AIBU to lie to friend about her illustrations?

[JemimaPyjamas]

A friend is an illustrator, but in my opinion, not a very good or talented one - her drawings, usually of animals in clothes, are quite flat and extremely twee. She has mentioned previously that her business isn't doing well but she is determined to make it work regardless (and I think her parents are helping out a bit with the finances.) In the five years I have known her, she has been doing the same style but has now written a children's book, also in the same style...

I have been sent a copy to read, and also some cards that are in the same style and, very excited, she wants me to say what I think.

I like her a lot but we are not super close, and I am not a fellow illustrator or anything that would qualify me, in her view, to give an informed opinion (I do have 'a' level art though but she doesn't know that!!) I suspect she wants reassurance and praise rather than anything else.

I'm going to have to lie and say something bland like it's 'nice' aren't I...?

AIBU to lie and say what she wants to hear (or at least along those lines)

ANBU to tell her that it's not very good

Unless there’s something constructive you can say eg. Make your colours bolder or the bunny’s face needs to be more in perspective etc.... then no. Stay quiet.
There’s not really much she can take from you thinking it’s naff!

They may not be your cup of tea, but someone may like them. I'm inclined not to piss on someone's parade, so I'd simply say they're very nice, but not the sort of thing I go for.

Seriously?

I'd confess your inability to offer an informed opinion. 'Gosh, Jenny, it's not something I know anything about. I'm really not qualified to offer an opinion. It isn't the kind of thing that I usually look at'.

Don’t say anything, it won’t end well. Just nod, smile and say they’re lovely.

Shit sandwich might work, if she’s asking for feed back do ask her if she is ready for real feed back?

Ah as pp said unless you have something constructive to say keep schtum or suggest how she is marketing her work. I am on a craft page on facebook and a lady on there actually sells loads of posters she makes on etsy. Actually sells them because she is good at marketing. The thing is her posters are trash. Like not even subjectively, they are really bad. She glues a kodak photo onto craft paper and colours in childish scribles around and writes in bad handwriting on them and yet she sells them.

I was confused which option to vote for... but no I dont think you should tell her you dont like them... there would be absolutely no point in doing that it would only hurt her feelings... and maybe someone somewhere will like them... being tweet and a bit flat doesnt sound like they are so awful as to be embarrassing... maybe they just aren't to your taste? Just say something generic like 'wow you've really put a lot of work into these' or 'they are fun and sweet' ... dont be pointlessly critical I'm sure when shes trying to get them published she will face a lot of criticism.. she doesnt need it from her friend too

I used to be an illustrator. I'd just nod and smile when she ask's for your opinion - if it's not to your taste don't bother telling her, she won't appreciate the feedback as, to be honest, the only feedback a commercial artist actually needs is from someone who is going to commission them - anything else is totally subjective, so you might as well be polite ...

I would be constructive with my feedback (and not use the word 'twee'!) but I am not sure she really wants genuine feedback, however much she says she does. I understand that completely, criticism of your work is hard to take, but I think this couldn't end well if I was totally honest. Which is a shame as I think she may get harsher criticism further down the line

Asks - doh!

No advice really but how important is your friendship? Would she be upset if you told her the truth?
Another thing, tastes vary. One person’s twee is another person’s cute/nostalgic.

@AdaStarkadder that's a good point of view to hear, thank you!

someone may like them

If her business isn't doing well the problem appears to be that nobody does like them.

Lots of things that I think are awful sell like hot cakes.

Perhaps suggest that she try a different style that might sell better?

Oh and I meant to say, it’s not lying to keep your opinion to yourself - just being economical with the truth

@RaisinsRuinEverything we are good friends but largely as, until recently, we saw a lot of each other out and about and have had a few lunches / meet ups. I don't know if she'd be upset or not (I wouldn't be rude, but I don't think I could be honest either, not really honest)

There are very few friendships that can survive criticism however well intentioned. Just nod and smile OP.

I don't think it will do your friendship any good if you are honest. I'd suggest she gets constructive criticism from somebody in the know. Suggest she joins an art society or takes a course st s local college. . And not everyone likes the same thing but if her business isn't doing well It would seem a different approach would be in order.

Thing is - there are as many different opinions on art as there are people looking at it. Unless you have something solid and useful to offer it's best to stick to good natured banalities.

I think I would stick to giving advice on practical matters. Like how she can market what she does better, how she could expand her range. Commenting on the drawings themselves is so subjective. Just because you don't like them, doesn't mean that few people will. As you aren't an illustrator yourself, I would refuse to be drawn on the artistic side of it.

Yeah, you're sort of damned if you do and damned if you don't on this one!

I'm quite blunt about this sort of stuff. But people know amd only ask me when that's what they want. I'm the friend you take shopping with you when you actually do genuinely want to know if your arse looks fat in this. I mostly test read fiction, and the stuff I've seen ranges from "award-worthy literary fiction" (some of which has since actually been published) to "aspiration: be good enough for online fan fiction".

The one thing I didn't manage to be honest about was a "novel" - basically a blatant author self-insertion about a steamy romance between her and a male protagonist who was very recognisably a work colleague of ours. Even I cringed too much to be upfront about this one, so I told her chick lit was really not my thing and, while the writing was fine albeit not literary fiction quality, I really lacked any basis to judge this genre. I think she bought it. At least she still speaks to me.

I made a goodish living from fantasy art until l had DS ... lf l was having trouble with a piece it was no help at all for someone to say "Um, l don't like all this dungeons and dragons stuff, why don't you paint some cats?"

If her business is not doing well then clearly people don’t like them do they? I’m sorry but I couldn’t sit back and watch a friends business fail and not say a word to help when I knew darn well what the problem was. All the while lying about how “lovely” her drawings are. That’s not friendship to me.
You can be truthful without being unkind. There is a middle ground. More along the lines of “ok I’m not qualified in this area but I think if you made the rabbits less flat and more rounded/ bigger eyes/ more expression and character it would really bring them to life! I’d love to see you do something different- new and fresh!”.
There’s nothing wrong with offering helpful suggestions rather than criticism. It gets your view across without being cruel. At least this way, if she does nothing your conscience is clear that you told her the truth.

Can you say something like it looks like she has put a lot of work in, what do others think?

Fairly non-committal but she may get the impression you are underwhelmed.

I think we need to see them to judgeif your being harsh or not op