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5 tips to deal with art criticism

How to deal with art criticism? I believe every artist wants to know the knack for dealing with criticism of art. A few days ago while browsing the Youtube channel I came across an old talk show which must have been aired on PTV in either ’80s or early ’90s. As I’m a die heart fan of legendary writer Bano Qudsia and Ashfaq Ahmed (my favorite couple in the art industry) I clicked on the thumbnail comprising these two artists as the show’s guests named “Mulaqat”. (Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/h4dOP8_WX7A) I got hooked the moment Naeem Bukhari; a phenomenal anchor introduced them to the show rules using his good-humored hosting skills. Those of you who are familiar with the work of Bano Qudsia or Ashfaq Ahmed wouldn’t think twice in admitting how amazingly they have served in the fields of literature and Art. But in this show, they were supposed to face only “Critiques”; who were the ONLY audience and belonged to the world of art and literature (Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Firdaus Jamal, etc.). I watched the entire interview to get hold of the ingenuity with which the writers were hurling back to the critic’s judgment over their creative ventures. They talked over the couple’s successful write-ups and failed experiments masked in humor and light-mannered discussion. For instance, beginning with Ashfaq Ahmed, they mocked ( in good humor) how people walked out of the cinema in between intervals of a flop movie experimented on by him long ago in response to which the couple quite amusingly explained the whole story behind the venture. The critics also questioned some of the contents of Bano Qudsia’s novels (e.g. Raja Gidh) in response to which she explained the rationality behind her write-ups without a hint of losing composure. The discussion during the interview took place in good spirits with no intention of disrespect, of course. But as with all artists, the writers must have faced a lot of criticism and negative feedback during their course of life. Did they not bring about even more popular novels, write-ups, and scripts? or did they hold back anything said against their beautiful pieces of writing? I believe not. A “skill” that every artist must possess apart from being great at art is a forte of biting the bullet amidst a world full of critiques. Whether the criticism is humorous or not an artist’s heart skips a pound every time his/ her work is underappreciated by any means. A critic would try to judge an artist’s intellect and creativity process based on his/ her own perspective, knowledge, and experience. Some artists are well-versed naturally in dealing with criticism over their work while others need to learn it with the passage of time. Take a look at 5 tips that should help artists deal with negative criticism of their work: Be positive If a critic has pointed out a mistake in your artwork it won’t hurt to take another look from a critic’s eye and bring it to the discussion. You might learn a technique you were oblivious to before or you might end up convincing about your own “unique” approach toward the subject. Jot down points to remember and do not ponder over the discussion unnecessarily. Don’t take it personal Art criticism shouldn’t influence your personal capacity to think creatively. If not an art critic most feedback comes from family, friends, acquaintances, or people who do not professionally belong to the field of Art themselves.  Take it and move on. Do not let the wisecracks attack your motivation to move on to your next project. Keep the critical feedback limited to the particular piece of art rather than letting it sink into your skin and affect your thought process adversely. Believe in your skill Though keeping oneself collected and unshakable against criticism isn’t as easy as it seems then that’s a skill set that beginner artists to need to brush up on. As someone wisely quoted that “self-doubt is the anchor that keeps our ships from sailing”, nevertheless who and what pushes you in the state you have the power to lift the anchor up and stay the course. Use polite phrases Hold your instant responses until you hear them out completely. Reflect and take a while before getting defensive about your work. The critic would try to judge your idea without knowing the artist in you, which may put you off. Try and use phrases such as, “Thank you for your feedback”, “I appreciate your time and analysis of my work”, or ” please visit my studio and check out more of my work”. Anything new on canvas takes a while before viewers start getting a hold of it. It happened with all famous artists who brought a massive change in art styles so consider yourself lucky every time you face criticism. Take it as a phase before success All artists, before reaching a level of success, go through a phase popularly known as ” creative dilemma” (ref. book “becoming a life change artist” by Fred Mandell and Kathleen Jordan). They come up with a new idea, face criticism, sit and take it, and bring the idea into existence to get rid of the dilemma which might be received with a lot of criticism. Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Frida Kahlo, and Vincent Van Gogh are a few of many examples who have been through a lot of criticism before their work started to receive true appreciation. Once you have presented your work out there be prepared to face positive as well as negative feedback. Believe in your skill, own your pieces of art, and be confident about your creativity. By all odds process requires patience and consistency. As quoted famously by an American artist: “I don’t listen to what art critics say. I don’t know anybody who needs a critic to find what art is.”-Jean-Michel Basquiat  Artist & Author: Rabia Adnan www.biazartstudio.com

