The feedback issue, political correctness or honesty, the great debate?

I have been asked my opinion on this subject by a few people now so I thought I would comment about it and see what you all think?

It is something that has concerned me as I scroll through all the Artist groups.

Artists are always posting their painting and say things like, “Its not quite finished, but be honest and tell me what you think?”

I always wonder what they are really looking for here?

Is there a difference between being honest, being nice or being politically correct?

I agree that no body needs to be criticized or berated for doing a painting, good or bad, hateful words have no place in this debate.

But how does it help the Artist if everyone says how wonderful it is, how talented they are, when really at best the work is just student work and at worst, just not a good painting?

Yes, when this does happen maybe the best thing to do is to keep silent, no comment is also a comment.

I was friends with a Gallery curator who looked after a Gallery in a reasonable sized town in Australia. The Gallery then was free to residents of that town, but to get an exhibition one had to get past the “Gatekeeper,” my friend the curator. He was an Artist of 30 plus years and very experienced. He had a very good eye for talent and on a whole the Gallery hosted good shows, but tact and diplomacy were not his strong points.

I was witness to an Artist who came in to see him and to show him their paintings in the hope of his approval and then of coarse a show. This particular Artist had been painting a few years, not long, and was very proud of the painting they had bought in.

I looked at the work and it was not very good.

This particular Curator carefully looked at the paintings one by one, he then sat down at his desk, picked up his newspaper and looked at the Artist and said, “ No.”

The Artist said “ Why, what did you think of my paintings?”

He just looked up and said, “ You can't have a show.”

The Artist looked devastated and should have left at this point but they were determined to get a show and challenged the Curator.

He looked up and said, “Your work is not good, get lessons.”

That was it for the Artist, they looked shocked at his words, picked up their work and left.

After the Artist left I said to him that he was a little harsh and that it wasn't that bad.

He said to me, “Would you hang it?”

I said,” No.”

He said, “ There at least I am honest and don't tell them lies, like their family and friends do.”

He said, “I did them a big favor, they will now go and get lessons and become a reasonably painter or they will give up and stop painting, both would be good outcomes.”

Now I do not agree totally with what he said, but I understand now when you have been running Galleries for a long time why you can become blunt and abrasive, it is not acceptable behavior, but it happens.

I would never say what my Curator friend said, I am very careful to recognize talent and craftsmanship and also to be able to gently persuade those do not have the ability to paint and sell their work, to just paint for the love of painting and give them away to understanding and loving friends and family.

Feedback must always be honest but not brutal and hurtful.

I see a lot of work on the internet that is by Artists who are mostly self taught and I am not critical of that fact but who do need lessons and I do not mean from the local friendly Artist who teaches on a Tuesday evening but I mean Art School or workshops or find an Artist of long standing who is prepared to help you and teach what is needed.

Feedback needs to be constructive, it needs to praise the attempt but not say it is a great painting when it is not.

I rejoice that people have a desire to paint but like all crafts it takes time, years to master the craft and become proficient and saying things like you are very talented and this is an amazing painting, I believe does not help the Artist who has only been painting a few years.

To encourage and acknowledge the level of the work is good but if it is not a great painting, don't come out and say it is, that does not help the Artist, it just sets them up for disappointment further down the track. How many stories have we heard about Artists who have been told how wonderful their paintings are and then when they have a show and nothing sells, those words now seem so hollow and empty, as I wrote is another post, my dear Mother, she believed the flattery and the market became a very harsh reality for her.{ See the post http://markshellshear.blogspot.com/2015/08/failed-selling-artist-successful-artist.html}

Feedback should, I believe be honest and encouraging but not to the point that it is not truthful.

I get lots of emails from good, genuine people who want me to look at their paintings and tell them what I think?

I cannot do that as I am not judge and jury and most times I do not comment but talk about other things, unless it is really exceptional work. I will not enter into the “Please be honest with me and tell me what you think?” 

What are they really asking?

Honestly, what I think is not important, the only important thing is, will it sell, did it sell?

In the end and I know this gets many Artists upset because they say it is unfair, but in the end the Market decides, not the Artist, not the Gallery but that person who is prepared to spend their hard earned money on your painting. That is the true decision maker.

Friends, what others think really is not that important, don't search for praise, what is important is, do you love the painting and do you love painting and if the answer is yes, that is all that matters.

I hope this has been a help to someone and if you have any questions or comments I will do my best to answer them.

Keep smiling.

Mark Shellshear.

Art consultant.

mark@shellshearmedia.com