PE: Finding Critique on dA

Where to find Critique on deviantART?

So, you just uploaded your latest image/writing onto deviantART and featured it in your gallery with a slight satisfaction you have achieved something. Fantastic, that is step one and now you can sit back and watch everyone's responses come pouring in and showing you everything you need to do to make your work even more fabulous.

If only?

The fact is; getting someone to critique your work isn't as easy as that. If you want critique, you need to seek critique and put in the good effort to get it. It won't always work, no plan is fool proof, but here are some places and advice that could help you find the feedback you desire. Not every place on this list will be your cup of tea, but try and see what works for you.

Step one: Make sure people know you want a critique!

If you are a subscriber, make use of the critique function that deviantART provides. You can do this my selecting "Request Critiques" when submitting any piece of art.  For more information check out:

FAQ #95: What is the Critique Feature and how do I use it?

If you are not a subscriber, this doesn't matter. You can still use your "Artists comments" to make it clear you are requesting critique on the piece. Perhaps if there are particular aspects of your work you would like focus on ask some questions about it. Questions encourage interaction and hopefully people will respond.

Networking

Nobody can join deviantART and expect to have hundreds of people watching them within 2 days of joining unless you are a very fortunate or well known/amazing artist. Even the good artists can lie hidden for years before they are unleashed. Despite the up turned noses people give when we utter the phrase "social network", in all honesty there are elements of social networking on deviantART and you need to make the most of this network to not just find and appreciate fellow artists, but find and locate those who will be willing to offer you critique too.

Networking can be done simply through the powers of communication. Check out all the avenues, don't just hope for drifters, but seek artists out who perhaps have the same interests as you. Remember it's not just about finding someone who is going to view your work- treat others how you want to be treated.

FAQ #56: How can I get noticed on this site?

Joining Critique groups

Since groups launched 2 years ago, it has changed the way we share our work (even more so now with social networking buttons to share). It opened up the opportunity to extend your artistic tree, branching out beyond your own watchers and expose the roots of your work. There are hundreds of groups that offer critique as part of their service, or completely dedicated to critique.

Remember the golden rule for groups is to ALWAYS ALWAYS READ THE FAQ. There are so many groups that may all seem the same but operate in very different ways. It is so important you understand how the group works before you submit your piece for critique.

Don't dump your whole gallery into a group all in one go. Be realistic about your critique needs- are you really going to re-do 10 pieces at once? The critique you get on one piece could be just as valuable to consider against your other pieces.

Most groups expect participation, make sure you do your best to get involved!
For a full list of groups, check out the :devgroups: portal and use the search to find groups that would you're your needs. To get you started, here are some of the groups mentioned by fellow deviants from the Critique Survey:

Chat events and chat rooms

If you have never ventured on dAmn before, it can always be a little daunting. Chat is a volatile place and you need to remember to come in with the right mindset and remember that not everyone there is going to offer you sugary sweetness. Take chat with a pinch of salt, but if you really want a critique, this is a good place to try.

For general chatting there is always in   #devart & in   #communityrelations, but if you want critique it would benefit you more venturing elsewhere. It is however a great place to meet other people as discussed in the networking segment of this article.

#thumbshare is a key room for sharing your artwork, but it is important to note that there are people who just use this chat to throw thumbs up there in hope for comments, favourites and complements just as much as critique, so be clear what you want. Remember not to just go in there and spam with your thumbnails; talk to others and pay attention to their work also. Don't be afraid to offer critique and comment or suggest an exchange of critiques.

If you are looking for more specific art forms, these chats exist also. For the writers amongst us there is #crliterature , which also hold critique specific events and #writeroom . For photographers there is #photography and #iphotograph . There is also #aposhack for Fracticals and there are more for other art forms too. <a href="chat.deviantart.com Check out the chat index for more details

If you do join any chatroom, make sure you Read the chatroom rules for that room.

If you are unsure of the protocol for asking for critique, don't be afraid to ask 

Keep your eyes out for chat events. thorns does an amazing chat tour for literature and there are usually chats linked to groups. Check out the journal portal to see what events are going on.

Remember, chat is about interaction also. Do not join a room, dump a link to your work and leave expecting someone to look at it for you. Talk to others and get to know them- if you hang around you may get some live feedback.

The forums

The forums are a different kettle of fish from chats; interaction at a slower pace. The advantage with critique on the forums is you can save the comments in your message centre and come back to the comment when you are ready to revise the piece or as advice for future work.
It is important to make sure you are posting in the right forums the right way in order to interact effectively in the forums. Make sure you read the forum rules, usually stickied posts at the top of each form.

The main forum for sharing artwork is the Thumbshare forum. Look out for thread which offer critique as part of the share. Thumbshare is a good way to discover new artists and friends also, so again don't just dump your thumb and run, make sure you interact!

You can also make critique requests on the Art forums, but again make sure your threads are constructive requests. Do also note that the the Literature forum actually has a the Monthly critique thread.

Giving to get

The biggest key for critique is that you need to remember that you get out what you put in. In fact it doesn't always work that way, you may find that for every 10 you give, you may get just one critique. However don't feel disheartened about this; giving critique to others is a great way to learn about your own work. You can draw comparisons and you'll soon find the elements of critique you are pointing out to someone else could easily be applied to your own work.

Discussion #2: Share with us a positive critique experience!

Have you ever attended a critique night in a chat room or got exceptional feedback after submitting to a particular group? Tell us about it!


Project Educate: Critique week articles

Project Educate: Critique Week

Critique Survey