RonMartin(deceased)

Guess I should weigh in here after all my name has been used.
Yes I have a critique sheet that I use. Mostly on my trees but I do hand it out to clubs when I am there. Some clubs have even used it, much to my surprise.
Mine does not assign points or follow the established rules as much as the others do. That might be good or bad depending on your point of view.
It all boils down to the following.
1. Find out what the artist was trying to portray.
Did he achieve this view. A simple yes or no is required.
2. I look for things that are right not wrong.
By pointing out what is right the artist can usually find the wrong things all by himself. Always going for the mistakes is not all that good on the ego. Bad ego blocks learning.
3. Is the over all view a pleasing one.
4. Is there balance to the tree. ( color, texture.etc.)
Does the mass of foliage vs. branch, branch vs. trunk make the tree believable.

There is more to it than that but that is the gist of it.
I would post the critique sheet here but some of it was borrowed verbatim (with permission) from David De Groot's sheet. I only have permission to use his words on a limited basis. My sheet is mostly a gentler version of his.
I would like to say a couple of things though.
First any critique sheet needs to be written for the event that is to be used in. No one critique is a "one size fits all" Each event will be different. Each needs to set its own goals and standards.
Most important thing to remember though is that a critique is only one persons opinion. His or her interpretation of what is acceptable. Take that critique for what it is worth. Opinions vary greatly even among the experts. And heavens knows that I am no expert.
I know that this doesn't do much to help the conversation. I just has to pipe in my $2 worth (used to be 2 cents but then inflation came along)