OVERVIEW
Giving artistic feedback and especially receiving is something that needs to be trained, especially when it comes to being able to separate yourself from your art, since it's so personal.
In this little guide we're going to go over 3 different stages of feedback and some tips on how to get the most out of each stage.
ASKING FEEDBACK
Asking for feedback might be a daunting step in the artistic journey, your opening yourself and are becoming really vulnerable for the first time. So the first step is making sure that when we're asking for feedback we do it in such a way that helps you get the most out of it yourself.
So here's some tips on how to do exactly that.
GETTING TARGETTED FEEDBACK
When asking for feedback need to make the most out of the opportunity. And if you can focus the feedback towards the things you want to improve the most that can help you improve much quicker.
Asking for "Comments or Critiques" feels lazy and disingenuous and usually is not a good way to get feedback on your work because that means that everything is open and usually means that people giving feedback will need to really take their time and analyse it, which only works when you are doing a mentorship or have people you talk to personally.
In addition to this, getting focused feedback is also to your benefit since it will stop you from getting overwhelmed with that to improve.
Giving enough information
Next up when asking for specific feedback adding images that shown exactly what you want to get feedback on. For example, if you want to get feedback on your topology, adding a picture with a clear wireframe is crucial.
Also when you want to get feedback on your environmental storytelling or narrative giving people a backstory and what you want to portray helps give people context and allows them to tweak the story if necessary.
Add additional information and requests
Saying something like "... But I'm also open to hearing other point of feedback on composition" can also help you get additional feedback if needed. You can also add additional information to your request to help people giving feedback.
EXAMPLE
"Hi, I'm currently working on this medieval scene where I'm trying to depict an abandoned bandit camp. I'm looking for feedback on my lighting and storytelling so any ideas on those topics would be great!
In addition to it feel free to critique my texturing and modelling as well."
RECEIVING FEEDBACK
Now that we know how to get the feedback we want, it's time we talk about some tips to help you get better at receiving it.
Don’t get defensive
First up, which is the hardest part, especially the first time around is that you need to not get defensive when someone is going to give you feedback.
Try to distance yourself from the personal attachment you have to your work and pretend you're talking about someone else entirely, this separation can help in being more objective about your work.
IT'S A CONVERSATION
Feedback is a conversation, usually they are professionals that give feedback but don’t let that stop you from adding your points or ask question either. Someone giving you feedback is a great opportunity for learning more and asking specific questions, so don't waste it.
MAKE IT A HABIT
One time feedback might help you greatly, but it’s also valuable to keep this going over the long term. So find people or communities that want to give you regular feedback if you ask them. Because feedback isn’t only about improving your work but also training your artistic vision and insight and doing so on a regular cadence can really help you hone those skills.
BE OPEN AND VULNERABLE
Don't be afraid to ask questions you might think are "dumb" or ask the person on the other end to explain things to you when you feel lost. It's hard to know the things you don't know.
Someone who wants to give you feedback was also in the position at one point in their artistic journey so keep that in mind and hopefully they will do that too.
PICK AND CHOOSE
Lastly, you don't have to implement everything all at once, if you feel that you are done with a majority of the feedback and want to take the next part of the feedback with you to the next project that's totally fine as well. Only you know how you are feeling about your current progress, so pick and choose what you want to implement.
GIVING FEEDBACK
Whenever you get a bit more experienced or want to give back to the community you will probably have the opportunity to give feedback yourself, and if you've read the previous parts you know that giving feedback should be looked at as a gift and that often times the person asking for feedback, especially those on the start on their journey can be more fragile.
So with that in mind, let's have a look at what giving feedback should look like.
Constructively is crucial
A balance between being critical while mixing in supportive praise and things you do enjoy about their work is crucial for giving motivation when often needed.
Helping artists improve their art and helping them grow are the main reason why you would want to give feedback and it should be treated as a gift towards that person.
Be specific and BE VISUAL
Visual examples are the best form of giving feedback, this is why overpaints and images added on top of them can add so much for visual feedback, it gives us artists something to look at.
The more actionable and concrete you can make the better the feedback will be received. Compare "Let’s make this shape more fun” to “Let’s make the top of the shape more square and have a pear like form for the rest of the shape” the second part is way more actionable and easy to understood.
Involve the person into the conversation
This part is crucial whenever you have the opportunity to talk face to face with that person as you are giving them feedback.
Instead of saying what or how they need to do something, ask what they would do and let them explain it first, this always opens op the conversation and allows you to highlight the good ideas they bring to the table.
Support their vision
We always have a base idea for the work we do, and it’s horrible for someone to come in and stomp all over it and enforce their own idea on it. Instead of doing this try to build onto it instead, add onto the base idea the other person already has and make it a real collaborative brainstorming session.
If you don’t like some of the ideas that are there then always be ready to suggest multiple alternatives, especially visual example ones are always great to inspire each other.
It’s their work and their time they will put into it.
Unsolicited feedback is useless
Always start giving feedback with the simple question “Can I give you some feedback?” this allows the person making the art to choose whether they want to get feedback or not. If you just give feedback to people who don’t want it then you are just wasting both your time and their time.
EXAMPLE OF GIVING FEEDBACK
"I love the colors and the depth of field you have in your composition currently, however, the main textures on the furnace look relatively basic at this point, maybe using the heightmap to drive the geometry of the texture could give it some extra geometric detail.
There's also some weird particles on the left side which seem a little out of place, but they would fit greatly inside of the furnace itself though!
There also seem to be some missing shadows underneath the furnace as well. But I do have to say that the individual props in this scene look awesome, especially the anvil with all the little props attached to it."
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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