Extraordinary Influence

5Words of DeathConstructive Criticism Fails Because Our Brains Are Hard Wired for Something Better

My wife, Anne, founded and leads a highly successful fine art gallery. Her gallery represents about 40 artists whose work is hung in many notable places. Yet, any interest she had in art was almost squelched when she was six years old. Her first-grade teacher, Ms. Caldwell, seemed like she was 100 years old to the children in her class. Every day she wore the big heel, lace up style black high-tops fashionable among older women at the time and the same ankle-length gray dress.

On Friday, the children had art class. Sally Young, clearly the teacher's pet, mastered the sine qua non of first grade art—house with curly gray smoke coming out of the chimney, blue sky, green grass, tree with rounded crest, cute squirrel on a low tree branch, and flowers in front of the house. Sally was most excellent at this traditional style of art.

Anne, a bored rebel, on an impulse began to flick her brush toward the big sheet of paper on the easel in an array of interesting colors and shapes. She was mesmerized when two colors merged to create a third. The dripping runs of paint made her art like no other. The class had a non-representational art prodigy in their midst—Anne was truly a budding Jackson Pollack at six years old. They were in the presence of greatness!

The unfortunate by-product of Anne's creativity was that some paint splattered on the floor. Crotchety Ms. Caldwell was incensed. She ...