What Defines Art As "good"?

jhonenfreak · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 9:41 am Post subject:

What defines art as "good"? It seems as though many people have different opinions of what is considered good art or bad. Many common principals (rational or irrational) that I've noticed to influence people's decisions include:

[b]-subject matter[/b]
"OMG! I love him! This is the best eva!"
"I hate that show, so I think it's horrible."

[b]-comparison[/b]
"It's better than I could do, so I think it's awesome!"
"Ehh, my art is way better than that. This sucks."

[b]-style[/b]
"Wow! I think that technique is so original. I've never seen it before! It gives you your own signature style!"
"I've never understood surrealism. This doesn't make any sence to me. It's pretty crappy, imo."

[b]-skill level[/b]
"You really seem to have mastered realism. This portrait looks photorealistic, infact!"
"They're stick people. Anyone could draw that, even 2 year-olds."

[b]-purpose[/b]
"Whoa! I see the meaning behind this! That person is pointing to the north star, and that dude is crouched in a fetal position... it all makes sence! They're trying to express their ambitions and all that crap!"
"Umm... she's just standing there. And why are her arms just kind of streched out like that? Wouldn't it make more sence if they were hanging at her sides?"

[b]-color[/b]
"The colors are just kind of scribbled in. It looks very childish."
"I love the way you used the complimentry colors to shade. It makes the brighter colors stand out more."

[b]-black & white[/b]
"I hate black and white. You should have colored it."
"The use of just dark charcoal on white paper shows the true skill needed to create this image. To think that such a beautiful picture could come from such limited media!"

[b]-perspective[/b]
"The ground is just a line. It's not very inviting to look at, if you ask me."
"You can really see how the road fades off into the distance with the angles you've used and the fact that the distance looks blurrier than the foreground."

[b]-technique[/b]
"There's very little shading, if any. The picture just looks kind of flat."
"The brush strokes you've used really bring this image to life!"

[b]-originality[/b]
"I've seen this same picture like how many times before? You just coppied it from a screencap. Lame."
"Who could have thought that by combing these images you could create a totally new image?! I have to back up just to see the full picture, and close in to look at all the tiny details!"

Now I know I may have missed some, but these are comments that are similar to what we've all seen before. Some make sence, and some are just stupid. Which do you feel show fair reasoning, and which are just biased opinion? Are there any that you may be guilty of yourself?
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sephiroth_partner · Member Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 47

Because every taste are different, I can't say that everything is true or everyting is false. Even bad comments are good, it let to chance to improve ourselves... but yeah, in other cases, I think that say bad things on a pictures or whatever, it's not always a very good thing... If something tell me : you don't put the shadow to the good place !!! I think I will be a little mad because this person surely not appreciate what is well in the drawing. EVERYBODY WHO PUTS EFFORT IN HIS PICTURES SHOULD HAVE GOOD COMMENTS and not the inverse... that's my opinion.

ThaKakarot · Oldbie Joined: 18 Mar 2005 Posts: 2246

i think they all count... well besides the "subject matter" one :P

but all tastes are different...

jhonenfreak · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:29 pm Post subject:

Of course it takes effort to draw something... even a squiggle may it be, but that doesn't mean the image may be something other's would consider spending their time viewing. Often comments giving tips or suggestions are made only to help the artist improve, not to be mean. I would much rather get a comment saying. "You may want to tweak this or fine-tune that." rather than a comment saying, "Awesome! That is so kawaii! I love that character." If you're an artist you have to learn how to take critizism or you may never improve.

[quote]I can't say that everything is true or everyting is false. Even bad comments are good... ...I think that say bad things on a pictures or whatever, it's not a very good thing[/quote]

That was confusing. Care to elaborate without being so vauge? :huh:
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Stratadrake · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:28 pm Post subject:

For me, it's a mixture of:

- Subject matter: Anime = the yuck. Give me some Fantasy any day.
- Originality: I've started using the term "half-and-half physiology" when describing mermaids, gryphons, etc. I more highly value those who take the roads less travelled.
- Skill level: Because the more, the better :)

Which, if I were to combine them into a single term, I'd have to call it "[b]artist perspective[/b]".
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OMNI-X · Very bored Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Posts: 141

It's that whole [i]"eye of the beholder" or "one man's trash is another man's gold mine"[/i] bit.

