The hottest Art & Illustration Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

What's Imagination For, Anyway?

Cybernetic Forests • 279 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Technology AI Art Critique Ethics Community
  1. Art can either sell systems of power or support technocracy, highlighting the importance of using art to question and challenge technology rather than serve as a tool for propping up power.
  2. Imagination is often linked with AI, but it's crucial to move beyond speculative thinking to consider the real impacts and consequences of AI on our world today.
  3. Artists, when working with and against technology, can play a role in subverting and challenging powerful systems by acting as parasites, critiquing and revealing flaws instead of just showcasing technological prowess.
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The Medium Edition

Why is this interesting? • 2171 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Learning Technique Craft Digital Art
  1. Watercolors are unforgiving; mistakes with watercolors are hard to fix because once you put them down, you can't really change them.
  2. Mastering a craft takes practice; just like with watercolors, it's crucial to first understand and excel in the medium before focusing on the message or artistry.
  3. Using technology like drawing apps can help with the challenges of traditional mediums like watercolors; these tools offer the convenience of undo and redo functions that are not available in physical art.

Grow: How Wendy MacNaughton builds community with her 30 Days of Drawing practice

Substack • 747 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Community Building Art Education
  1. Wendy MacNaughton believes drawing connects us to our curiosity and creativity. She wants everyone to see how drawing can help us learn about ourselves and the world.
  2. Her '30 Days of Drawing' event creates a fun and supportive space for people to draw together. It helps participants let go of perfectionism and focus on enjoying the process.
  3. The community she has built emphasizes ongoing connection, where members motivate each other even after the drawing event ends. This sense of belonging is crucial for maintaining their creativity.

The creative tensions

Austin Kleon • 1878 implied HN points • 30 Aug 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Creative Process Visual Arts Art Theory Art Philosophy
  1. Creative work has opposing forces that create tensions, and we should embrace these instead of avoiding them. They can actually help us create better art.
  2. Finding the right balance in these tensions is important, just like tuning a guitar string; too loose or too tight won't produce good music.
  3. Understanding and accepting paradoxes in creativity can help us work through challenges, and thinking in terms of both/and instead of either/or is key to problem-solving.

Searching for Stephen

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 972 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Memoir Theatre Family History Letters
  1. The author searched online for information about their brother's career and found a theatre program that shed light on his past.
  2. Their brother, Stephen, had a career in acting and was part of productions in the Old Vic theatre during the 1950s.
  3. Letters from their mother provided additional insight into their brother's life and the dynamics of their family during that time.

🤯 10 surprising ideas about design

Design Lobster • 519 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Creativity Inspiration Storytelling Aesthetics
  1. In design, being obvious can be a compliment. It requires a creative mindset to see things as they truly are and eliminate the unnecessary.
  2. Design that makes people look good resonates more. A little flattery in design can go a long way in enhancing user experience.
  3. Embracing bad ideas in the design process can lead to wider exploration and better solutions. It's about challenging assumptions and sparking fresh ideas.

Designer Anxiety

RPG Design Theories • 530 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. New designers often feel anxious about not living up to the standards set by previous designers.
  2. Instead of blindly following existing formats, designers should focus on creating fresh, innovative ideas.
  3. Designers should strive to produce work that is truly new and exciting, rather than simply replicating what has been done before.

art delivery : 01.30.24

The NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH ART Society • 275 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Artist Artwork Shapes Inspiration
  1. The artwork featured is by artist Rachel Comminos, known for her stunning and soft work with unique color palettes and shapes.
  2. The artist found inspiration in self-reflection after the passing of her estranged father in 2021.
  3. To read more about this artist and their work, consider subscribing to 'ART DELIVERY' from The Jealous Curator for a 7-day free trial.

The Art of Psychosis

Litverse • 259 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity Inspiration Artistic expression
  1. Creativity can be seen as a form of divine possession rather than a conscious process.
  2. Insanity and inspiration are intertwined, with creativity often flowing from a state of being 'possessed.'
  3. Artistic expression for some individuals like Jim Morrison involves a deep connection to spirituality and a belief in being guided by external forces.

Kent Beck: Illuminating the Pattern Language of Modern Life

Software Design: Tidy First? • 684 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Modern Art Abstract art Art Process Art Techniques
  1. Kent Beck's artwork combines traditional methods with modern themes, using materials like acrylic on glass and mirrors. This unique approach connects past art styles with today's technology.
  2. His cityscapes focus on how light shapes our urban experiences, emphasizing moments that can easily be missed. Each light point represents both existence and the possibility of absence.
  3. Beck's abstract pieces follow strict patterns with colors that never touch, reflecting the inner workings of his mind. This turns each work into an exploration of how we perceive reality and our environment.

One page diary

Austin Kleon • 2158 implied HN points • 14 Jun 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity Techniques Video content Personal Projects
  1. Creating a one-page diary is a simple exercise that encourages you to reflect on the best thing that happened each day. It helps you practice cheerful thinking by focusing on the positives.
  2. Using tools like a brush pen and a slow writing method can enhance your diary experience. This slows you down and allows for more thoughtful reflection.
  3. Incorporating video into your diary practice can make it more creative and engaging. Filming your process can help you share your work, even if it's just for yourself.

Player Success Versus Character Success

RPG Design Theories • 511 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Game design Character development Storytelling
  1. Players and characters should be conceptually separated in terms of success and failure.
  2. Game designers can choose between player-first and character-first gameplay styles, each with its own advantages and challenges.
  3. A balance between player-first and character-first elements can create a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience.