@ K1TesseraEna: Oh, now I see. Sure, it would be worse do what GnuTux says.
But if I do an opinion about a work out of the focused on critique section, What happens? Surely there will be users who will reproach me have opined about a work out of the focused on critique section.
I think everything outside of that section shall be limited to only comments like "That's amazing", "Cool", "Super Cool"...

I'd be up for an unrestrained critique area. Maybe call the section "The Hot Seat" (that's what we used to call the chair by the presentation area in university graphic design class). I don't think you should disallow critique in the regular art sections, but if you want double-barrel critique, you have to post in that section.

Some one might for example post as a comment in the regular art section:
"If you really want to know what I think, post it in The Hot Seat! "

Also, to say that a piece of art is particularly "worthy of The Hot Seat" is a challenge to an already fantastic piece of artwork, to take a step up.

One of the most valuable places to be in the Graphic Design class was the Hot Seat. It was scary, it was thrilling, and it was fun to have all eyes on your work. It's there where you meet real-world opinions, like you do in the field. The rest of the class was organized practice time in comparison. It's also where you learned to give and take critique as well.

Exciting, no? I totally get what K1TesseraEna is wanting. And yes, I think there should be a special section for it, with a warning (which is implied by the name). If you want a light critique (which I do sometimes) post in the Art section. If you've worked ages on something and really want a chance to get unfiltered input on it, it would be awesome to have a place for it where mods don't have to defend feelings as much.

I'm really surprised over many Gimp users answer K1T justified criticism and feedback .
In GimpChat , almost all threads are you asking for feedback and critique on your Gimp works. That's why GimpChat is a living forum. What do you do in a forum if not judge each others project .
It is the best lesson to be criticized by someone who is better at what you are doing.
I agree with K1T and do not understand the critics.

I really do not see a problem in having a focused critique section. The section could be used with all creative processes where in depth feedback is asked for. This need not be just art but also restoration, webgraphics and animations. The way I see it is very much like K1te. There is room for both normal as you were type C@C and a more in depth critique. Why not give a try for a month or two and see if it is really attracting more reasoned , structured comment.

I joined here to learn, not to have my ego stroked
critique away, i won't go off to a corner and pout if someone says something i dont' like..

I do think there is some confusion over whether the Art forum is meant to be section to display artwork or a section where members critique other members' artwork. I've always felt that it was a section to display artwork and whenever someone wanted critique of their artwork, they would specify that in the topic title, or somewhere in the first post.

Our membership is split down the middle. The points made so far, both pro & con, are all valid, making the decision to move forward with a new section, quite the dilemma.

I'm all for a focused critique section.
For me the best way to improve my art work is by listening to the thoughts and comments of others. If someone says the work could look better if I did 'this' and changed 'that' then I'm happy to try out their suggestions. On several occasions the comments of others has already lead to improvements in work that I had considered to be the finished article. But if I don't agree with what's been said then I just ignore it, in a polite way I hope.
We're all different, we all see different things. No one person is right, no one person is wrong, it's this difference that leads to development.

Even the best arts works from the greatest artists of the world receive critique/criticism, although they only expose them in an art gallery without specifying anything about whether they want to or not be criticized...

If users will be able to continue opining freely and respectfully on any work outside from that section, that's fine for me if that section is created.

I think this is a good idea and worth a try, although we might make suggestions on improving an image in the gimp art forum, as it stands I don't think people always do critize as much as they could.

But I think the hardest part people have in mabye giving full critizism of a work is maybe not feeling you are up to their standard of skill and therefore it feels wrong to tell somebody to do x & Y when you yourself are still struggling to achieve w.

I feel we should just keep it the way it is. If you feel you are artistically ahead enough to critique someone let them know. "Hey i did this project for so and so and this is what they wanted, and this is what worked" Simple as that. We don't need a hot seat or a focused critique area. We need people to understand if you post a piece of art expect people to tell you what they feel would look or appear better. Expect critique in everything you do, it's only human to. That is how we learn from others who learned from others who learned from others.

For instance if i wanted critique using Blender i would post work at the Blender website forum and expect it from everyone there that was there before me because i assume they have learned it from someone else there.

