though. We are all our own worst critis, and as such we overlook what other people might be thinking or feeling - there are a lot of people out there who can’t even draw stick figures.
Therefore, no matter what level of skill your work is at, it’s going to impress someone! We are all talented in our own ways, too.
I used to be completely jealous of my friend’s talent, and I’d always tell her how much better than me she was and how envious I was of her skills. She would just smile at me and say “No, dear, you and I have our own different styles - you’re the best at yours!”
Thinking back on that, I really like how she viewed things and I try to see it from that perspective. Now, whenever I have doubts about my skill, I just tell myself “Well, I’m doing the best that I can, and I have my own talent!”
Great post, Bri.
Ron T Haugen said
May 28 2007 @ 7:56 pm
I understand your viewpoint as I have a son who is an excellent artist who won’t take instruction and little advice, he just goes his own way. Not at all like the usual artist he won’t lightly pencil a start with graceful strokes he attacks it like a linebacker with the quarterback in his sights every time. He does however seem to love criticism as this seems to improve his art everytime.
Having said this I see the opinions expressed as both very valid but don’t be so hard on yourself just look at Ben Templesmiths art and he seems to be extremely popular.
Remember all the cliches like beauty is in the eye of the beholder and future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams and on and on ad nauseum.
Remember you are putting your self as in your very essence on display to the public and this in and of itself is a very gutsy play. The best thing you can do is to put your stuff out there and know it is your best stuff and let the chips fall where they may. Also it’s not always for everyone but everyone is entitled to an opinion even if it’s wrong.
Very inspired posts to those who answered the bell.
Andrew Foley said
May 28 2007 @ 10:24 pm
A couple years back, Tiina got to meet Marv Wolfman. As a huge fan of the Wolfman/Perez Teen Titans era, this was a big thrill for her, and she told him as much–I forget her exact words, but the gist of it was, “I think you’re great.”
To which he replied, “You’re deluded, but thank you.”
Now, I don’t know Marv really well or anything, but I’m about 99% sure he didn’t mean any insult to T; Tiina, being of a sensitive and paranoid persuasion, is not so sure.
I’ve never been much good at taking compliments myself, but I’m trying to learn to accept them with the good grace in which they’re offered. But while I think there is a tendency in creative types to be their own worst critics (often, though not always, as a means of defusing potential criticism from outside sources), I also think there’s a certain group that turns to self-deprecation as a way to keep one’s feet on the metaphorical ground.
It takes a certain amount of ego to show one’s creations to the world and more to ask the world to pay for the privilege. It could be temptingly easy to let the compliments go to one’s head, and start acting like the compliments are a right, not a privilege. And from there, it’s a short trip to assholehood.
Foley