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c_im_bigbangSometimes, it can be challenging to know when you’ve stepped off the aesthetic path into the dark forest of unbalanced objects and strangely extortionist limbs, and need a second eye to guide you back. Sometimes, it’s easy to see that something is “off” about your artwork, but difficult to suss out what exactly is making it look that way. Sometimes, you want to feel that sweet vindication when someone else points out a problem spot that you already know about and then suggests an solution. Constructive criticism is a valuable tool in the artist’s kit, and if you’re comfortable using it, it can really improve your art!
This post will discuss accepting constructive criticism (concrit), why and how concrit can be a valuable part of the art-making process and offer suggestions for how to approach making concrit. It also acts as a place for fellow Stevetony artists and creators to ask for help and offer up their concrit services.
Remember that these tips are at your disposal to be used as best suits you. If you don’t need it, don’t use it, and definitely don’t feel obliged to follow through in the order we’ve written this post in—it’s intended to be read any way you like! If you’re here to indicate you’re happy to provide feedback for artworks, please leave a comment on this post following the format in the handily linked Making an Offer section.
Good luck with your art, and have fun!
No! In fact, you don’t have to ask for concrit on your art at all if you don’t want to, in the context of our Cap-IM events. Similarly to the Cap-IM community stance on encouraging writers to get their works beta read so they can feel confident about what they post and improve their craft, artists are invited to get concrit before they post. However, this is not a requirement for any Cap-IM events or challenges because we prioritise participants’ comfort and enjoyment, first and foremost. If getting feedback isn't something you desire, then that's perfectly okay. The community will look forward to seeing your artworks regardless!
Fandom is about having fun and sharing your love for different universes and characters. Part of the fun can be improving and learning new things so we can better depict our ideas more eloquently and share them with other, but it doesn't have to be. It’s all about the experience you make for yourself.
Learning how to improve your art is a separate skill to creating art; if you work on getting better at one aspect of of your art process, it will result in a more significant development of your skill than if you spend the same amount of time simply arting. That’s not to say that practicing art in general is bad—the opposite is true! But focussing on a weak spot will be more productive in sharpening your abilities. To do this, you need to develop a critical eye about your own work (though this doesn’t mean constantly putting yourself down). Identify what you can improve on, and find an approach to address it that works for you.
Having access to an environment of fellow artists, particularly in fandom, can be a great way to hone in on your art and give you a support network when creating new works. Listening to someone else’s opinions of your art, particularly if they are good at giving concrit and have knowledge of your chosen medium and style, is an extremely important experience. Apart from giving you an outside perspective on your artwork, it can also teach you how to approach art critically and learn how to assess both your own work and others’. Giving concrit is a skill in and of itself which you can develop over time, and seeking feedback to see it in action is one of the best ways to learn. If you’re self-aware about your own work, then you may only need to check in with someone else when you’re stuck on something, since you’ll be able to self-assess your art and know where to find the tools and resources to help you improve.
But no matter how experienced an artist you are or how many references you use, there will always be things you miss. Having a second (or more) pair of eyes can help with that, especially if you’ve become too attached to your art to change anything! It can be helpful to receive concrit from more than one person, or at different stages of your art, as different perspectives can give you a wider range of opinions on your artwork and help you pinpoint what does and doesn’t need improvement.
You’d like to get some external feedback on your art? That’s great! But who do you ask for help?
The answer to that depends on 4 interrelated things: what the art is for, how much time you have, who you know, and who you’re comfortable reaching out to.
Firstly, think about who’s around you, whether in RL or in your fandom spaces. Do you have a friend who studied art of some sort, or also draws as a hobby? Did one of your parents or guardians dabble in art or has a good critical eye? (remember you don’t have to tell them what it’s for) Do you have a group of encouraging fandom people who’re happy to give you feedback? Have you done concrit or given feedback for anyone? They might be willing to return the favour!
If you’re pressed for time, it’s a good idea to start with connections you already have. Send a message to a couple of people you feel comfortable asking for feedback and see what comes of it. Oftentimes, even people that aren’t professional artists will be able to start you off in the right direction for what to improve, and if they are familiar with your style, they’re more likely to be helpful. Try talking your way through a sticking point with someone, or sending them the art to draw over.
