An Artists commented to me, “I want to be criticised.”

As promised from this mornings video.

My response to the Artist was, “Friend only you can answer that question why you like to be criticised, but I don’t understand why?”

I am honestly amazed at how many people and Artists want to defend criticism as a positive attribute?

It is not, critical people are not fun to be around.

I am sure I am missing something here as I know that I never enjoyed being criticised and still do not, though now I am able to see it for what it is and dismiss it outright.

Personally I think encouragement, instruction, inspiration and mentor ship is far more profitable and valuable to an Artist than criticism.

A question was put to me, “What if they are doing the wrong thing?”

What is the wrong thing and who gets to decide that?

This is hard to define in the Arts, if you are the teacher and think something is wrong that is what you perceive but to others it may not be wrong.

We do not need critics and watchmen in the Art world and those who think they are doing the Art community a service by pointing out what is wrong?

Again I say, what gives someone the authority to say what is right or wrong, that must be decided by the Artist regarding their own personal work, not by a group of self styled elitists who think their opinion is right and can over ride the creator of the work.

Yes it may sound like anarchy, but Art must be allowed to flourish without the restrictions of those who think they know better.

For Artists to create they must able to push the boundaries and find success or fail, yes fail and make mistakes and grow through this and they are the ones who say that their work is right or wrong, not anyone else.

For Artists to flourish there must be an atmosphere of encouragement, positive instruction, inspiration and mentors who will walk with the Artist and show them a better way and help them up the ladder, not criticise and pull them down.

Van Gogh was wrong according to the Art world of his day.

The Impressionists were scorned by the Art world of their day.

Jackson Pollock was ridiculed and criticised by many and still is.

Today they are remembered as great Artists and the critics are totally forgotten.

I honestly think encouragement, instruction, guidance, inspiration and mentor ship are far more profitable and valuable to an Artist than criticism, let us be the ones who don’t find fault but help and inspire Artist to be all they can possibly be.