Constructive feedback on LO's

I would, as long as I know you're looking for it. I wouldn't ever say that without "permission" I guess.

Our craft is so so personal, and so so subjective, it's sometimes hard to know what to suggest. In turn, you have to be able to weed through the suggestions and determine what you truly like or don't like about them, not just take everything someone says... again, because it's such a personal craft/art...

 

I do not think I would be at all comfortable if we started providing "constructive" feedback at the Lilypad,even by choice of individual members. Constructive feedback is too much a Pandora's box.

The Lilypad is supportive and positive, always. We have plenty of workshops if you want technique and anyone and everyone will jump right in to answer any questions... There is lots of very constructive information available..

I do not think critiques are happy path to go down. We have so many different cultures and personalities which we manage to mesh so positively. What might seem constructive to me might be too direct or even insulting to someone else.

 

Hmmm, I'm not sure of a forum any set aside for constructive criticism would work well. I am one that prefers love over criticism. I'll take the spelling problem messages I get (ha ha) over any sort of criticism. Criticism sounds like work and not much fun. Asking for help on a certain technique, or way to do things for a specific layout might work better. You could even shout out to certain scrapper asking how they did something that you loved. Then try out all the answers and see what you like. You might still prefer your original way!

Asking about a certain technique has been done before in the forums, I remember Erin's (chickypow) forum post about shadows and her asking about a specific layout.

Constructive criticism is so hard. You don't want to hurt people's feelings, especially about something they created, and I think many times, even knowing ahead of time, any sort of criticism still has the ability to hurt or be taken the wrong way.

 

Maybe there would be someone who would be willing to do it and do it through PM. Then you don't end up with lots of people's comments. Is there someone whose style you really like? Maybe you could ask about a specific layout. Or ask about specific things you might have done different -- shadows, placement etc.
I understand what you mean and what everyone else is saying so I think it's a great idea but maybe not in a forum. I know I've asked a few time in PM so it helps.

 

I think instead of cc, you can put up two different choices, Mrs Peel will do that and darn if I love them both, but seeing different ways to create the same memory. I think learning a technique (class as in summer school) is the best forum for learning. I would cry if someone said, you should have done b or c instead...lol, curl up in a ball lol (not really) but close...lol

 

@carilyne, good idea.

 

I would love to, but I guess sometimes we need a bit more than "I need feedback". Maybe when you asked in a specific page you could mention, what "is not working" for you on the page, that gives an idea of what you like or don't like about your page. Does it make sense? It could be that the way that you did your title is your favorite part for whatever reason and maybe it is not something I would do. I would hate to make you feel like something about your page that you love and adore is not just perfectly right for you (just because is not perfect for me). I am sorry if I am rambling, I am just thinking and typing as fast as I can before I burn dinner.

 

i'm all for constructive criticism personally but i tend not to give it where it's not invited b/c scrapping is a variable mix of art and science.

IMHO Art kind of doesn't have to make sense to anyone but the artist, and unless we specify (and usually it's in speed scrap, for me anyway ) we only post pages we are totally happy with. Saying 'maybe using a different colour scheme here to better suit your photos' is not something I'd be inclined to post as a comment because to me, the artist of that page made an artistic choice that while it doesn't appeal to me, i believe from them posting the page, that it appealed to them, and that's the main thing.

My scrapping leans more towards science: i will sit there and agonise over whether a shadow opacity should be say 39 or 40 beacuse i want the shadows to look 'real'; i want the elements and paper i use to look real, so it effects what i buy & use (not usually problem here at TLP ); if there's paint over two different layers i'll try to make it look as such etc... And I'm fine with anyone calling me out on 'hey this bit doesn't look right' and 'maybe you could do this to make it look more real', but i know not everyone's like that.

From a 'science' point of view and an art point of view & what I've seen in the gallery, you're doing a great job, as is, @Vrielinkie

 

Here is another way that I have been using to grow my style -- Look through the gallery at the pages with Likes that you also like. Think about what attracts you to the page. Then read the comments and see what people liked about the page. Is it what you liked about the page? Then note those ideas and try them on your page.