Remember that if your art is for a challenge or an event where staying anonymous is important (like, for example, the Cap-IM Remix, Reverse Bang and Big Bang events), you should not disclose details of your art publicly. If that’s the case and you don’t feel comfortable reaching out directly to individuals, then you can always email cap.im.events@gmail.com and ask the mods for help!
However, if secrecy is not a consideration, then another way to find get some feedback on your art sketches is to advertise on your own fandom-related social media site. You can post an image and invite people to reblog it or send it back to you with corrections, or you can also give a description of the art and request that people willing to help get in touch with you directly.
If you don’t have a deadline and are happy having your art and corrections publicly viewable, you can check out The Redline Station, a tumblr with moderators dedicated to helping out artists of any and all levels by doing redlines on submitted art pieces and posting them publicly. You can also have a look at their archive to see previous redlines, and how to give good concrit.
Last but very much not least, at the end of this post, you can find the details of fellow fans who are ready to help! Check the comments and get in touch with people, or leave a comment of your own asking for concrit.
First, take a break and then look at your art again. Go back to look at references to check if things are in proportion and balanced on your page etc. Look at your work from a different perspective: if you're working digitally, try flipping the canvas, or if you're working traditionally, look at your drawing through a mirror or through the other side in the light. This may solve your problem without consulting anyone, or it will give you a better idea of what you need help with.
Second, decide who to contact.
Third, remember to include the following information in your request to make sure that everyone is on the same page!
When contacting someone for concrit, it doesn’t matter if you know them or not: make sure to establish clear boundaries.
Most importantly, if you don’t feel comfortable working with someone, then you are under no obligation to take their advice. They are helping you for free, so be polite and thank them for their efforts, but never feel guilty or ashamed if you don’t contact them again. Of course, the same also applies for the person giving you concrit, who may not want to work with you again—don’t nag or harass them if they have stated that they are no longer able to help you.
So you want to offer concrit for others? Awesome! Building a community of artists who can refer to each other for help is great, and we’re so pleased you want to be a part of that. The first rule of Concrit Club is: no matter if you know the artist or not, whether their art is full of things you might want to change or not, be KIND.
Now with that in mind, here are 5 tips on how to approach giving concrit:
To offer up your services as an art critic for fellow fans, please comment on this post with the following details:
We ask that you use a subject line like “concrit offer” to make it easy for fellow fans to find you. You are of course welcome to add any extra information to your “sign up”, and edit it as your situation changes.
Thanks in advance to everyone who offers their services. On behalf of our Cap-IM community artists, we appreciate your enthusiasm for helping others improve their craft ♥️♡♥️
Artists, browse through the comments below for people available to give you concrit and contact them directly via their preferred contact method or in a threaded discussion. You can also comment yourselves (please use the subject line “concrit wanted” for readability of the post) to ask for help; make sure to leave a contact method when you do!
This post will discuss accepting constructive criticism (concrit), why and how concrit can be a valuable part of the art-making process and offer suggestions for how to approach making concrit. It also acts as a place for fellow Stevetony artists and creators to ask for help and offer up their concrit services.
Remember that these tips are at your disposal to be used as best suits you. If you don’t need it, don’t use it, and definitely don’t feel obliged to follow through in the order we’ve written this post in—it’s intended to be read any way you like! If you’re here to indicate you’re happy to provide feedback for artworks, please leave a comment on this post following the format in the handily linked Making an Offer section.
Good luck with your art, and have fun!
Accepting feedback
Do I Need to Ask for Concrit?
No! In fact, you don’t have to ask for concrit on your art at all if you don’t want to, in the context of our Cap-IM events. Similarly to the Cap-IM community stance on encouraging writers to get their works beta read so they can feel confident about what they post and improve their craft, artists are invited to get concrit before they post. However, this is not a requirement for any Cap-IM events or challenges because we prioritise participants’ comfort and enjoyment, first and foremost. If getting feedback isn't something you desire, then that's perfectly okay. The community will look forward to seeing your artworks regardless!
