How are you at taking risks?
Sending happy little emotes and faving each other’s work is a staple of life on dA. But now that we have access to the new “Critique” option on deviantArt, our online relationships with those who we watch are about to become more meaningful…and risky.

I say meaningful because a good critique is designed to give a substantial overview of an artist’s work, as well as to possibly de-construct it, breaking it down and even pointing out a work’s weakness. A good critique makes you grow.

I say this could become risky because it puts into our hands a responsibility that we must wield with a mixture of boldness, sensitivity, seriousness and good-natured humor.

The first few critiques I have submitted so far were all positive and generally broad. I love to encourage fellow artists, and admit I am somewhat of a cheerleader. So when it came time to fill out the little “Star Rating System” for originality, vision, technique and impact, by default I lavishly gave the highest rating possible to the artists, whom I incidentally adore! ( I mean, shit, who am I to give somebody three stars out of five? I don't want to cause a fuss).

But in time, in order for this rating system to be meaningful, I MUST begin to devise ways to effectively rate artworks that will challenge my fellow artists to rise to ever greater heights. Elsewise, where do we go? How will we advance?

Does this mean that in the future, I will have to call people to task, saying “your use of originality here warrants only two stars!”

Or “ Your vision could have been a five-star rating, but your use of color was ho-hum!”

Will our critiques remain tactful, even as they grow to become more provocative? This is where the riskiness comes in. Can my fellow artists take it?

Can I take it? (gulp) well, yes I can. We must!

I have been reading many critiques all over the site, and I am excited that our writing is becoming more thoughtful and strong. Some deviants use high falootin’ terminology. Some use crass humor to get their point across. Some joyously kiss-up to others. I have read a few that were very sober and technical. Some become poetic and emotional. Only one was downright nasty.
(Incidentally, nastiness immediately disqualifies the authority of a reviewer, in my mind).

The critique feature effectively raises our levels of expectation. It also helps all of us, as both artists and as reviewers. But in order for us to get the most of it, we must be ready to take greater risks… with the deviations we post, and the critiques and star ratings we award. Embrace this option! Take the risk.

As for me, I look you all in the eyes and I say, “Bring it!”