Critique & anger, a lethal mix

[Karin Wells]

Hmmmm. I do learn from the mistakes that other painters make. Sometimes it is much easier for me to see the mistakes of others than my own and I suspect that others may operate this way too. All in all, I do think that a good critique can be a dandy lesson for all - no matter what the piece looks like.

In trying to rescue people from themselves, the thing that frustrates me the most is attitude, not skill level.

When someone is unwilling to, at the very least, make the necessary effort to improve, or worse, to even admit that a change could be an improvevement.

BTW, I am NOT talking about ANY particular person on this Forum...it is just an accumulation of things that has led me to gnash my teeth and scream "overload."

I do have a streak of "teacher" in me and I delight in working with someone who is willing to work with me. A couple of years ago, I taught a small class of six 9th graders how to "paint like the Old Masters." None of those kids were interested in art and they had no aspirations to become artists. However, at the end of the year, they had each produced a very good painting and managed to develop a good eye. They still keep in touch and enjoy going to visit museums and seeing the masterworks.

The point that I am trying to make is that they had no skill...but they were very willing to work...and they were able to learn the basics.