Maybe do it on a trial basis as some have suggested then. When life throws you a dilemma, make dilemmonade!

Actually, the Create the section vote side is now winning by a narrow margin. Lol

I personally expect critique when I post, but I don't get nearly as much as I expect, which makes me happy, but also a bit awkward, I know I haven't perfected anything yet people often say I did a wonderful job, or a lovely job. - I love compliments!! But I'd also like to get more critique. Of Course I don't need a section for that, but it might encourage people who look at experts like Griatch and not be as shy to critique. I don't know, I think if you make the section let it be allowed in the normal section too. :>

~

I may not fully understand what started this, because I think I was absent for a few critical days. From what I gather, all this is a reaction to a person leaving over critique.

I have to ask what problem we're trying to solve here. DeviantART has a pretty nifty critique system. But if you browse critiques frequently enough, it's easy to see DA is populated by plenty of people who don't understand what a critique is.

There are plenty of people who think they want critical feedback, but really don't. Having a focused critique section won't stop them from feeling offended when they get what they thought they wanted, but didn't understand.

I think you've got two problems here: You're good at what you do and You're looking for critique from the wrong audience.

As an example, I won't post my photos here for critique, because this isn't a forum for photography. I think you have to ask yourself "Is this an audience whose opinions I care about, or are there more appropriate places to seek critique?" If you think this is the right place, then post your images with a request for critique BUT also include words to describe what you were trying to achieve.

Back to the subject now: I'd turn the question on it's head. Do you want somewhere where you can post where you won't get critique? I'd certainly feel that it's worth having somewhere to simply show-off, i.e. "Hi friends. Here's something I'm proud off, hope you enjoy it"

Kevin

I do not like the idea of a specialized critique forum. Below are my reasons, my counter-suggestion is at the end.

A proper art thread contains a mixed back of responses and opinions about the artwork, it is what makes it interesting and valuable. Censoring genuine feedback in the Art forum will make the threads there pointless. People may fear negative feedback, but look at it the other way: What's the value of praise if you know people are not allowed to post anything else?

Conversely, a specialized critique forum always strikes me as somewhat pretentious in the gfx-forums that have it. Also, it might make people feel obligated to actually deliver more comprehensible feedback than they otherwise would. Which would be great if the end result is usually that they do not post at all - when they would otherwise had brightened the artist's day with a simple but heartfelt line. Delivering a proper critique is an art in itself, not everyone has the time to do that at every turn. Some also wouldn't feel confident enough in themselves to do so.

Another reason for not having a specialize critique forum has to do with what art to put there. Such a forum easily becomes the realm of "non-finished" work (where "finished" work goes into the Art section). At least for me personally, I don't know how many times I've thought my art was "finished" only to have to go back and redo parts of it after having my eyes opened by good critique! On GimpTalk I've gotten good feedback on art in bumped threads years and years after making it. I don't think I would never feel confident enough to say "noone has anything more useful to say now" and post my work into a non-critique-allowed art section.


In my view, not wanting critique is the exception. I can see cases where not allowing it can be warranted. Cases I've seen are when the artist is in a personally sensitive state or is making some art just to "vent" some real-life issues. In such cases it would be fair to everyone to be able to clearly mark the artwork as a not-open to critique.

In a similar vein as paynekj above, but without going to a full new forum, I suggest a check button when creating new threads in the Art forum. It could for example say "Please do not critique this work". New posters in a thread could be notified of this fact (maybe even by a pop-up) and breaching of this request would be modetated.
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Griatch

PS: I voted "Keep things the way they are" in the poll, but there should really be an "Other - I explain in the thread" option for polls like this.

I Have An Idea!!!!!!

Instead of making a separate forum board, how about making a check off box like in the "Gimp Help" section.

Like a check off box that says, No Critique wanted, or Critique welcomed and it will have the little section on the top that says what the poster wants.

My reason for that is because, not everybody reads a topic, this could be because they don't have time, have trouble with English, or another reason, but if the top has a box that says "I Want To Be Given Critique" or "I do not" they know right away regardless of anything else this person wants something specific from you to either be done, or not done when you post, if you want to post.


Edit:

@ Kevin:

That's the first time I've heard " You have a problem" and "you're good" in the same sentence. xDD