15 Ways to Compliment Someone's Art

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Are you trying to find the perfect thing to say when someone shares a beautiful piece of art? If you really love an artist’s work and want to encourage them to keep creating, they’ll love hearing a flattering compliment. While you could just call the artist “talented,” there are a lot of other meaningful compliments you can give them. Keep reading for unique examples of what to say to an artist so they stay inspired to keep creating!

1

“I was immediately drawn to this piece.”

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    An artist wants other people to connect with their work, so they’ll love hearing that their piece caught your attention.
    • “I saw this from across the gallery and knew I needed to get a closer look.”
    • “This caught my eye on my feed and I just had to stop scrolling to see.”
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2

“This is so beautiful.”

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    When you’re at a loss for anything else to say, an artist will still love hearing that you like how their piece looks. Other simple words you can use to describe their art could be:
    • Fantastic
    • Extraordinary
    • Outstanding
    • Masterful
3

“All the hard work you put into this piece really shows!”

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    The artist spent a lot of time designing and finishing the piece even if it looks effortless. Recognize their talents and perseverance going through the process to make them feel proud of what they accomplished. [1]
    • “I’m so proud of how much you’ve worked on this!”
    • “You can really see how much care you’ve taken while painting this piece.”
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4

“Your work always brings a smile to my face.”

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    If you always enjoy seeing the new pieces that the artist puts out, share your excitement with them. They’ll appreciate that they have a fan that will always like and support what they’re putting out.
    • “I get such a thrill whenever I see a new piece of yours in my feed.”
    • “I can’t stop smiling when I see your work. Great job!”
5

“I love how you used color in this piece.”

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    Take a moment to really sit with the art so you can focus on the techniques they used, like line, color, tone, and movement. Mention the different components of the piece that you appreciated so the artist knows you’ve sat with their work for a little while. [2]
    • Words to describe color: cool, vibrant, vivid
    • Words to describe line: flowing, delicate, bold
    • Words to describe tone: dramatic, deep, subtle
    • Words to describe movement: rhythmic, rippling, flowing
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6

“Your style evokes so many emotions.”

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    Artists want to create pieces that express their feelings to hopefully connect with other people. If the piece puts you in a specific mood, try starting a compliment with, “This piece makes me feel…” before talking about the emotions that it brings up. [3]
    • “The colors in this painting make me feel at peace.”
    • “Your art makes me feel like I’ve been dropped into the scene and can’t look away.”
7

“This piece is so expressive.”

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    Artists can feel a little vulnerable sharing their art because it’s so personal to them, but saying that it shows through their work makes them feel more comfortable.
    • “I can tell you were really trying to capture how tranquil this scene is.”
    • “Your linework has such an energy that makes the drawing leap off the page!”
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8

“I’d love to hear what inspired your work.”

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    Artists create their work to express a deeper meaning, so let them know that you want to understand the piece better. They’ll be excited that you’re showing an interest and be excited to talk about what led them to make their work. [4]
    • “I’m so curious where you got your inspiration. Can you tell me more about it?”
    • “It feels like this piece symbolizes a lot of social issues. I’d love to hear your thoughts on them.”
9

“Your work reminds me of Picasso!”

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    If you know which artists inspired the person’s style, mention a few of them by name. The artist will be impressed that you recognized the techniques or styles that they borrowed and feel like they nailed what they were trying to achieve.
    • “You’re a modern master of painting!”
    • “If you would have told me this was a van Gogh, I would have believed you!”
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10

“I could tell that you made this just by looking at it!”

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    Telling the artist that you recognized their piece as theirs shows that you’ve spent time getting to know their work. Even if their piece is completely new and original, mention how you noticed some techniques carried over from the artist’s past work.
    • This works best if you’re close friends with the artist or if you’ve followed them for a long time.
11

“This is your most impressive piece yet!”

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    If you’ve been following the artist for a little while, talk about how the piece compares to their past work. The artist will love hearing that you’ve seen their skills grow and improve over time, and they’ll stay motivated to keep creating more. [5]
    • “You’re really hitting your stride.”
    • “You only keep getting better at your craft!”
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12

“I find something new to love every time I see this piece.”

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    The longer you sit with a piece of art, the more little things you’ll notice. You may recognize beautiful brushstrokes or mark-making, thematic elements, or pops of color in the background you missed at first glance that keep you coming back for more.
    • “There are so many little things I haven’t even discovered in this painting!”
    • “The closer I look at this piece, the more I’m mesmerized by it."
13

“I’m so excited to see what you create next.”

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    A future-focused compliment shows that you’re eager to keep following the person on their artistic journey. The artist will feel like they have a new fan who’s always looking forward to what they have to share. [6]
    • “You’re going to have such a big future if you keep drawing like that.”
    • “I can’t wait to see what else you’ve been working on.”
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14

“I can’t wait to show your art to my friends.”

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    Word of mouth is one of the best ways for an artist to get new fans, so they’ll love hearing that you want to talk about their art with your friends.
    • If you’re complimenting art on social media, tag your friend in a comment so they see the artist’s post.
15

“I have the perfect place for this at home. Is it for sale?”

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    If you’re so attached to a piece you saw, make an offer to buy the artist’s work. They’ll love that you’re seriously into their style and want them to keep creating.
    • Make sure you can actually afford the piece before you make an offer since artwork can be a little expensive.
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      Tips

      • Sometimes being quiet while you’re looking at an artist’s work can work as a compliment because you’re taking the time to really study the piece. [7]
        Thanks
      • Avoid comparing your skill level to the artist or asking them how long it took them to finish the piece since it won’t sound very authentic. [8]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-art-of-giving-and-receiving-advice
      2. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/sapient-nature/201207/the-art-complimenting-and-criticizing
      3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/sapient-nature/201207/the-art-complimenting-and-criticizing
      4. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200403/the-art-the-compliment
      5. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/negative-feedback/
      6. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intimacy-path-toward-spirituality/201711/practical-tips-metabolizing-compliment
      7. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-to-give-a-powerful-compliment
      8. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prescriptions-life/201803/how-stop-comparing-yourself-others

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