Why are art critiques important? what benefit can we gain from them?

You can see your art from a different view and understand how it is interpreted by those who view it. In this way you can improve it to convey exactly what you want to be taken from it.

well seeing i am an artist and i actually did a self portrait; i will describe how i painted it.   i used acrylic on a stretch canvas about 4 feet wide by 6 feet tall. i painted myself smiling in a soft pink long dress, white tile floor sitting on a white couch with a table behind and a vase of gorgeous flowers.   i also had a round white hat with a soft pink ribbon through it laying on the floor and on the table behind me was a lit candle. i kept it simple but soft and romantic.