Thick Skin

Dennis Overbye, in his book Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos wrote, “The reward for a new idea is not applause but argument from people who take you seriously enough to try to destroy you.”  There’s a lot of competition in science. (Apparently a lot of animosity too).

Part of the process of teaching art is the formal critique.

Here’s the thing about critiques. Any critical comment about your work that makes you uncomfortable, anxious, or wince internally is something you already know. You probably just didn’t want to hear it or admit it to yourself, but there it is. Someone went and said it out loud.

 Rhinoceros skin. I’m pretty sure the slings and arrows of outrageous critiques 

would bounce off this stuff.

Elbert Hubbard* said, “The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.”

So here’s the other thing. It’s important to do good work, to develop a strong sense of who you are, how your work is made, and what your work is about so that when criticism does come, you can respond from a position of strength and calm rather than react from doubt and uncertainty.  And remember when others are critiquing your work, regardless of what position they may hold in the art world, they are most often talking about themselves.

Alligator skin. This one would likely bite back.

Elephant skin. The Elephant represents strength and steadfastness. 
Pretty handy in a critique.

*Elbert Hubbard also said, “To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” 

Thanks Elbert. I guess that’s a pretty good defense against criticism too.