Fandom is about having fun and sharing your love for different universes and characters. Part of the fun can be improving and learning new things so we can better depict our ideas more eloquently and share them with other, but it doesn't have to be. It’s all about the experience you make for yourself.
The Value of Receiving Concrit
Learning how to improve your art is a separate skill to creating art; if you work on getting better at one aspect of of your art process, it will result in a more significant development of your skill than if you spend the same amount of time simply arting. That’s not to say that practicing art in general is bad—the opposite is true! But focussing on a weak spot will be more productive in sharpening your abilities. To do this, you need to develop a critical eye about your own work (though this doesn’t mean constantly putting yourself down). Identify what you can improve on, and find an approach to address it that works for you.
Having access to an environment of fellow artists, particularly in fandom, can be a great way to hone in on your art and give you a support network when creating new works. Listening to someone else’s opinions of your art, particularly if they are good at giving concrit and have knowledge of your chosen medium and style, is an extremely important experience. Apart from giving you an outside perspective on your artwork, it can also teach you how to approach art critically and learn how to assess both your own work and others’. Giving concrit is a skill in and of itself which you can develop over time, and seeking feedback to see it in action is one of the best ways to learn. If you’re self-aware about your own work, then you may only need to check in with someone else when you’re stuck on something, since you’ll be able to self-assess your art and know where to find the tools and resources to help you improve.
But no matter how experienced an artist you are or how many references you use, there will always be things you miss. Having a second (or more) pair of eyes can help with that, especially if you’ve become too attached to your art to change anything! It can be helpful to receive concrit from more than one person, or at different stages of your art, as different perspectives can give you a wider range of opinions on your artwork and help you pinpoint what does and doesn’t need improvement.
Who do I ask for Concrit?
You’d like to get some external feedback on your art? That’s great! But who do you ask for help?
The answer to that depends on 4 interrelated things: what the art is for, how much time you have, who you know, and who you’re comfortable reaching out to.
Firstly, think about who’s around you, whether in RL or in your fandom spaces. Do you have a friend who studied art of some sort, or also draws as a hobby? Did one of your parents or guardians dabble in art or has a good critical eye? (remember you don’t have to tell them what it’s for) Do you have a group of encouraging fandom people who’re happy to give you feedback? Have you done concrit or given feedback for anyone? They might be willing to return the favour!
If you’re pressed for time, it’s a good idea to start with connections you already have. Send a message to a couple of people you feel comfortable asking for feedback and see what comes of it. Oftentimes, even people that aren’t professional artists will be able to start you off in the right direction for what to improve, and if they are familiar with your style, they’re more likely to be helpful. Try talking your way through a sticking point with someone, or sending them the art to draw over.
Remember that if your art is for a challenge or an event where staying anonymous is important (like, for example, the Cap-IM Remix, Reverse Bang and Big Bang events), you should not disclose details of your art publicly. If that’s the case and you don’t feel comfortable reaching out directly to individuals, then you can always email cap.im.events@gmail.com and ask the mods for help!
However, if secrecy is not a consideration, then another way to find get some feedback on your art sketches is to advertise on your own fandom-related social media site. You can post an image and invite people to reblog it or send it back to you with corrections, or you can also give a description of the art and request that people willing to help get in touch with you directly.
If you don’t have a deadline and are happy having your art and corrections publicly viewable, you can check out The Redline Station, a tumblr with moderators dedicated to helping out artists of any and all levels by doing redlines on submitted art pieces and posting them publicly. You can also have a look at their archive to see previous redlines, and how to give good concrit.
Last but very much not least, at the end of this post, you can find the details of fellow fans who are ready to help! Check the comments and get in touch with people, or leave a comment of your own asking for concrit.
How do I ask for Concrit?
First, take a break and then look at your art again. Go back to look at references to check if things are in proportion and balanced on your page etc. Look at your work from a different perspective: if you're working digitally, try flipping the canvas, or if you're working traditionally, look at your drawing through a mirror or through the other side in the light. This may solve your problem without consulting anyone, or it will give you a better idea of what you need help with.
