Critique Clinic – October 7-9, 2011
How does it work? For three days a week (Friday-Sunday midnight), I will open the clinic to any artist who wants an honest peer review and critique of a card which gets plenty of clicks but no sales, so something’s probably not quite right, or you’ve got a new design you want to test drive, or you’re unsure about the marketability of a card. Or perhaps you’re a newbie who isn’t sure if a recently submitted card is up to a marketable standard. Anyone is welcome to participate. In fact, I encourage everyone to at least look at the cards in question and read the critique comments – you may learn something. The purpose of the clinic is to help artists improve the commercial appeal and marketability of their cards.
THE RULES
- ONE card per artist only.
- Card must be for sale at Greeting Card Universe.
- We will take an unlimited number of artists, including those who have submitted recently, HOWEVER I reserve the right to close a clinic for the day if the submissions become overwhelming. If the clinic has been closed, and you submit a card, your comment will be deleted.
- To submit a card for critique, post a link to the card at GCU in the comments section of this clinic post.
- Any artist is free to comment and/or give a critique of a submitted card. HOWEVER, post-and-run comments like “great card” or “you suck” will not be tolerated, nor will abuse. Criticism should be constructive, not destructive. Play nice or you will be banned.
- I also won’t tolerate temper tantrums if you decide your “artistic integrity” is being stepped on because you asked for a critique, and someone told you the photo you’re using isn’t in focus. If you can’t take honest criticism, don’t submit. Once gets you a warning; twice and you’re banned from submitting in the future.
- Artists who critique may do so by giving their opinion, posting an example of another card, or pointing the submitter to a video, on-line article, or other helpful suggestion.
- Don’t forget that artists who are giving you tips and helpful advice are volunteering their time and trouble. Be nice. A link back to their store on your website or blog is appreciated (but not mandatory).
- You are free not to take any advice offered. There’s no guarantee any card will be a bestseller, so don’t come into the clinic with unrealistic expectations.
- Rules may change as we go along and we see how things turn out, okay?
So without any further ado, I declare this week’s Critique Clinic open!
GCU Community 
Hi Corrie…here’s my card for critique. I had it declined a couple of days ago but sold quite a few on Zazzle so far. Is there anything you would do to improve it?
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/gcu_product.asp?pid=868578&return=/community/my_cards.asp
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/gcu_product.asp?img=/images/csphoto/1107/00/00/15/38/64/tzhuuli6ah5i_noeffect_thmb.png&x=1500&y=2100&or=1
Not sure which link works for you but the reviewer said it was harsh shadows and light so not marketable.
Thanks,
Joann
Joann, between the two images, I think the second (portrait) works better visually, as on the first card (the landscape card), the photo looks distorted and a bit squashed (no pun intended). I’m not a photographer, but I kind of see where the reviewer is coming from about the photo itself, which does seem harsh to my eye. Perhaps a tad overexposed? Not sure, but I’m sure one of our photo gurus can give you better advice on that issue.
Corrie
I like the portrait version too, but know nothing about photography. Denise did a nice ‘redo’ of your image (below) by focusing in on the pumpkin, which perhaps goes a long way to reduce the harsh shadows and lights.
Cindy
thank you Cindy, I tried to find a way to work with what she had before her, bringing the image up close and cropping out a good deal of the bright sun highlighted leaves, helps to cut the harshness of the shadows, your eye doesn’t pick up on the contrast as much. trying to find a way to look at your images with a different eye ( crop, point of focus, angles etc) sometimes leads to new creativity. i am into re-purposing..heehee
Hi Joann – I’ll express my thoughts from a professional photographer’s standpoint in the hope that it offers some answers:
The lighting is too harsh, both in temperature and contrast. The image does not define any real subject for the viewer to grasp due to the unnatural angle the photograph was taken and lack of strong composition. The dark shadows being in front of the ‘subject’ rather than behind combined with the distracting elements that draw the eye away from the pumpkin lack harmony and render this photograph to feel more like a snap shot than a high quality photograph for greeting cards.
Pumpkin season is still here – go for another pumpkin shoot and don’t be afraid to lay down with those big orange squash, be sure to go at a time of day when the shadows are not so harsh and single out those shots where distracting elements are not overtaking the subject . . . and you’ll have some winning shots for the harvest season!
