ART CRITIQUE FAQ

Professional and emerging artists need feedback! Many people are looking for the type of art critique they experienced (or envisioned) in art school. Limited to 6 people or fewer, this group will discuss each participant's artwork one-at-a-time. The facilitator will establish a a few ground rules, manage time, and ask questions along the way to engage all participants.

Bring:

- A piece of your own art, roughly 50-95% complete, about which you would like feedback. All media are welcome.

- A quick summary and 1-2 questions for the group about your piece

- A willingness to speak frankly (and with kindness) to others about their work, drawing on your own life and art experiences to guide other artists toward success

Along with addressing specific questions, we will utilize classic art critique structures to discuss the piece, such as use of line, form, context, theme, composition, color, media, and technique, amongst others.

Reserve my spot

Kestrel Critique Club meets a total of 4 times as a group of all the same people. Our first meeting will be on a date that works for all participants starting at 6pm. Along with our formal art critique, we will share a meal and discuss when our next critique meeting should be.  We meet approximately every three months thereafter.

The next round of Kestrel Critique Club will begin in February 2025. 

Our next Fly-By Critique will be early in 2025.

Reserve my spot

 Some artists/creators are looking for a one-off critique opportunity to get some quick feedback on just one project. These are our "Fly-By" critique sessions, where you will have the chance to get feedback from other creative folks without any formal artist connection/networking time.

Other creative people are looking for a steady group to learn from others over time, build trust, and make deeper, lasting connections through the language of art. If you're ready to commit to 4 critique sessions,  looking for more feedback over time, working on a bigger, longer-view project, or just want to connect more, "Kestrel Critique Club" may be just right for you.  

We limit our group size to 3-6 (not counting the facilitator). The minimum size is good for helpful conversation, and more than six would be too much art to get through in one session. 

Registration closes one day before the event. We will let you know at that time if we do not have enough people registered in order to proceed with a critique event.

Heather Matthews is the owner of Kestrel Fields Studio & Art Residency as well as an artist herself. She recently graduated from art school and has extensive professional experience leading groups in meaningful and useful conversation, both in art and in other contexts. 

Depending on availability, other critique facilitators may be invited to lead the event from time to time. 

Several artists we know have participated in critiques that have not been helpful. Either they've been too short, too nice, too mean, or too much!

In this critique experience, we ask you to come ready to receive and also give critical feedback. Bring a piece you're looking for feedback on, along with a quick summary, a couple of questions, and a positive attitude. The facilitator will provide ideas for questions you can ask others when offering critique of your own.

Our commitment is to be kind, but to go deeper. We'll answer your questions, offer ideas, even just process how we experience your piece. Phrases such as "I like the way you..." will be limited in favor of phrases like, "Have you considered..." or "How does this line/composition/color/texture help express the idea?" or "What else could be done to push yourself in this medium?"

Reserve my spot

If any tears are shed, we want them to be tears of validation or inspiration. Everyone in the group will commit to keeping comments kind, even if they also push you to feel vulnerable. Disagreement is encouraged for the sake of quality dialogue, artist growth, and robust discussion.

Kestrel Fields Studio has 63 linear feet of wall space (painted white) with a wire hanging system for you to display your piece! If needed, we also have temporary wall hangers , the option to hang things in space, and a couple of pedestals. If your oil paint is still wet, we have a faux wall with a shelf you can lean your piece on.  We also have a projector in case your piece is digital.

You are welcome to come early to install your piece before critique begins. Please just let us know what you need. 

If you'd like to sign up for Kestrel Critique Club, we will do our best to find times each quarter that work for everyone. If you cannot attend due to a last minute schedule change, we understand that life happens sometimes! Alternatively, you can attend a Fly-by Art Critique, or schedule an appointment with Heather for 1-on-1 art coaching. 

Please contact us with any additional questions either using this form, or via email to Heather: heather@kestrelfieldstudio.com.