Second, decide who to contact.
Third, remember to include the following information in your request to make sure that everyone is on the same page!
When contacting someone for concrit, it doesn’t matter if you know them or not: make sure to establish clear boundaries.
- Always let someone know of any content and trigger warnings that apply (the kind of things you’d tag for on Ao3: explicit sex, gore and violence, non-con or dub-con, character death, mpreg etc.), whether they’ve previously said they’re okay with X or not.
- Discuss what kind of advice and and help you as the artist are looking for, and what the person offering help is willing to do. Make sure you both have similar ideas of what’s expected. Some examples of what you might need help with include:
- confirmation that viewers’ eyes are moving in the right directions
- composition help with an initial sketch
- anatomy help
- what to put draw in the background of your art
- colour-picking help
- a second pair of eyes to make sure you haven’t missed something like an extra arm
- If your artwork has a deadline, make sure to clearly communicate when you would like to receive the feedback, and leave some time to go over changes.
Most importantly, if you don’t feel comfortable working with someone, then you are under no obligation to take their advice. They are helping you for free, so be polite and thank them for their efforts, but never feel guilty or ashamed if you don’t contact them again. Of course, the same also applies for the person giving you concrit, who may not want to work with you again—don’t nag or harass them if they have stated that they are no longer able to help you.
Offering your services for feedback
Tips for Giving Concrit
So you want to offer concrit for others? Awesome! Building a community of artists who can refer to each other for help is great, and we’re so pleased you want to be a part of that. The first rule of Concrit Club is: no matter if you know the artist or not, whether their art is full of things you might want to change or not, be KIND.
Now with that in mind, here are 5 tips on how to approach giving concrit:
- Respect the artist's guidelines. Make sure to ask what the artist wants help with, and then stick to those aspects! For example, if an artist hasn’t asked for a redline, don’t do it. Unasked-for criticism will not only be wasting your time, but also killing the artist’s confidence in their art.
- Respect the artist’s vision. You are helping to improve the art, not reshaping it to your preferences. There's a difference between pet peeves based on technical mistakes and those specific to you. Keep the latter to yourself and remember that people have different styles which need to be accounted for. Do your best to figure out what the artist is aiming to convey with their art and advise them on actualising it more successfully.
- Be honest, but stay positive. Be sincere in both your criticism and your praise. You won't be useful if you're doling out false feedback, and artists will be able to tell, but remember that being honest doesn't mean degrading someone's art! Avoid negative absolutes. It's tough getting criticism, so be constructive in your critique, and take the time to be lavish with what you thought they executed well in addition to giving feedback on what they can work on in the future. Remember: this is fandom, and fandom is about connecting and enjoying something together.
- Be specific. Generalities aren't helpful, and don't properly address what the artist did well or how they can improve. Specific comments and changes hold a lot more weight, and help an artist pinpoint exactly where their strengths and weaknesses lie. However, it’s preferable not to simply list flaws, but point out how an artist’s technique or process can improve and use weak spots to clarify what you mean.
- Explain why. If you make a change to the art when redlining, or send back a sketch for a changed art element, note why you made the change. Even if you start out with only a gut feeling about the art’s “offness”, do your best to figure out why you liked or disliked something. Give your artist something concrete on which to build their revisions for next time rather than just a quick fix for the current artwork.
Making an Offer
To offer up your services as an art critic for fellow fans, please comment on this post with the following details:
We ask that you use a subject line like “concrit offer” to make it easy for fellow fans to find you. You are of course welcome to add any extra information to your “sign up”, and edit it as your situation changes.
Thanks in advance to everyone who offers their services. On behalf of our Cap-IM community artists, we appreciate your enthusiasm for helping others improve their craft ♥️♡♥️
Artists, browse through the comments below for people available to give you concrit and contact them directly via their preferred contact method or in a threaded discussion. You can also comment yourselves (please use the subject line “concrit wanted” for readability of the post) to ask for help; make sure to leave a contact method when you do!
