Mark Knapp
Member
I'm a relative beginner at this art form, and speaking from my perspective, I wouldn't want the experts to pull any punches when asking for a critique. Each of the veterans on here have their own style of critique, and people really need to understand that some offer a more gentle and uplifting style, and others have a more abrupt method. Both are valid vehicles to deliver criticism.
Some will tell you what is right, while others will tell you what is wrong. Anybody developing new skills will need to hear both.
I feel compelled to add that some of the beginners in this forum don't take criticism very well. Do you want to be a great engraver some day? You're not going to get there by being told how terrific your effort is. You're going to get there by being told what the heck you're doing wrong, because THAT is the shortest path to excellence.
It doesn't matter what Thierry Dugets first engraving looked like. What matters is that professional engravers are willing to share their input with absolute beginners, and I feel that the beginners should act and comport themselves in a way that shows appreciation for the opportunity to have an audience with some of the best engravers in the world. I would FAR rather have a pro tell me I need to work harder, than to have a supportive bunch of amateurs telling me how delightful my effort is.
What Thierry Dugets did was not constructive OR criticism. What he did served in no way to further my or anyone else' knowledge or abilities. What he did was essentially tell me that I suck and he told another novice that he was too stupid to know that I suck.
I know the difference between constructive criticism and just tearing someone down for no reason. I have a thick enough skin to take comments like that but it just doesn't serve any good purpose. I'm trying to illustrate the difference, because in my opinion there is no need for the insults. No-one should be afraid to show their stuff here, that's one of the biggest problems with social media.
I can drop it and get back to talking about engraving at anytime but as long as people try to tear people down, I will speak out about it. We get the forum we deserve.