As an artist I do enjoy when people are interested in my work, but there are times when that interest can be a bit annoying. I’m not talking about compliments about my artwork. Those are always welcome. It’s also okay to critique things if it’s done in the right manner. Basically, there is a right way and a wrong way to talk to an artist about her work. Here are some things you should never say to an artist.

1. “What is that supposed to be?”

It’s okay if you don’t understand the image the artist is portraying, especially if that image is abstract. You can ask a question similar to this without sounding so rude. If you’re truly curious about the image, try asking, “What did you have in mind when you were creating this piece?” This makes it sound like you are truly curious about what the artist has created, instead of sounding judgmental. Asking a more open question will give you more insight into the artist's creative process.

2. “Where is the rest of his face?”

Any question like this is just not a good idea, especially if the artist is still working on the piece. First of all, if an artist is actively working on a piece of art, you should know that it is not finished. Most likely, the rest of the face (or whatever) will probably be there when the work is finished. If you’re going to comment on a work of art that is not finished yet, say something along the lines of, “I like where this is going. I can’t wait to see the final result.” Something like that is definitely more accepted by artists than commenting on the fact that the work is not finished. The artist obviously knows that there needs to be more to a face than just an eye. That’s probably one of the biggest pet peeves for artists.

3. “I don’t like this. You should’ve done [insert genius idea here].”

Critiques are okay and in most cases, welcome. An artist always wants to improve. There are ways to go about critiquing though, so you don’t hurt anyone’s feelings. No one likes to hear that what they’ve worked so hard on is terrible. When talking about what an artist could’ve done better, you should always keep your tone in mind. If you want to be really nice about it, give the work a compliment first. There has to be at least one thing you admire. Say something along the lines of, “I really like the colors you chose for this, but the figure could fill the space a bit more.” There are ways you can go about seriously critiquing someone’s work without making them feel bad. The point is, don’t do it in a way that’s hurtful. Especially if you are not an artist yourself, your opinion might not be so welcome. For me, if it’s not another artist who understands the time and effort put into a work, then someone is just saying something bad to hurt my feelings.

4. “I could’ve done that.”

Maybe you really could, but maybe the artist is just starting out. Maybe the work is not even finished. Maybe it’s just a base drawing for another work that is to come. This phrase is just insulting. You don’t know how much work went into the piece. This is especially insulting if you yourself are not an artist, because if you are not, you don’t understand the process. This is just a rude thing to say in any case.

5. “You’re never going to make any money that way.”

There are several ways to say this. When someone says they’re an artist, that’s a statement of pride. If you say something like, “By the way, I’ll take my burger with fries on the side,” you’re not being funny. You’re just being rude. If someone is going to try and make a living from their artwork, who are you to say they can’t do it? A person has to be brave, hardworking, and persistent to truly be an artist. It takes a lot to put yourself and your artwork out into the world, especially if people keep making comments like this to bring them down.

Basically, do not be a rude person. Have some common sense and be respectful. Artists put a lot into their work. We put our emotions, our experiences, our time, and basically who we are into our work. Art is something to be respected, and the artists themselves deserve respect as well. Give them the decent respect every person deserves. We would love for you to be interested in our work. That’s part of why we do what we do. Just be interested in a way that is not insulting.