The Best Critique I’ve Ever Gotten
So, I’ve been considering doing a series of charcoal drawings inspired by the Psalms for the past several months. Its been at the back of my mind nagging, guilting and interesting me, but for the longest time I just couldn’t find the time (get up the unction) to get started. But one late night I wasn’t sleepy and didn’t feel like watching gun videos on YouTube with the guys (go figure) so I got all ready for bed and thought “why not read Psalm 1 and see if any images come to mind.” So, I did and low and behold images did come to mind: I pulled out my charcoal and my mixed-media pad and started drawing, pulling up images on my phone as needed for reference. I worked for quite a while there in my pajamas, happily drawing away and the cares and worries of the day were scrubbed into a mid-tone by my
shamie cloth on my paper and then drawn over with creativity. It felt good; not only was I being creative, and checking something off my to-do list, but I was returning to a medium where I not only feel comfortable and confidant, but one which my family had all recommended I return to. This was repeated often by my brother (this is a huge complement coming from him, seeing as he went around the Louvre and d’Orsay museums quoting Mr. Bean: “nice frame”). As I washed up for bed I was feeling pretty good about myself. I’d done good, gotten everything done and managed to be creative.
I didn’t show anyone my new work of art, I just lived with it a few days,
and as I lived with it I became discontented with it, but I couldn’t tell what was wrong. So, I called in reinforcements in the form of the first person to drop into my studio at a convenient time. This turned out to be my brother (mentioned above) after looking long and hard at my drawing he said: “its good, but you can do better… those hills”
and that was it: his whole critique. But it is one of the best critiques I have ever gotten. I looked at the drawing and saw it with new eyes. It was a perfectly presentable drawing, but I could do better. It was that simple. Looking at it anew I could see all the places I’d skimped on the texture, layering, and detail, in my overconfidence. It was a prideful drawing of a humbling subject. So, I was humbled: I could do better. So, I went back to work on that drawing and have done better.
But it is the critique and not the drawing that has changed me. Had it come from another source it wouldn't have had the same meaning and impact. But this is a person who is familiar with ALL my work, whether he wanted to be or not. He’s seen every painting, bowl, mug, sketch, doodle, craft, and drawing I’ve ever made. He’s been there cheering me on when I wanted to quit, complained as I dragged him through yet another gallery or museum, helped me tackle power tools, and self-doubt… He knows me and my art so if he says, “You can do better” I know it is not a platitude to soften the blow, it’s a fact. And not only am I able to do “better” but “better” is expected of me. The expectation of better pushes me to be and do better, not just in art, but also in life. How truly blessed I am to have such people in my life. So, I say to you dear reader about whatever you do, do it as if the people who know you “can do better” are watching and do your best.
