Is it ok to give a sketch artist feedback if something looks off?

[Vargaman]

Hi all,

So I was wondering, since we have some artists on the forum, would you (as an artist) appreciate if someone gave honest feedback?

For example, I know we've all seen some crazy detailed sketches of faces, but maybe the eyes are just off or the face is too long for the subject and you notice a pattern of it. But it's like other than one small feature everything looks amazing, but it's just glaring and stands out.

Should you say something to the artist in a positive, constructive way? Perhaps they don't see it, or no one has ever said something so they keep doing it? It's kind of like telling someone there's something in their teeth. It's awkward to do, but most of the time they'd thank you.

I have an example in mind, but don't want to post yet since I'd like some feedback first before sharing the sketch.

[FAKadar]

If you have nothing nice to say then don't say anything at all.

[Vargaman]

Originally Posted by FAKadar

If you have nothing nice to say then don't say anything at all.

Well it's not that it's all negative, but let's say it's a Penix quality sketch for example, but then make the eyes look weird in scale or something, but you see a pattern of it for an artist. Maybe eyes are their weak spot? But if they get constructive feedback, like how everything else is awesome, maybe they can work on it for next time, right?

I'm not an artist, so I can't say how i'd take it, but I know how hard it is to draw.

[FAKadar]

Originally Posted by Vargaman

Well it's not that it's all negative, but let's say it's a Penix quality sketch for example, but then make the eyes look weird in scale or something, but you see a pattern of it for an artist. Maybe eyes are their weak spot? But if they get constructive feedback, like how everything else is awesome, maybe they can work on it for next time, right?

I'm not an artist, so I can't say how i'd take it, but I know how hard it is to draw.

You said it yourself, you're not an artist.

[Deathgate]

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable doing that. Unless it was a glaring mistake in a commissioned sketch (AFAIK, this character doesn't have three arms... or something along those lines) I just enjoy the art as is.

[HiltonL]

"praise in public, criticize in private"

I've known/seen/read about many cases where artists are so wrapped up in their own little world that trying to engage them in conversation is a useless task. A lot of the time though, if you have something to point out, they will listen.

The whole "you are not an artist, shut up" is overly defensive and not helpful at all.

[jrosales]

As long as it's constructive, it's fine and I'm more than happy to try to fix it. And by 'constructive', I'm talking about pointing out specific things that might be a little off without berating me. Sometimes, us artists get into a zone where we might unintentionally replicate certain features of a subject without thinking, and subconsciously draw them onto another subject who may not have those exact features (i.e. replicating one nose style on another card where the subject may have a different type of nose).

However, I've had a few customers just flat-out say things like, "...the eyes are off...he looks bad...I don't like the sketch card", and that type of feedback is not only rude, but it offers no further insight into why the artwork is off, and it makes me never want to work that that customer again. Granted, this has been a very rare thing for me, but it's happened.

I recently had a customer give me an offensive review of a piece I did for him (which happened to be a free piece as an apology for taking long to finish commissions that were paid for up-front). The fact that I went out of my way to make it a free piece, only to have him offer up an 'I don't like it' comment instead of constructive criticism, rubbed me the wrong way.

[Vargaman]

Originally Posted by jrosales

As long as it's constructive, it's fine and I'm more than happy to try to fix it. And by 'constructive', I'm talking about pointing out specific things that might be a little off without berating me. Sometimes, us artists get into a zone where we might unintentionally replicate certain features of a subject without thinking, and subconsciously draw them onto another subject who may not have those exact features (i.e. replicating one nose style on another card where the subject may have a different type of nose).

However, I've had a few customers just flat-out say things like, "...the eyes are off...he looks bad...I don't like the sketch card", and that type of feedback is not only rude, but it offers no further insight into why the artwork is off, and it makes me never want to work that that customer again. Granted, this has been a very rare thing for me, but it's happened.

I recently had a customer give me an offensive review of a piece I did for him (which happened to be a free piece as an apology for taking long to finish commissions that were paid for up-front). The fact that I went out of my way to make it a free piece, only to have him offer up an 'I don't like it' comment instead of constructive criticism, rubbed me the wrong way.

Which is what I meant, giving specifics and not generalizing or saying the whole thing is bad.

I'm talking specifically about one part of it that just kinda takes away from the look.

I'd rarely say something is garbage, except in the case of a clear 2 second pencil sketch like those Indiana Jones monkeys everyone seemed to get stuck with.

[dd316]

I don't know that I would post it publicly.

