Critiques





	Click on the images to see the sample critique
	Basic Information I use the software program Adobe Photoshop, along with scanned and digital images, to help me plan my paintings. The computer is a very useful tool for such things as composition, color, and layouts. Compared with my old ways of working, the computer is much faster and better. My workshop artists sometimes send me photographs of their work asking my opinion. I have found that I can make suggestions and changes on the computer. This new image really helps illustrate the ideas that I am trying to communicate. I use this technique for correcting and experimenting on my own paintings. The responses that I have been receiving make me think this could be a valuable tool to help others through the Internet. I want to make this an affordable and more importantly, a helpful opportunity. I will do my best to be prompt and get my comments back to you as soon as possible. The cost of this On-line Critique of your work is $25.00 (U.S. funds.) Payment can be made by sending a personal check, cashier's check, or by using a credit card (Visa or MasterCard.) If you use a credit card, for security, do not email your card number, please call me (231.258.4724) with the card number. Please read the information regarding image formats and sizes below, before sending your art image. You can Email your image to Sharing these critiques would be good, so we can all learn from them. However, these on-line critiques are private and will not be available for viewing on my website unless permission is granted by the artist. The artist may grant permission to display the image anonymously, or if preferred, I will give the artist's name and other information, such as address, phone, email, website. All rights to the images belong to the artist that created them. Please respect their rights!
	Image formats and sizes that should be used when sending for a critique: Keep the total file/image size to 1 megabyte or less. I live in the country and have old phone lines, with no access to cable modems or DSL. Consequently, the downloading time is slow for me and large files can tie up my computer and phone line for hours! The jpeg (.jpg) format works well and is preferred, but I can use bitmaps (.bmp), .tiff, .gif or any Photoshop format. If you keep your image to around 8"x10" with a resolution of 72 dpi to 150 dpi, you should have a file under 1 megabyte. You can adjust either the size, resolution, or both to achieve the desired file size.
	My Opinion - for what it is worth! Before doing critiques at my workshops, I always tell the artists to keep in mind that what I say is only my opinion. Sure, it is based on my experience of 35 years as a professional artist, but that does not make it right. There are some basic guidelines for constructing a good painting, but beyond that the rules get stretched, bent, and broken. Each artist has to listen and think about the comments made about their work and then carefully consider what was said. Then, they can decide if the comments are valid. Hopefully, there is something of value that they can use to build and improve their artwork. Constructive criticism can be very helpful and we can all learn from helping each other. I don't know what makes a perfect painting, but I know I haven't made one! Improving and learning is part of the "fun" of being an artist.

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