Thanks for the input Corrie:)
Here is what I am thinking for what it is worth. yes the first one has ratio problems and doesn’t work when put on the landscape card. the second one to me is more an issue with proportions and clutter. here is a mock up of what i might do with it….which by the way when i clicked on the second card it showed up with my info in the boxes, as if it was my card i was submitting. not sure why, that didn’t happen with the first.
this is in a private photobucket album, i hope you can see it.
[IMG]http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g51/holstonmtn/cards%20and%20such/tzhuuli6ah5i_hres.jpg[/IMG]
[URL=http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g51/holstonmtn/cards%20and%20such/?action=view¤t=tzhuuli6ah5i_hres.jpg][IMG]http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g51/holstonmtn/cards%20and%20such/th_tzhuuli6ah5i_hres.jpg[/IMG][/URL] try this sorry to clutter up the thread
Hi Denise! Neither of those links is working for me. The first is Not Found, the second requires a password to view.
Corrie
sorry if you will remove them i will try again a different way.
[IMG]http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g51/holstonmtn/cards%20and%20such/tzhuuli6ah5i_hres.jpg[/IMG]
this brings up an image. you will have to copy and paste to get the link. somedays i am so inept.
I might even go closer with the pumpkin now that i look at it again. and i see the link worked this time…now i will know how to do it. sorry.
Hi,
I am new to GCU, first time trying a clinic. This card has been accepted and viewed more than most others. I haven’t tried many humor pieces before, so I would like feedback.
Thanks,
Sheri
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/-andldquoI+find+the+cuisine+innovative+but+a+bit+hit-or-miss+a+little+off+too+salty+undercooked+sligh-greeting+card-826882
Hi Sheri! The card IS funny, and I like the photo. Having said that, cards with a definite purpose (and cards with an inner verse) tend to sell better on GCU unless you promote them yourself. I think if you’re after sales, you’ll need to do some marketing of your own.
Reading this may give you some ideas:
http://www.squidoo.com/makemoresalesatgcu
Corrie
Hi Corrie,
Thanks for the feed back, it’s always nice to get a few objective opinions. I’ll check out the squiddoo lens you suggested.
Thanks!
Sheri
Hi there,…here is my card for this weekend…a lot of clicks, but no sales.
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-3rd+Third+Birthday+Mouse-greeting+card-796015
Any thoughts? I created it with colored pencils – wondering, if people don’t like that style.
Thank you again!
Gerda
Hi Gerda – I don’t think it has anything to do with style, it’s adorable. I think it has more to do with a limited buying audience. My guess would be that people are clicking on it to see it bigger because it’s so cute before noticing it’s for a 3-year-old girl. Here is a suggestion, I looked at your store and you do offer many age-specific cards, and though we can not put links in our artist notes that lead away from GCU, I do believe you can add a link to your age specific cards so if you added something like: See all of my Age Specific Birthday Cards here: add the link.
This will at least get those who wanted a card for a boy or a different age the option of going to your store and browsing all your adorable birthday cards . I see nothing wrong with the card, it’s just so cute it’s drawing attention . . .LOL!
Hi Doreen, thanks so much for your uplifting words. Thank you for your suggestion with the link to the age specific cards. I will try that. With your input it makes me think, that I might wanna create a similar card without a number! ;-). Thanks so much. Again!
Gerda
I would if it was me! 🙂
This is a Red Hat invitation card.. Just wanted to know if the creamy white is too much around illustration.?
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-A+Red+Hat+and+Purple+Dress+Invitation+Card-greeting+card-852594
Thanks,
Donna Collins
I think the cream frame is good… gives the card a nice, clean finish.
Corrie
Thanks Corrie.
Donna
Very nice Donna – I do have one question though. You do know that the Red Hat Society Women who are allowed to wear Red Hats are over 50, right? Your lovely lady just looks way too young to be a red hat gal . . . LOL! Love her smile,nice illustration and card!
50 and over… Yes I know…but who knows there are some women that are 55 and they look 40.. I just wanted to make a lady with no grey hair…a fun card.. Hopefully someone might like it….
Glad you like it…..Thanks Salon of Art.
Donna