Handling Feedback: What Every Highly Sensitive Artist Needs to Know

[@MADGuy248]

14:38 ‘My value and vision for my work are greater than discomfort I feel and the moments I receive critiques.’ What a powerful quote. My art journey got ruined by my secondary school art teacher, who always give unhelpful feedback that fits into what he think would give us good grades. Since then, not only have I struggled to make art, I also struggle to take criticisms, especially because I’m currently struggling to land a job and most feedback are not helpful. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, I will keep your advice when I’m struggling with these again.

[@artiststrong]

I'm so sorry. Too many people have stories like yours. Thank you for taking the time to add value to this conversation. May we all feel less alone with this issue!

[@notclagnew]

“I am not looking for feedback at the moment is very helpful. Thank you. One woman I was in a workshop with was very bluntly saying that “she couldn’t see x” or “it didn’t look like” y - I thought it was a very rude behaviour in a studio setting. I realised later I was working upside down as I was finding it hard to get into the right frame of mind, but still, it was a thought better kept to herself 😡

[@artiststrong]

Ugh. People sometimes mean well and come across rude, and sometimes they just are rude. Imagine if she had delivered it to be in true service of the work, what would that have looked like? (How would she have said it differently? Body language? Tone?). It's a good exercise in thinking about how we deliver feedback, too. I'm so sorry for your experience. Thank you for sharing, and I hope that go-to phrase never needs to be used, but you have it ready should someone else shows up in a similar manner.

[@notclagnew]

@@artiststrong I asked the instructor if she had a tip too and she said "that's fine it's not meant to yet". Thank you for the tip to rethink what it could have looked like in a supportive way, I'll journal about it. I also just thought I could say with a chuckle something like "I don't even know what it will look like yet" because it really isn't that important it was an underdrawing; I think the comment was a dart that hit my underlying sensitivity about getting it right when I would like to be in the process more and less about the outcome.

[@artiststrong]

@@notclagnew really reflective and observant comments here. I totally have that "getting it right feeling" getting in the way of my process, which I also want to be my focus. This will absolutely help others -thank you for taking the time to share here!

[@KittyKeypurr]

😢 I have destroyed so many things I've made because someone said something negative about it

[@artiststrong]

@@KittyKeypurr I’m SO sorry to hear this. There is magic in your art! Don’t let anyone dim your shining 💜💜💜

[@KittyKeypurr]

@@artiststrong I've gotten better about it but I'm sure it's part of that whole imposter sydrome thing 😂

[@johnestock7283]

That’s horrible. I can’t imagine anyone taking the time to attack someone making art. Probably their impulse to mock because they have their own inferiorities. Please resist that urge to destroy your art. I’ve never had that yet. Not that I havent felt like I don’t belong. I do enough of that to myself. 😬 But sometimes, sometimes it’s fun to tear up something . I’ve even taken a step and recreated a torn up piece via collage. Stay strong. Keep going

[@KittyKeypurr]

@@johnestock7283 most of the time, I don't think they mean to be critical. I'm sure I've probably upset another artist accidentally myself and I'll kick myself if and when I remember doing it 😂

[@artiststrong]

@@KittyKeypurr your art is important! And I’m glad to hear it’s getting better. 🥳