How to Welcome Feedback?
In our field, feedback unites positive and negative critics aiming at upgrading a work of art. It is a part of every creative process, and represents a good opportunity to learn, so we shouldn’t be afraid to show what we create. As soon as our art is displayed, critics will arise. Here tips to get ready to welcome feedback objectively, as well as to deal with the information to make your art better.
When you do an artistic job, it can be even harder not to take negative comments personally than in other professions. Try your best not to get emotional about it and if your ego tells you to fight back, don’t listen to it. An aggressive reaction could be an obstacle to your reputation. We should learn to always remain calm by breathing deeply and neutralize negative emotions. Try to be as open-minded as possible and listen carefully to the suggestions on our paintings. Indeed, active listening is an important part of getting feedback. Try not to think about what you will answer, but focus on what the other person is telling you. If you get a negative, but constructive, feedback, it usually shows the good intention of the person you have in front of you. Avoid the fear of failure and elevate yourself out of mistakes. We should be thankful for the people who have the courage to telling their opinion.
Once you listened attentively at some feedback, don’t hesitate to ask questions or for clarifications. You can open a dialogue with the person to get a new point of view about your work, this is where feedback takes on its full meaning. Also, if you notice that you got several times the same comment, a discussion is really a good option to understand the origin of the problem. When you gathered some feedback, you can try to take a step back and see how you can concretely implement it in your art. After that, you can follow up with the person who gave you the explanation and ask for a second comment. This process is also good for your professional network as you talk more and more with other people. They help you, so you can also help them in return. It is the creation of a strong bond between peers.
Nobody likes being criticized, but feedback is necessary to improve, so let’s take note of what people say about our work. It doesn’t matter if you get positive or negative comments, every one of them is the perfect occasion to build your experience as an artist.