[Tim]

Originally Posted by jrosales

As long as it's constructive, it's fine and I'm more than happy to try to fix it. And by 'constructive', I'm talking about pointing out specific things that might be a little off without berating me. Sometimes, us artists get into a zone where we might unintentionally replicate certain features of a subject without thinking, and subconsciously draw them onto another subject who may not have those exact features (i.e. replicating one nose style on another card where the subject may have a different type of nose).

However, I've had a few customers just flat-out say things like, "...the eyes are off...he looks bad...I don't like the sketch card", and that type of feedback is not only rude, but it offers no further insight into why the artwork is off, and it makes me never want to work that that customer again. Granted, this has been a very rare thing for me, but it's happened.

I recently had a customer give me an offensive review of a piece I did for him (which happened to be a free piece as an apology for taking long to finish commissions that were paid for up-front). The fact that I went out of my way to make it a free piece, only to have him offer up an 'I don't like it' comment instead of constructive criticism, rubbed me the wrong way.

Wow that last example is beyond rude and ungrateful. Regarding the part in bold though, maybe give that person the benefit of the doubt and try to extract from the customer what he/she didn't like - ask him/her leading questions. The customer may just need you to ask the right questions for you to gain constructive feedback. Now if he/she responds with something like "I just don't like it - that's all" then you move on. But I don't think I'd dismiss that person as "rude" based on just those comments.

[Vargaman]

For context, here's the one I saw, which I think you can guess what sticks out about it, my coworkers who love star wars too saw the same thing, minor but evident on each one.

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[Nicnac]

Correct answer: depends on the artist.

[Super J]

the sketches look nice... I'm guessing the upper lip is the flaw???

[Vargaman]

Originally Posted by Super J

the sketches look nice... I'm guessing the upper lip is the flaw???

More so the noses, Leia's is very bulbous and Ford's looks like Butthead, but the rest of the face and sketch looks amazing!

But yeah I see the lips now too a bit.

[Cavaliercards]

Faces look Cartoonish to me

[Tim]

this thread is getting ridiculous

[Vargaman]

But I'm again saying in general, let's not pile on the above example.

I've seen plenty of other faces with similar kinds of small details that if changed would look perfect.

[Chuck Bartowski]

To me if you're commissioning an artist for a piece and you feel something is off you need to tell them even if you're not sure what exactly it is. You have to be happy with what you are buying.

[moistpaper]

it just looks stylized to me. A lot of the painted film posters for the original trilogy for example featured portraits that looked nothing like the actors.

[6102stuff]

My suggestion is to point out to the artist what you don't like specifically, then "politely" ask the artist to "improve" or "touch up IF POSSIBLE", AND most importantly, offer the artist incentive... $10-$20 extra can sometimes go a long way for an average $50-$100 sketch...

[insanepjc]

Originally Posted by Vargaman

More so the noses, Leia's is very bulbous and Ford's looks like Butthead, but the rest of the face and sketch looks amazing!

But yeah I see the lips now too a bit.

#nofilter

[FAKadar]

Originally Posted by Vargaman

More so the noses, Leia's is very bulbous and Ford's looks like Butthead, but the rest of the face and sketch looks amazing!

But yeah I see the lips now too a bit.

Sounds like you know better, maybe you can draw something better than the artist?

[FAKadar]

Unless you're an art director or a client, you don't give unwanted feedback to an artist. If you continue to do it and publicly, you're just being a dick.

[jamesr]

My own view would be :

- if it's a commission, by all means feedback your thoughts in a constructive way
- if it's stuff on eBay / Facebook, I would ONLY ever present any feedback IN PRIVATE and ONLY if the artist had specifically solicited feedback ... again keeping it constructive

More broad feedback is more OK in public, IMHO - like "I love your stuff but I wish you'd do more scenes / more Wookiees / etc"

I must say I've become more discerning about my card purchases where I probably start to get very picky ... with the amount of good stuff out there I have had to do this to stop me trying to buy everything (lol). And I must say some cards look great at first and as I scrutinise it more, I sometimes put myself off it due to an eye, or a lip, or a nose not being quite right. Depends on the style obviously, some artists' styles are a bit more abstract where "accuracy / photo realism" is not the point at all.

On the other hand - when artists get it spot on, it adds an amazing appeal to me, and I have paid a higher price to acquire the card. One or two in particular that I bought recently I have marvelled over how flawless and lifelike the eyes are in particular (I'm no expert but I imagine eyes must be one of the hardest things to get right). Even under heavy zoom they look absolutely exquisite ... it's that sort of "wow" that makes that card so very special.

[Bigeazy78]

To quote George Takei:

Words can hurt, even when they are said with good intentions.