"The Studio Revisited" Responses to Kasey's Questions

1)Majorie Welsh states that she "mistakenly thought that only 'laypeople' confuse criticism with severe disapproval"

Is this true on the art world as well as our day to day life. Think of the frequent occurrence of people specifying "constructive criticism". Is criticism always supposed to be constructive?

I think that she was right in her belief that "only 'laypeople confuse criticism with severe disapproval'" was mistaken. Artists and laypeople alike recoil at the idea of criticism and specify that criticism be constructive because many can't see how even a bad critique could help them in some way. All criticism could be constructive if the person being criticized is willing to look at the critics points from an objective point of view.

2)What would be the point of destructive criticism. Would that not just be abuse as Mrs. Welsh proposes later?

I feel like even destructive criticism has a purpose if you can consider it beyond your initial emotional reaction. Even if the critics purpose is solely to get a reaction from you, it can still give you insight. Even if you come to the conclusion that the critic was wrong, the critique still serves to help you form your opinion and strengthen your purpose and goals.

3) "So for an artist to extract mere praise from a critic is a form of self-congratulation that does worse than negate the critic's presence: it foreclose on process altogether" Does only saying nice things about a piece stop progress? or could it potential keep an artist moving a pass that is working out well?

I definitely agree with this. I don't necessarily think it's wrong to receive praise because it is reassuring at times. Nor do I think it's justified to completely bash an artist or their work for no reason other than to not praise them, but only giving praise doesn't serve to help the artist grow or improve. For many artists who are really serious about what it is they do and who want to grow, they WANT criticism and only receiving praise becomes disappointing. As an artist, there is ALWAYS room to improve and get better. You should never say that "I'm finished! I'm the best artist I can possibly be!".

I really enjoyed reading this article. I feel like too many artists, and people in general, think of criticism solely as a negative thing and are unable to even be critical of themselves. Criticism, not only in art, but in your everyday life serves to push you forward. People should always strive to become a better person each and every day. This inability to recognize your own faults, this lack of self awareness, and complete unwillingness to admit that you may be wrong is an enormous problem in our world.