The hottest Art & Illustration Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

A Celebration (And Map!) Of London: The Biography

Londonist: Time Machine • 499 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration History Culture Literature Travel Books
  1. Peter Ackroyd's 'London: The Biography' is a captivating book that deeply explores London's history through themed chapters.
  2. Mapping the geobibliome of 'London: The Biography' reveals Ackroyd's thorough coverage of central London with fewer mentions of areas south of the river.
  3. Reading 'London: The Biography' can inspire a deeper connection with the city and spark a lifelong interest in its history and exploration.

Souvenirs that outlive us

Austin Kleon • 1978 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Creativity Poetry History Design
  1. Creating art is often messy and unpredictable. It's not always as straightforward as the end result might suggest.
  2. Inspiration can come from the most mundane things, like everyday objects. Even clothespins can spark creativity and lead to new artistic ideas.
  3. Blackout poetry doesn't have to come from traditional sources like books. Using unusual materials can make the process fun and unique.

Enchantment, belonging – and rivers

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 958 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Belonging
  1. Enchantment, belonging, and rivers are essential themes in the author's work, rooted in her connection to the land and nature.
  2. The magic of the everyday is highlighted, showing how ordinary moments can hold deep significance and wonder.
  3. The post is for paid subscribers, emphasizing the value placed on the content shared and supporting the author's work.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

FISHFLIES, SWEET TOOTH, TENEMENT AND MORE!

Tales From the Farm • 943 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Comics Graphic novels Artwork Illustrations
  1. Jeff Lemire's new project 'Fishflies' will launch in print from Image Comics starting in July, with each issue being giant-sized at 56 pages.
  2. Lemire will be doing signings in Toronto, Vancouver, Chicago, and more, along with appearances at events like San Diego Comic Con and the Thought Bubble Festival.
  3. The next book in the Bone Orchard universe called 'Tenement' will launch in June, connecting the pieces from previous stories.

The AI doppelgänger experiment – Part 1: The training

On Looking • 184 HN points • 15 May 24
🎨 Art & Illustration AI Style Ethics Identity Creativity
  1. Communication relies on shared language, and this is especially crucial when discussing visual concepts like style and art.
  2. Training generative AI models to transfer style involves complex processes of separating denotational and stylistic aspects of images.
  3. The AI doppelganger experiment explores the tension between human-created images and machine-generated ones, raising questions about personhood, identity, and creativity in the digital age.

Twee Whistler: Internet Core

Do Not Research • 938 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Digital Art Contemporary Art Internet Art Aesthetics
  1. The term 'Internet core' emerged within contemporary art, encompassing net art, post-internet, and new media, highlighting a shift towards internet-centric reality and engagement.
  2. Artists within the Internet core scene are creating works more focused on personal narratives, political interpretations, and user engagement outside traditional gallery settings, shaping a distinct approach to digital art.
  3. The Internet represents more than just a medium; it is a mindset, an approach, and a language for artists, shaping their practices and leading to a diverse range of artistic expressions beyond categorizations.

Being Unrealistic

Animation Obsessive • 1524 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Visual Arts Cultural Studies Creativity
  1. Cinema Fantasma, a stop-motion studio in Mexico, started with a big dream and little money. The founders had to get creative, making their own animation tools and props from scratch.
  2. The studio began on a rooftop in Mexico City, showing the dedication of the Ambriz brothers and their family. They transformed their home into a workspace to achieve their goal of creating a top-quality animated film.
  3. The making of 'Revoltoso' was a learning experience for everyone involved. The animators were new to the craft but worked hard to develop their skills for this project.

Bucket Art

Breaking Smart • 74 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Generative Art Digital Art AI Art NFTs Painting Exhibitions Art market
  1. A simple doodle evolved into a 41-piece iPad painting series called Bucket Art that uses the flood-fill (bucket) tool and pareidolia to discover motifs like waterfalls and ships.
  2. The hand-painted set was used to fine-tune a generative model on titles.xyz, letting many people create, mash up, and publish new Bucket Art images derived from the style.
  3. The platform links training images as NFTs to provide clear provenance and micropayment flows to contributing artists, enabling cheap, auditable, high-volume generative art and new creative-composability dynamics.

The bliss of the invisible thread

The Pamplet • 7 implied HN points • 28 Feb 26
🎨 Art & Illustration Creative Process Art Community Personal Reflection
  1. I keep physical notes and objects to connect my past and future selves, and I try to really listen to what’s coming through and let go of old identities.
  2. Eviction and gentrification have repeatedly threatened my artist community, and I’m determined not to let displacement happen again.
  3. I use writing and reflection to figure out cryptic messages from my past self and to stay present with whatever emerges.

Underground Auctioneer Classes

Opaque Hourglass • 199 implied HN points • 05 May 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Creative Writing Visual art
  1. Learn to speak like a seasoned auctioneer at Mark Leidner's underground classes, where you can develop skills to speak eight times faster than average people.
  2. A limited-time deal offering an eight-week course for $399 instead of $699 is available, providing a $300 discount. This opportunity includes two meals a day and a blanket bundle.
  3. Joining the course promises a transformative experience in a unique setting, filled with dark beauty and secrets, all taught by Mark Leidner who delivers information quickly and clearly.

