The Critique

We just did two weeks of critiques in my painting class before the snow hit. I told my students, "If you're not finished with the work, then I don't want to talk about it - it's not done." It's because of pressure. Even if the structure of the critique was two compliments and a suggestion - everybody had to do this - even positive feedback for something unfinished is going to subconsciously influence your steps in finishing that piece. I don't know where I got that belief. We critiqued unfinished/work in progess pieces in grad school all the time - but the whole time, I was wondering if it was the best idea - You can improve later. I would not want the waters muddied along the way with anyone’s thoughts but my own artist’s eye.