u/_beforethewords

When I'm stuck on a piece, we’re mostly taught we need critique.. Someone to tell me what's wrong with it or give an intellectual take. But now i see that what mostly unsticks me is not critique, because critique evaluates. It sorts things into working/not working,

however that is something that is actually opinion and perception based. And so when I’m really stuck, what what i actually need is someone who can actually see what is already here, just noticing and sharing what they see.

things like ‘’this feels heavier than the rest’’, or ‘’you keep coming back into this corner’’, so it bring me back to the things are are already happening, and bring my own attention back to perceiving what is happening right now, so i don’t focus my attention on the idea that something is not working or stuck. which is almost always not true. the only thing that happens in these moments is that i get lost in thinking.

so it’s really bringing ourselves back to attention in the present moment is what it’s mostly about. that kind of looking has moved my work more that any formal feedback crit.

anyone else finds this?

when work feels blocked, the assumption is often thst something in the work is not working. but is that really the case? what if the work is actually not stuck and it is that our perception of something being stuck is the problem? I mean the way of looking at it as stuck ? often I think the work itself doesn't need to get unstuck , it;s not an external thing, but we just have stopped being aware of our own seeing for a moment. in some situations (most), nothing in the work needs to change. what do you think is actually stuck in those moments?

hi everyone, working alone is part of making art. it gives space for things to develop without interruption, but there is also a point where too much isolation can really get to you, and it start to effect our perception.

without exteral reference it can be harder to see what’s actually already in the work, and everything stays internal. and overtime clarity can start to fade without you really noticing it. or do you notice it? i’m curious how anyone else deals with this balance. when is solitude useful or when do you know that’s it too much?

Hi everyone, how has the shift after art school been for you?

In art school there is usually a constant structure around your work like crits and conversations that are quite spontaneous. there is still a sense that your work is being seen and discussed. when you leave art school this disappears suddenly and many fall into this void. Not that people necessarily miss art school itself. More like the conversation i guess. How has it been for you?

Hi everyone,

Artist often look for advice when feeling stuck, like more input and direction. But often the problem doesn't seem to be the lack of info. It seems to be mostly that artists are so close to their work, they don't see it clearly anymore. Or like your mind is spinning and you're thinking too much. In this cases What works best you? Advice or other kinds of suggestions that lead to clarity? (with clarity I mean that you see your own direction again in stead of people giving direction etc.)

So many conversations about advice on technique and career and visibility. Which is totally understandable. But when it comes to looking at you work, (not to judge it, not to label it, not to give advice) but what kind of conversation would actually help your work move forward?