6 quick and handy tool kit ideas for artist moms

A few of the snags that discourage moms from pursuing their art careers include less storage space for art materials to fit in, no extra space for setting up an easel or bench, health concerns in case kids accidentally inhale or consume any toxic art medium, and last but not the least dealing with emergencies while painting. Today, I’m going to share some ideas related to accessible Arts tool kits worth investing in as now we are not only artists but moms too. With kids playing around the house all day, we must consider precautions to avoid undesirable setbacks. Check out the following list and look at what suits you best. Canvas pad/paper pads Convenient easels Brushes and tool kit Disposable paint palette Shelf/ cabinet as a storage Kids safe mediums Canvas Pads/ Sheet padsWhile just starting off to practice, avoid investing in large-sized canvases and sheets. They require extra storage space and won’t be handy to put away in case you need to attend to your child or any other gig that comes up. Canvas pads and watercolor sheet pads are available in multiple sizes. Sizes that are mainly used include A2, A3 A4, and A5. They are quick to grab and easy to stash away without getting uptight about ruining your paintings. Choose convenient EaselsThe day I decided to start over, the first thing that popped into my head was “where would I place my canvas pads or frames while painting?” The idea of owning a legged easel drifted away the moment I visualized my boys tripping over any of the legs and hurting themselves. I needed a compact, portable, and convenient to-put-aside easel that wouldn’t get in the way of my usual life routine. I found the following fit for the purpose: Wall easels Table Top easels Box Easels The idea of wall easels seemed most convenient as they required no floor place at all and could be mounted on the wall at an appropriate height, away from kids’ reach. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find wall easels at nearby art shops or online art stores in Pakistan.  To get them made on order we must have correct knowledge about measurements and specifications to avoid any technical blowouts. If you’re considering wall easels then try and mount shelves or a small storage cupboard on either side of the easel to make the painting process hassle-free. French easels don’t seem to be much different than a regular box easel, except that they come with added features. They might turn out to be heavier as well because they consist of everything that is required of an easel, compactly fixed together, and ready to assemble. Usually, they contain a built-in storage box for paints, palettes, brushes, and supplies. The legs are folded and fixed on the sides of the box and conveniently come in the handy outdoors. Indoors, however, the easel might take up a lot of floor space when assembled completely and stood on legs. Attached in front of the easel is a “canvas holder” which adjusts easily at any length of the tilt. Plain Box easels work fine for me indoors, as currently, I require minimum accessories attached. They are usually lightweight portable easels and don’t come with a tripod or any extra drawers. If to be used outdoors they can be placed on the ground or any stable desk. I already own a study table that functions perfectly as soon as I place my box easel on top. They are convenient to travel with and can be assembled, effortlessly. They are mostly suitable for small-size canvases and sheet pads and are ideal for initial practices. The box when closed serves as a storage for supplies and small-size sketch pads. Above all, they can be quickly put away as soon as you’re needed elsewhere. Brushes and Tool kitAll of us are aware of the amount of time we dedicate to keeping our brushes safe and clean. I had never preserved my paintbrushes in a brush kit, earlier, instead, I always opted for a huge Jar. Jar helped me with ease of access and the only shields which protected them from dust were the brush bristle covers, which I happened to lose every now and then. However, now that I have kids sneaking around my art stuff and running off while secretly hunching over a tightly clenched paintbrush in the hand so that “mama can’t see!”, I put them away in a brush and tool kit as soon as I’m done painting. Kids might even chew on bristles and accidentally swallow. To avoid such harmful consequences it’s essential to take effective measures. The kit comes in multiple sizes and is usually compact and manageable. Disposable paint paletteYes, we are all aware of the effort we put in scooping some moments out of our daily schedule, and dedicating those to making art, scraping the paint palette, and keeping it clean can turn out to be quite another nerve-racking task.Disposable paint palettes have made the cleaning process quicker and uncomplicated. Above all, it doesn’t give me an excuse not to paint. I mostly use waterproof polystyrene foam trays as a palette and dispose of them as soon as paint starts to build up. It’s lightweight and can be placed in any direction( vertically against the wall or rested on the tabletop for convenience without having to worry about paint splotching any of the things around. A shelf or cabinet at a heightInstalling a cabinet or a shelf in an art working space is not as complicated as we consider it might be. At home, when there is little space to work we should consider “walls” as our repository. Installing shelves at a particular height from the floor would allow you to work freely without stressing yourself about kids reaching or grabbing anything that might turn out to be harmful to them. The cup of water used for painting, the wet palette, and knives & brushes filled with paint can immediately be placed on top of the …

