Expectations of Greatness

Yesterday I saw a piece of art by young artist Gianna Oms-Rosell, which stirred up some childhood feelings, not because of the subject, but the comments posted to the picture. I've always enjoyed a high level of praise, which I'm sure encouraged me to draw, but looking back now, it didn't encourage more quality even though I knew I could do better.

Should family and friends provide generic positive praises to such levels that the artist either blindly accepts them or thinks they're not being honest? Today children's art lessons in art critique are using the "golden rule", the "platinum rule", and even the "double platinum rule" to avoid hurting anyone's feelings. We're so concerned with making sure the child feels special and unique that we've totally restricting their ability to grow and become successful. We now have an entire generation that has a sense of entitlement that was nurtured with constant praise and little criticism. A generation that is beginning to shatter under the pressures of older generations and the realities of an imperfect world.

I'm not saying we should criticize our children's artwork in a negative and unproductive way. We need to be honest, educated about the work and continue to reinforce the positive aspects of their art. Criticism is highly feared, which is why I think it is avoided like the bubonic plague. Instead of avoiding criticism as if it doesn't exist, parents need to help children accept it as just another opinion.  If parents and teachers continue to avoid teaching critique, children will eventually encounter it and be knocked off their pedestals.  Dr. Bruce Cline the chair of the Photography Department at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio says, "The critique is the primary vehicle through which students get feedback on their work. Improvement in image making is almost always based upon the reactions we get from others after they look at and consider our work. Few of us could survive in the art world if we lived in a critical vacuum. We gain an important kind of objectivity in relation to our work when we listen to what others have to say about it." 

I randomly picked four artists to see if critique helped them succeed. Vincent, Pablo, Salvador and Edgar become very successful and only one dies poor, by choice. Under close inspection one finds a similarity between all four, something that isn't very well known and sometimes overlooked. All four had an influence at home that created an expectation of greatness. They had an artistic friend or family member that provided guidance. Guidance, not constant praise is what created their greatness.

Vincent had a sculptor and 4 art dealers in his family and initially worked as an art dealer himself. Even though he was always mentally troubled and had strong negative opinions about art as a commodity, he was still guided by many family members to take up painting. In contrast Pablo was different because his father was a fine arts professor and directly guided Pablo. Many people have criticized and praised Pablo's work over the years, but it didn't affect him because, from a young age, he didn't fear it. Salvador like Pablo was also encourage by his father to take lessons and he was also responsible for Salvador's first exhibit of charcoal drawings. Finally, we have Edgar, a wealthy child with a banker for a father, which many thought was critical of his son's artistic career. The reality is that his father was the one that encouraged him to enter art school and had already laid the foundation through his own love of music and art.

These 4 artist became great because they didn't fear criticism. These 4 artist became, Van Gogh, Picasso, Dali, and Degas because a family member, not only believed in them, but guided them to greatness at a young age.