http://www.mahoodsculpture.com/other-peoples-sculptures/
What are some ways you can helpfully and positively critique a gifted model with depth and feeling?
I’ve been an artist for many years now and I’ve loved working with live forms in art pieces, whether drawing, sculpture, or most recently, artistic/fashion photography.
I’ve been blessed with various friendships over the years with truly stunning and gifted models who really inspire me, but I’ve never managed to come up with words beyond “beautiful, stunning, inspiring,” etc. to share feedback and my appreciation, and to help inspire my friends.
It’s always been a little music in the background, me asking them to find a feeling and really let it loose, some time working, and then that fun and magical moment where the two of you go over the pieces.
I’d like to get something more of the moment while we’re creating and to be able to critique not just mine, but other people’s work in depth and particularly the work a model puts in.
Having worked as a model and now as an artist I can say that in my opinion anything as gushy or emotional as what you’ve already said would freak me out or mean little.
“Beautiful, stunning, inspiring” while genuine, don’t convey a lot of meaning. They pretty much just convey a sense of feeling or emotion. Most people can get emotional over anything, so it doesn’t give a model much to go on.
Tell them what compositions were possible because of their understanding of their body, innovations in pose, or particular expression. Take a critical look at what makes the image work, and then ask yourself what parts of that were your decision and what parts were theirs. Compliment them on their decisions and also on the points where they complied well with your direction.
Tell them, if they’re friends, what you think the photograph expresses or captures. They may be interested. Most of all, just tell them that artwork created from live models is a collaboration, and their work is as important as yours. That means a lot.
It’s always nice to know what exactly you’re doing well, and to know that the person you’re working with is watching for critical detail. Thinking about it will help you too.
Dinosaurs & Dragons Sculpture & Sketches: Cortmeister262