What Didn't Get In

Animation Obsessive • 1614 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Illustration Art history Film
  1. Katsuhiro Otomo is well known for his detailed storyboards, and many of his early works are now available to view online for the first time.
  2. Mary Blair's seldom-seen artwork related to Disney films has been shared, showcasing her unique style and contribution.
  3. An interview with animator Tony White reveals more insights and stories from his work in animation, adding depth to understanding his projects.

Inside my studio

Austin Kleon • 2378 implied HN points • 13 Dec 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity Visual Arts Art Process
  1. Having a neat workspace can be overwhelming. It's important to remember that creating in a clean space is not the ultimate goal.
  2. Sometimes, you need permission to get messy and be creative. It's okay to make a bit of a mess while working on your projects.
  3. A well-organized studio setup can make it easier to switch between tasks. Having both digital and analog spaces allows for more creativity.

John Logie Baird: Why So Many Plaques?

Londonist: Time Machine • 219 implied HN points • 26 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration History
  1. John Logie Baird, TV pioneer, has four plaques in Soho/Covent Garden commemorating his achievements in the television industry.
  2. The plaques on different buildings in the area celebrate various milestones in Baird's work, from first demonstrated television to his first broadcast.
  3. The existence of multiple plaques for John Logie Baird within a short walk raises the question of why there are so many commemorations to the same individual.

Animating by Candlelight

Animation Obsessive • 3318 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Community Industry Filmmaking History
  1. During the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union, animators faced challenges adapting to life under capitalism with reduced state funding and support.
  2. Some animators, like Yuri Norstein and Priit Pärn, expressed struggles and concerns about the impact of financial censorship in the capitalist system on their artistic work.
  3. Countries like Estonia benefited from renewed state support for artists, resulting in a thriving animation community that continues to produce award-winning films.

Searching For Ross McDonnell

CrashOut by Ioan Grillo • 727 implied HN points • 17 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Photography Filmmaking Documentary Journalism Portraiture
  1. Ross McDonnell, a talented photographer and filmmaker, went missing in New York and was later found deceased on a beach in Queens.
  2. Ross McDonnell's work took him around the world, capturing impactful stories in places like Afghanistan, Mexico, and Ukraine.
  3. Ross McDonnell deeply touched the lives of many with his authenticity, talent, and ability to build genuine connections with the people he filmed.

I am righting a book

LOL (lots of links) • 884 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing Books Events Audio Visual Arts
  1. The author is writing a book about Wikipedia's cultural history with goofy content.
  2. The author shares cool things they like, such as trademarked exclamation points, Zoom hangouts, and Jeopardy audio as a podcast.
  3. The author also talks about fake reviews in history, events at libraries, and their experience of feeling like they're getting away with writing a book.

Total Eclipse of the Heart

On Looking • 259 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual Arts Photography Illustration Drawing Painting
  1. Eclipses provide a unique opportunity to witness the majestic beauty of cosmic events, reminding us of the intricate alignment of celestial bodies.
  2. The experience of observing an eclipse challenges our perception of reality, showcasing how our brain interprets electromagnetic waves and alters our vision.
  3. Looking directly at an eclipse can be harmful and cause solar retinopathy, emphasizing the importance of protective eyewear and caution during such rare events.

Framing things: a personal essay

Design Lobster • 439 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Creativity Inspiration Process Conceptual Art
  1. Approaching work with care and reverence, handling it as if it's a precious artifact, can enhance the creative process.
  2. Taking time to appreciate the beauty and significance of ordinary design elements can lead to unexpected moments of inspiration.
  3. Reflecting on and framing our own work, treating each step with importance, can help in navigating through the ups and downs of the design process.

The importance of Nice Things

Design Lobster • 1278 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Collecting Inspiration Creativity Design process Curiosity
  1. Collecting things can be a source of inspiration and help in the design process by providing a sense of unity and completeness.
  2. Finding inspiration laterally from various sources outside your direct field can lead to innovative designs.
  3. Nice things that inspire creativity and design don't necessarily have to be extravagant or expensive, they just need to evoke a feeling in you.

ART: J. P. Cummins

So Here’s a Thing • 865 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration
  1. J. P. Cummins creates imaginative urban landscapes that are quiet and eerie in an isometric style.
  2. The artwork invites viewers to explore and discover the not-quite-normal details within the cityscapes.
  3. Consider supporting the artist's work by subscribing to their publication and becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Spell

Microanimism • 99 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Poetry Visual art
  1. The post discusses using old words and imagery to paint a vivid end-of-the-world scene.
  2. It hints at themes of connection and intimacy in a desolate setting.
  3. The writing style appears poetic and thought-provoking, prompting readers to engage with deeper meanings.

ART: Frank Lloyd Wright

So Here’s a Thing • 845 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Architecture
  1. The beauty of Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural renderings is in their ability to evoke a sense of imagination and parallel reality, resonating with individuals on different levels.
  2. Ongoing projects are creating 3D renderings of Wright's lost or never-built structures, showcasing the architect's visionary designs in a new light.
  3. Wright's work emphasizes the integration of architecture with the surrounding landscape, a concept evident in both his original drawings and modern AI-generated interpretations.

An Introduction to UPA

Animation Obsessive • 4664 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Design History TV Comics
  1. UPA studio revolutionized animation in the 1940s and 1950s with modern art influences and unique storytelling.
  2. The UPA animation style focused on emotion over anatomy, leading to groundbreaking visuals and storytelling.
  3. UPA's work extended beyond well-known films like Mr. Magoo, encompassing TV commercials, series, and experimental shows.