I know, I’m stuck on Susan Jeffers’ “No Lose Choice Point.” Her theory states that either choice, either path, can offer goodies. I’m finding it helpful in more areas than just decision-making. Such as labeling, for example.

You might label something “Bad” criticism because it hurts or was badly delivered. It can stop you in your tracks, if you’re not careful. What would be considered “Good” criticism, feels right, slips in easily and immediately makes your work better.

There are definitely Rules of Etiquette around giving criticism or “feedback.” You focus, first, on the good stuff. Which there always is. Then you phrase your comments carefully, with respect for the other’s sensitivity, talent and knowledge. I find it helpful to talk about how the work made me feel – where I might have gotten confused or felt lost.

But I’d like to suggest that there are goodies even from “Bad” criticism. From feedback that feels harsh or not as carefully given, perhaps comments you (the artist) do not think are applicable or “right.” First, that kind of feedback gets you to look more deeply at what Critic “B” has said. You might want to get clarification which could reveal that it wasn’t so “bad” at all. If you can’t do that, see if you can suss motives. Is this person honestly trying to help? If so, then try to see your work as Critic “B” did. Walk a mile in his shoes, just to see what’s there, what goodies might be down that path.

I have found that almost all criticism has something to offer. Not everyone is on target, mind you, but if an open, fair-minded critique is given, it usually points to a weakness somewhere, of some kind. It’s not necessarily exactly what the Critic has said it is. You may have to look deeper to find it. But someone who criticizes regularly or does the same kind of work, can usually sense when something’s not right. That is, after all what you’re after: not just confirmation, but another perspective.

If you go through this process of trying to see your work as others see it, of figuring out and resolving the problem, it will make you stronger. It gives you confidence in your ability to make changes, shows you a new way of looking at your work, and teaches you to keep an open mind, even it doesn’t feel right at first. More often than not, that piece of criticism which makes you most uncomfortable is just the thing you need to hear. In that case, I find a good trick is to put the comment aside for a few days. Then try to re-visit it when the emotions have settled down. You just might find a mother lode of goodies!

Now, not all criticism comes from a good place. It can be motivated by jealousy, or a lack of caring. Often, when someone criticizes your content, tells you that what you created was “wrong” or you should’ve created something else, that often signals misplaced or incorrect criticism. A Critic might say, I don’t understand that, it isn’t clear to me what you meant, or it feels/looks awkward. But to tell someone that what they’ve created is incorrect, usually ends up a waste of time. I had someone criticize my writing once, telling me that young accountants don’t ever go out for drinks!

If we label the honest kind “Bad” criticism, we could miss something we need to know. If we can look at it, instead, as “hard” criticism, we may find that someone else’s perspective reveals something we couldn’t see before. Alerting us to ways we can make deeper changes to our work or our practice.

Let’s face it, everyone who creates something is sensitive. It’s a whole lot easier to hear what’s “right” with our work or to work with someone who knows how to deliver feedback gently. But it is a fact of this creative life. Learning to deal with criticism of all kinds makes us stronger artists and can help us to produce more and better work.