It's finally time to replace the Bic Cristal as my everyday drawing pen. I've used them for years, but the barrel is so thin that long periods with my unusual grip style is really starting to get to me. I drew for about 7 hours the other day and the tip of my thumb went numb for 24 hours, so I'm breaking up with ol faithful. After researching for ages, I've ordered a couple of Ballograf Epocas to give them a spin as a still relatively inexpensive daily driver.

Emotions matter, artists pour a lot into their work, I sure do. That's why a critique can feel so exposing. This isn't a "facts don't care about your feelings" sort of thing, quite the opposite. I feel like you can't respect an artist's feelings if they're specifically asking for critique if you can't be honest. That doesn't encourage new perspectives, it certainly doesn't encourage growth. "Good art is when you do emotions on a page" is thought terminating and an active hinderance to growth.

Critique is not a time to allow your artistic perspectives to simply be reinforced. Even the most masterful of artists, when presenting their work in a critique context, should walk away with something to chew on. It's not a time to be gentle, it's for growth as an artist and as an artist community. I'm not suggesting being ruthless or mean, but it requires a level of honesty and a level of respecting your peers as driven to grow. It's why they're doing it in the first place.

Critique should be vulnerable and to some extent uncomfortable. It's in that discomfort that you can reconcile your own perceptions of your work and those of your peers and audience. It's not about making anyone feel bad, it's a necessary part of de-insulating yourself from the rigidity of the frameworks you hold. Some critique will naturally be good, and some will prove less useful, but the process of filtering all of that information is valuable, a microcosm engaging with your art at large.

I sat in on a local art critique recently (as part of the audience) and I was pretty unhappy with how it went. I have a *lot* of strong opinions on art, and one of them is how critique can be incredibly useful in progressing in your work, and that critique itself should be harsh but constructive. I see no use in critiquing anyone's work if A) it's not properly moderated to allow constructive discussion and B) feedback that disallows critique of technical competency in favor of vibes and emotions

Ideation

Octopus #sketchbook #drawing #penandink #psychedelic

Totoro’s a little freak

Look at those feet

Just thrifted the sickest stool