I don't really think how good art looks, can be defined.

Also, you can't really critique someone's work if you're already working on 'pre-defined' or biased standards.

Let me use Strata's:

[quote]Subject matter: Anime = the yuck. Give me some Fantasy any day[/quote]

statement as an example.

If your style is anime, or has some little anime influence to it, how can you expect someone with that kind of pre-defined standard, to give your work and objective critique?

Just my 2 cents.

Stratadrake · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:45 am Post subject:

[quote]If your style is anime, or has some little anime influence to it, how can you expect someone with that kind of pre-defined standard, to give your work and objective critique?[/quote]
Call it a grudge if you want Razz

There's still room for the occasional exception, but in general, I don't like anime. Too many otakus....
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Fayore · Moderator Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 6195

No! Not that dreaded word! =_= I despise use of the word "otaku" because anyone who thinks they're one is on the far side of "retarded". =_= So I just cand't stand it in use anywhere, especially if it's not in a japanese context. '~'

I think that people'll always be biased towards [i]something[/i], although even if someone's biased against something, they can still give a good critique. Although that's not often and the critique is likely influenced at least a [i]little[/i] bit...

I don't mind any sort of art. What really interests me is contemporary "street" art because I'm more conservative when it comes to my own work. ^^;

Anyway, those quotes you mentioned, Amy... Gah. Some of them are nice and show intelligence, but... Several of them are silly, with no actual thought put into the comment. :/ Like the issue on colouring... For [b]every[/b] b/w I've done, there's always [i]someone[/i] who says, "This would look better coloured." It drives me off the deep end. =_=; (That's also one of the reasons why I don't submit art that often, 'cause it's usually either a defined sketch or inked art that I've done, and I really don't need to hear someone complain about its lack of colour. Especially if it's as elaborate as my dragons; there's so much detail already that I can't possibly colour it and keep all the shading and whatnot I've done in ink.)

[i]"The colors are just kind of scribbled in. It looks very childish."[/i]

... Oh, I hate that. Sometimes I'll colour something a little messily to give it a "sketchy" effect (or an effect that makes the subject look "faster", if it's in a motion pose), and there's always someone who complains about my not keeping in the lines. Please, people. We're not in elementary school anymore. Neutral

Or at least I'm not. ._.;
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Brianhjh · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 2:51 am Post subject:

I look at the profile and think,

hm... what is the chance of her favoritizing me once she notices my presence through comments?

hm.... how many people visit her profile and see my name, and then visit my section that way?

and then I start commenting, usually combining the two words:

Kawaii

and

Huggles*
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Fayore · Moderator Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 6195

[quote="Brianhjh (Saint Arsenic)"]
and then I start commenting, usually combining the two words:

Kawaii

and

Huggles* [/quote]
Sorry. I'm going to have to beat you with a stick. Razz

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TorturedSoul · Newb Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Posts: 8

I think, there is no bad or good art.People just have different styles. ^_^ You just draw how you feel~

River_Phoenix · Very bored Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 135

I consider Kouga Yun (manga artist) 's art good ^_^ (good=FRIKKEN AMAZING)

1_4lvl · Member Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Posts: 87

For me.. It's a combination off all...

Color really draws me in, but so does an interesting style, technique, or high contrast.

I like the stuff that's different, there has to be something about it that just punches you in the face while screaming "HEY LOOK AT ME!"

It may not be that great, but hey, it gets your attension.

DaBear · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 5:36 am Post subject:

composition, technique, and abilty to express that with whatever medium the person uses. many an expensive tool I read people suggesting others use on this site, and powerful programs for cgers, but if you have limited abilities whats the sence. just to say "oh I use this brand," who cares if all the above is wrong. AH has been using sharpies of various sizes for years and is the best comic inker in the buisness. not to toot my own horn, but my inkins have been praised by too many pros, and I use a little program called MSP and a mouse. its all about from eye. to mind, to hand, to canvas. convey it well and I find that artistic abilty. years of drawing also contributes to finding the proper perspectives and anatomically correct characters. it dosent matter if a peson draws in pencils, paints, cgs, sculps, whatever medium. the piece should show expressiveness and give the feeling that the artist intended....even stick figures can do that. I never cared or even noticed (the stick figure art of cging) pixel art....till I saw some of the productions Amy has produced. makes you rethink!
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