 

What @BevG said. I bookmark pages I really like and once I get 10 or more saved up, I go study them and try to figure out what is it I like so much. Seeing several at once helps me id trends (like realistic or blending). I also save LO's that just don't feel right into a temp folder called Redo. Every few weeks or so, I revisit the pages and sometimes, I am able to tweak one into a ok. Usually, I end up starting from scratch and use something I learned from the LO study. Good luck! And I'd pm someone whose work I really enjoyed. They will at least be able to list off the things they like best, lol.

 

I love the idea of constructive criticism (although I do agree that just offering it unasked probably wouldn't go over well). I definitely think that getting specific answers is much better than just browsing galleries and considering what you like and what you don't like. Because you just don't always understand what you like. It's only once you get into the habit of deconstructing something that you can start to see the parts from the whole.

As for someone getting their feelings hurt... Well, I'm a very sensitive person, and I get my feelings hurt all the time. It hasn't been the end of me yet. Weren't all the scrapbookers all over Brené Brown a while back? Didn't she say that vulnerability is the key to everything?

 

@Vrielinkie I would be happy to take a look at any of your layouts. Your gallery is gorgeous BTW! (Yes, I stalked LOL).

I'm not an expert, but if there's something that you want to learn, I'll be more than happy to help out if I can!

 

I really appreciate everyone's thoughtful responses about constructive criticism, both the best ways to give it and how you are able to receive. I think CC, when it's solicited and wanted, can be an amazing way to grow as scrapper. Back in the day, I used scrap with my friends on that old chat/screenshare program called Hello. (Anyone remember that?!) It was a great way to get feedback on in progress pages. However, I also received some unsolicited criticism on a page once at DST and it really stung! So, I can appreciate both sides of the issue.

We've discussed the idea of a separate CC forum with some clear guidelines in the past. Perhaps even making it private so you have to intentionally want to join and can't just stumble into it. This also has the added benefit of making it invisible for those who are absolutely not comfortable with it.

I would love for us to make this decision as a community, so I welcome any additional feedback or thoughts you might have about such a forum.

 

I agree re art and scrapping being very personal... You can see by most people and the designer kits they choose as the designers are different. I try to say when I comment on a page what I like about it... Example the clustering or the splatters or the composition, the white space the journaling etc. what I see that speaks to me. Each person has a style so that is very difficult with cc and also the ability of possibly hurting someone's feelings. I like looking at the layouts and if I see something on a page I like but don't know how to do the same thing I ask . If I don't understand a technique someone is using I ask.. This is how I learn. The curve for all us different . I agree with what Anne said re comparison of 2 pages which looks better.. We are here to help encourage & praise. While cc is being asked it would be difficult to give as that is the interpreters impression and there really is no one answer either.

I say if you like the way someone shadows something, pm that person and ask them how they did it or mAybe we can do a thread that way... Post the page you see and ask the creator how they did it so we all learn together!

 

Love the idea of a private area for it, since the comments to one person could be misconstrued so easily by someone else, and because others are uncomfortable with the idea at all.

I think we could come up with a different name for it... "learning with love" or "finding feedback" or something other than criticism.

I feel it might be a good idea to have a "rule" to list specifically what you're looking for feedback on, so as not to speak to the wrong thing, as Dalis explained. Perhaps list what you've already done or tried, and what you are aiming for. That tends to fall to learning, or help with a specific tutorial sometimes, but knowing what a person is trying to improve specifically is easier to provide insight to.

 

My two cents: I think of someone ASKS for feedback, they need to realize that what they hear back may not be 100% positive. That's the purpose of our gallery - to leave love and tell folks what we like about their page. If you are truly interested in growing as a scrapper, particularly if you're wanting to try a new style or technique, you understand that there is a learning curve to everything and it takes time, patience and feedback to get good at any craft. I wish there had been somewhere I was comfortable asking for feedback as a new scrapper. I look back on my early pages and I wish someone, ANYONE had been brave enough to mention to me that there's this thing called dropshadows ... Thankfully I met a wonderful scrap friend named @Keela who I was able to bounce ideas off of and who helped me grow as a scrapper. So, done right, I think an area for feedback can be a good thing!

 

When done well, constructive criticism builds people up, doesn't tear them down. I think it is important to remember that whether you are giving or receiving it