The Best Lesson I Ever Learned: Never, Ever Get Too Attached

​I must have told this story over a hundred times to friends, family, colleagues; and each time I tell it, I remember it as vividly as if it happened yesterday. 
 
If you have ever been involved in an art critique (and even for those who have not), you must know you need to come prepared. You need to be willing to talk and share ideas and be able to support your viewpoints with more than just feelings. 
 
Critiques are common occurrences in art school – some are scheduled and planned out days or weeks in advance, while others are more impromptu. Many of my professors each and every time would set down the ground rules beforehand, despite everyone already knowing what is required. 
 
As I mentioned, you were never allowed to be vague – saying ‘I don’t like that’ or ‘Why isn’t that this color because I like yellow’ would never suffice. You ALWAYS needed to justify your criticism or even praise with a supporting explanation. 
 
As I think back on the countless critiques I had over a four-year career, I believe they helped me to hone my design skills and look at things with an attentive eye. But of course, the critique that was the most influential for me was in my print-making class, some scheduled critique one day at the end of the. 
 
I cannot recollect the specific parameters of this print project as I remember the story. I am not even sure if I ever remembered the requirements beyond that day. I do however remember my print design exactly and the time it took to prepare for the critique. 
 
When everyone’s artwork was ready, the professor had us spread out in the studio and post each of our prints on the walls around the room. The walls were white, which served as a perfect backdrop to showcase the creativity.

​The critique began like any other with the professor deciding on a piece to begin discussing – perhaps he decided by drawing straws or picking a number, or with a beloved, childhood, scientific selection process of “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe”. Regardless, he chose a piece and with approximately 5 minutes per piece to discuss, we began reviewing and offering suggestions. 
 
If I remember correctly, I believe I was last to be reviewed in the class critique. Like all of the previous pieces, my classmates offered recommendations and compliments, and then it was my professors turn to offer his two cents. He walked up to my piece, staring intently at it. He then proceeded to take it off the wall and rotate it 180 degrees and reposted it, saying a word or two about ‘seeing it from a different perspective’.

But what happened next would, and has changed my artistic perspective FOREVER. When I say that word, the scene from “The Sandlot” comes to mind - FOR-EV-ER!

My professor’s actions seemed to happen in slow-motion. He took my artwork down off the wall again. He held up my artwork and looked at me straight in the eyes. He then ripped my artwork into many pieces.
 
I was stunned! 
 
I think there was an audible gasp from everyone.

​I think my jaw became cartoon-esque at that very moment and hit the floor. ​

As the seconds passed by, my professor never broke eye contact with me. I am not sure if he was looking for a reaction beyond stunned, but I was no help. I did not move. 
 
And after a few moments of utter silence, with time to soak it all in, the silence was broken by the professor – he said, ‘People will like your work, people will hate your work. You should not take the criticism personally. So, never, ever get too attached to your work!’
 
That lesson has stuck with me since the very moment it happened. I use that lesson every day, with every customer, for all of my design work. Some will like my work, some will hate my work. No matter where on that scale my design may fall, I will never, ever get too attached.