The hottest Art & Illustration Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics
Ladyparts β€’ 399 implied HN points β€’ 17 Jan 24
  1. Ali Smith, a former punk rock musician turned photographer and writer, reflects on her past experiences in the East Village and her band Speedball Baby.
  2. Despite her previous wild lifestyle, Ali Smith is now a thoughtful artist, mother, wife, and writer, living a cozy life outside London.
  3. Ali Smith's current interests include discussing her son's school activities, photography assignments, and her husband's career changes.
Cosmographia β€’ 698 implied HN points β€’ 05 Jul 23
  1. The post is about The Dead Sea and is part of a series called Atlas' Notebook featuring art, poetry, literature, and photography centered around a specific place.
  2. This post is for paid subscribers, and it encourages readers to subscribe to access the full content.
  3. The author, M. E. Rothwell, shares insights and content related to The Dead Sea through their publication on Substack.
RPG Design Theories β€’ 687 implied HN points β€’ 13 Jul 23
  1. Desire can drive success or failure in games, not just decisions and die rolls.
  2. Players can want their characters to fail for the sake of the story, leading to deeper character development.
  3. RPGs can offer immersion where players experience the story or participation where they help create it, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:
Cosmographia β€’ 658 implied HN points β€’ 15 Oct 23
  1. The Colosseum's grandeur cannot truly be appreciated until seen in person, highlighting the awe-inspiring nature of ancient structures
  2. Historical patterns suggest that great civilizations may eventually decline due to lowered moral standards, cynicism, and frivolity, prompting reflection on the lessons of the past for modern societies
  3. The Course of Empire art series by Thomas Cole illustrates the rise and fall of civilizations, offering a visual representation of the cyclical nature of human history
The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie β€’ 658 implied HN points β€’ 14 Oct 23
  1. The video shared is about the work and legacy of Daniel Deardorff, a multifaceted artist and mythologist with a rich history of creative contributions.
  2. Daniel Deardorff's focus on embracing Otherness and his exploration of meaningful wounds in myths make his work stand out, offering a unique perspective on culture and community.
  3. The Mythsinger Legacy Project continues to carry forth Daniel Deardorff's work through various creative endeavors, preserving his unpublished works and vision.
Bastiat's Window β€’ 373 implied HN points β€’ 19 Jan 24
  1. The Swedish Academy could award the Nobel Prize in Literature to TV writers/producers Vince Gilligan and David Simon for their exceptional storytelling.
  2. Television has evolved from a 'vast wasteland' to a medium producing significant literary works, raising questions about the enduring legacy of modern TV series.
  3. Gilligan and Simon's works like 'Breaking Bad' and 'The Wire' have profound impact, deep ethical questions, and memorable characters that rival classic literature.
Counter Craft β€’ 421 implied HN points β€’ 08 Jun 25
  1. Using AI in art can be great if it's done thoughtfully. It's important to be open about how AI is used and ensure it enhances rather than replaces creativity.
  2. There are successful examples of authors using AI to help craft dialogue or ideas, but they are intentional and clear about their AI use. This distinction separates meaningful art from low-quality outputs.
  3. For artistic integrity, it's best to be honest about your use of AI, especially if it generates a lot of the work. Just like with plagiarism, taking someone else's work, including AI-generated text, without credit is not acceptable.
In the Flash β€’ 1199 implied HN points β€’ 13 Jun 23
  1. Photographing parties can be a way to capture unique stories through observation of interactions and details.
  2. Adapting photography styles to different party atmospheres, like from New York to London, can result in new and creative visual approaches.
  3. Incorporating various inspirations like paintings, songs, or movies can enhance the storytelling and artistic elements in event photography.
Animation Obsessive β€’ 4036 implied HN points β€’ 12 Jun 23
  1. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends was a script-driven animated series with a personal touch from the creators.
  2. The animation news highlighted 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' success globally and updates from various countries.
  3. The writing process for animation, such as the scripting, revisions, and voice recordings, is crucial for creating successful animated series.
The NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH ART Society β€’ 648 implied HN points β€’ 01 Apr 23
  1. Artist Melissa Louise Bolger creates large-scale crocheted drawings as an ode to her mother.
  2. The artist's work is inspired by an Afghan her mother made and is a way for her to connect with her late mother's spirit.
  3. Listeners can find more about the artist and her work in a new episode available for watching on YouTube.
BAD AT KEEPING SECRETS β€’ 648 implied HN points β€’ 31 Aug 23
  1. New York Times columnists Julia Rothman and Shaina Feinberg interview people to share honest stories about topics not commonly discussed.
  2. Their book 'How We Got By' features unique yet universal stories about addiction, career changes, relationships, and more.
  3. The work by Julia and Shaina aims to provide perspective, comfort, and a sense of connection by addressing taboo topics openly.
Between a Rock and a Card Place β€’ 358 implied HN points β€’ 11 Feb 24
  1. Success is not always about winning or creating hits, but about the quality and impact of the work you do.
  2. Don't let pressure hinder your creativity; approach tasks with curiosity and a beginner's mindset.
  3. Embrace that not every project will be a success, as outcomes are often beyond your control, so focus on creating meaningful work instead.
Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter β€’ 3 implied HN points β€’ 28 Feb 26
  1. A hands-on creative studio offers weekly live sessions, mentorship, and an active community to learn AI-native and hybrid storytelling. Membership is paid and recordings are available to help people catch up.
  2. Using AI for video is powerful but quirky: it can produce spectacular effects yet struggles with simple things like consistent character dialogue. Working with it is an artisanal, iterative craft as tools evolve rapidly.
  3. The effort focuses on shaping ethical, hybrid approaches that humanize AI and protect creative roles, while exploring business and distribution strategies to counter low-quality AI content. The aim is to expand cinematic language without replacing actors and technicians.
Animation Obsessive β€’ 4215 implied HN points β€’ 10 Apr 23
  1. Disney's 'Almost There' sequence from 'The Princess and the Frog' stuck closely to its concept art
  2. The team behind the sequence had to experiment with a unique animation pipeline to achieve the desired look
  3. Collaboration among artists and a large team were crucial in bringing the imaginative sequence to life