The Critique Handbook by Kendall Buster and Paula Crawford

Critiquing is usually a tough experience for both the artist and the viewer. As the artist you never know what to expect, people always change the way they act on a normal basis when in "critique mode". As well, as the criticizer you want to be able to give helpful comments that don't overly praise the artist, as well as doesn't completely destroy them. Critiquing is difficult, but done right can mean a world of difference.

I like that in this handbook, Kendal Buster breaks down critiquing into different sub sections, such as: The language of Critique, and, the General Critique Dynamics. Buster really helps to show the reader, whether they be a brand new criticizer or one aged with experience, some new perspectives into the critiquing process.

As far as this class, Senior Studio, goes, I feel that friends should try to distance themselves away from the idea of, "I'm critiquing my friends art, so I want to be really nice and give them tons of compliments, and maybe one pointer." and see themselves more as an outsider seeing the work for the first time. It is much easier said than done, but I feel that that would be the most helpful.

My first "real" critique happened last summer at my mixed media summer intensive at MassArt. The kids there, although very kind to me usually, completely destroyed one of my main pieces. I felt terrible after that, but started to think of my piece from their point of view. now that piece became the head-liner of my entire art portfolio. I'm not saying one has to be destroyed during a critique in order to get something out of it, but that there needs to be a disconnect from friendship and criticizer.