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9 ways for artist moms to pick up where they left off

Most of us artist moms settle on a career break once we choose to have kids and decide to raise them with mindfulness and ease. Most of the time we limit ourselves to our homes and schedules that we intently set for our kids to follow. As time goes by, hardly do we realize the extent to which we get accustomed to our comfort zones. We may find ourselves in the middle of cluttered brain activity the moment we decide to hold a brush and start to paint or anything, for me; “I guess the dresser needs to be dusted again”, “maybe a nap is a good idea”, “let’s surf a bit more on what to draw” or ” I promise I’ll sketch only after I’m done watching a movie” and above all “why paint with so many distractions?” was all I struggled with, initially, as I decided to grab a pencil and actually draw after a long career gap. Trust me, nothing has been more challenging than dragging myself out of my comfort zone into initiating my creative journey once again. I followed a few kick-start tips that I would like to share on how to resume an art career after a long break, specifically for artist moms. Here are 9 ways that worked for me, of course, they might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but even so, have a crack at them: Grab a pen and a notebook. Ask yourself 3 questions;” What is my creative focus?, Where do I place my passion on my priority list?, If I pursue my passion would it still make me happy?”, answered? move to the next point. Open up yourself, explore, and list down art careers that interest you. Choose the one that suits you best depending on your present lifestyle. I started off designing home adornments and absolutely loved embellishing mirrors, pottery, cushions, rugs, and vignettes. However, such delicate and focus-oriented work craved more time and space than I could spare later on in life, so, I hopped on to another creative yet manageable domain of visual arts which excites me as much as the one I postponed for a while. It doesn’t have to be a long one. After all these years, it took me 4 art classes to find myself again. I took them on weekends so I had a whole week to practice and re-align my imaginative self. Thanks to a really treasured artist and dear friend of mine Shahnila Rashid(aka Shaila) for her flexible attitude and for giving me the luxury of schedule adjustment just the way I wanted. Get in touch with a friend having similar interests and plan visits to exhibitions and art fairs. Meet other artists and indulge in conversations, do not hesitate to ask questions. I usually prefer to take my kids along as well, mostly to blow the whistle on the world of colors and imagination that their mom belongs to. You can also plan a “painting day” with your friends, have them over to your place, and paint together, the process becomes much more interactive and upbeat. It’s important to write, either in your planner or notebook, and adjust your artwork routine among all the other important tasks of the day. Fix hours or don’t, it totally depends on you. Early morning works best for me or after putting the kids to bed at night. Sometimes, I sketch in the car or even on public transport, it’s actually fun! My husband says” That beam on your face every time you spot a bookshop or an Art shop is unmistakable”, I say, he knows me so well:). There is nothing better than the moment I enter the art shop and reconnect with colorful art accessories. They, undoubtedly, act as motivational boosts. Additionally, I get to meet other artists which help in updating myself with new mediums and trends. Books and tutorials help a lot in enhancing and updating your knowledge about Arts. I Will update you about my favorite artists, books, and tutorials in my posts to come. Get hold of a sketchbook as small as size A5 and carry it in your bag along with a sketch pencil. You can sketch on the go, in a waiting area, cafe, or in the kitchen, while kids are busy playing indoors/outdoors, all in all anyplace that you choose to go at any time of the day. It’s all about convincing oneself in developing a habit. Worse enemy. Indeed. Avoid delaying projects otherwise, you’ll feel stagnant and ultimately demotivated, and you wouldn’t want that, right? for after all the effort you have put in you need a regular driving force. Steadiness and consistency is the key, keep a hold of them. It may seem like a no-brainer to someone who has a benefit of 7 to 8 hours to sit, relax, walk around, surf, plan a day out with friends, and peacefully wait for the perfect moment of inspiration to kick in and grab a brush to start painting. Yes, we all have been there, something we miss a lot and now value with all one’s hearts.  But then again, we have moved forward into the world of motherhood with “multitasking” as a hand-me-down gift of womanhood, I believe we can, undeniably, bring about our dreams one baby step at a time. Rabia Adnan Artistwww.biazartstudio.com

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