Are you sincere about someone else's drawings?

Proper manners dictates that you don't say it sucks. There are ways to politely critique it without saying you don't like it. Who knows, your support might motivate them to become great artists. Then you can take pride in having helped create a great artist.

I usually try to "read" the person asking. That is very hard to do online. I would hate to discourage someone from continuing to try. If they seem to be able to take criticism well, I give an honest opinion. If they seem easily bruised, I usually just point out what they have done well, or how they have improved.

I often find most artists encouraging people, rather than snapping them short by saying there awful or can't draw etc. Myself I do this. I think everyone takes time to perfect and learn and I've been on both sides, I used to be really good but for many years I stopped due to disliking my art teacher so I never took at an option at school. Now my drawings aren't bad, but adding colour really isn't my strong point. I think it's far better to encourage, be honest and point out what makes it better and what lets it down. All without being harsh. ~Joey

I always start by qualifying that I probably couldn't do any better, but I have studied the subject & my problem isn't my knowlege, but my brain/hand co-ordiation. Then I would tell them what works & what doesn't work in the picture, being carefully specific of details like proportion & perspective - well, assuming they aren't trying to do a piscaso or anything. I would be sure to try & stress what does work, what they have done right so they don't feel like a failure. If they have some areas highly detailed & others barely and it doesn't seem to be an effort to stress the detailed part (for example, the background detailed & the foreground not) the explain it should probably be the other way around. If there is great detail on the face & not anything else I would tell them that is a strong pull to the face & make sure that is what they are doing.

Being sincere does not mean being rude. Yes I am sincere but in a "gentle" way. I believe that art does not fit into rules, any one can draw anything at any shape or colour he/she likes. Being an artist means being unique and creative according to my opinion off course...

As I'm something of an artist my self, I tend to give constructive help and tips if I see something, I think can be improved. If it on the other hand is work that is in essence good, but I just don't like it, I generally just keep it to my self.

Nice topic, I think this depend on the situation where and when they ask about their drawings, if they just ask for advice , I would say my real idea about it, but if they do it just because the formality, I would not talk too much about it, especially in public.