Critiques

I feel like critiques are important not just for the artist receiving them but to the person giving them. Critiquing some one's art forces you to think about your own, to notice the little details that set a piece apart. Understanding what you do and don't like and most importantly why is how you get better!

But giving a good crit is hard! You want to be nice (hopefully) but you also need to point out some thing that is wrong or at least not as good as it could be to some one who put a part of their soul out on, in this case, the internet. A thing that in its' self can be painful.

I've found the best way for me to give a crit is to follow a formula.
You start with a very basic over view of what you like: "I love the colors and the way you have such and such"   
Then you mention something you would change or some thing you think could be done better: "I'm not so sure about the blah, I think maybe it would be easier to see/ notice/ ect. if...."
And now go back to what you really like, what makes this piece unique and awesome. Try to go in to depth here. "My favorite part is the way you *what ever* the *thingy*. It really makes the *thingy* stand out to me. I also love the *mer bobber* because.

Remember part of a crit is saying why you like something!

So go forth and be kind! If nothing else do it in your head for practice.

It's worth noting that any of my art is up for critique, just remember the rule: basic what you like, what you think could be better, in depth what you like.