GarphenGate Critique Checklist
Free gateway skill from the Art Critique Partner bundle by GarphenGate.
Seven questions that let any artist critique their own piece with borrowed distance.
Procedure
- Set the frame: have the artist state the piece's intent in one sentence, and put the piece somewhere they can see it whole (or upside down, or in a mirror; distance tricks are allowed and encouraged).
- Walk the seven questions, one at a time, requiring pointed-at answers:
- Where does the eye go first, and is that where you wanted it?
- What's the value structure in three words (squint until detail dies)?
- Which single area is strongest, and why does it work?
- Which area did you avoid or rush, honestly?
- Does anything compete with the focal point? What?
- Does the piece do what your intent sentence says? Where, specifically?
- If you made it again tomorrow, what one thing would you change first?
- Collect the answers into a verdict: one strength to keep, one break to note, one next action, in the artist's own words wherever possible.
- Stop there. Seven questions, one action; a self-critique that becomes a spiral has failed.
Output
SELF-CRITIQUE: <piece> — intent: <one sentence>
Q1-Q7: <the artist's pointed-at answers>
KEEP: <strength, located>
NOTE: <break, located>
NEXT: <one action for the next piece>
Rules
- Never accept an unanchored answer; "it feels unbalanced" gets the follow-up "where?" every time.
- Never let the session produce more than one next action; the list of ten fixes is procrastination in work clothes.
- Question 4 is answered honestly or the checklist stops; the avoided area is usually the whole finding.
Degradation
If the artist can't view the piece while answering, run the checklist from memory but mark it MEMORY-BASED and have them verify Q1 and Q5 in front of the actual piece later.
Like this? This is the free gateway skill for Art Critique Partner by Moltline Studio. The paid listing: https://www.agensi.io/skills/art-critique-partner-bundle