The hottest Art Theory Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Art & Illustration Topics

Disorderly Creativity

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano • 170 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity Expression Inspiration Art Theory Literature
  1. Creativity often feels chaotic and unpredictable. It's important to embrace that disorder rather than trying to control it with logic.
  2. Art is more about emotions than just ideas. Creating purely from thoughts can lead to dull and flat outcomes.
  3. To spark true creativity, step away from your usual patterns and allow yourself to engage with the mysterious and unknown parts of your mind.

Beautiful Monsters

Seven Senses • 559 implied HN points • 29 Jun 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Theory Morality Censorship Cultural critique
  1. It's tough to separate an artist's bad behavior from their art. Many people wonder if enjoying a piece of art makes them part of the artist's wrong actions.
  2. Our choices in what art we support reflect our values. Boycotting artists and products can feel empowering, but true change often requires focusing on the larger systems that let harmful actions happen.
  3. It's important to recognize that artists might be both good and bad, like 'beautiful monsters'. This complexity challenges us to think deeply about our feelings towards their work and our own behavior.

The Great (im)Balance

Endless Explorations • 79 implied HN points • 27 Sep 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Creativity Illustration Self-Expression Art Theory
  1. Everyone has a logical side and an intuitive side. The logical side helps us stay on track, while the intuitive side can inspire creativity and lead to new ideas.
  2. Balancing logic and intuition is important for personal growth. We often suppress our creative side, but letting it express itself can lead to amazing results.
  3. Everyone has an inner voice that deserves to be heard. Listening to this voice and nurturing our creativity can unlock opportunities for more fulfilling experiences.

Top Links 632 Breakthrough analysis of the "Origins and Content of New Work in the USA, 1940–2018". The art of the photocopier & oil as the lubricant.

Chartbook • 386 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Art history Visual Arts Contemporary Art Art Theory Photography
  1. The analysis focuses on the new job categories that have appeared in the USA from 1940 to 2018. It's interesting to see how work has evolved over time.
  2. It mentions the role of tools like photocopiers in changing the way art and work are created. This shows how technology can enhance creativity.
  3. The study sheds light on the connection between art and industry, suggesting that they can work together in innovative ways. This idea encourages thinking outside the box.

Imitation Games

Counter Craft • 542 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Contemporary Art Art Theory Digital Art Art Criticism Visual Culture
  1. AI art can imitate famous styles, but it often lacks originality and creativity. Just copying styles doesn't make it as good as the original.
  2. People unfamiliar with art may prefer simple or amateur pieces over professional ones. Knowing more about art can help us appreciate it better.
  3. The value of art comes from creativity and effort, not just the ability to copy. Real art involves developing unique styles and perspectives.
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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.

Art is Navigating Latent Spaces

Sunday Letters • 79 implied HN points • 31 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art Conceptual Art Art Theory Art history
  1. Art may help us explore parts of our own minds that we don’t usually think about. It can highlight unusual connections that we weren't aware of before.
  2. When we ask questions to AI models, we guide them to specific areas of their knowledge. This is similar to how we might expect art to take us to new and surprising ideas.
  3. People often feel disappointed by art when it doesn't challenge them. If art points to familiar and predictable ideas, it tends to feel less satisfying.

Critical Making Reflections, 2D Packing, and Grids in R

Generative Arts Collective • 65 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Theory Creative Process Generative Art Art Education Visual Culture
  1. Creativity is about balancing rules and imagination. Understanding the rules helps you know when to break them and innovate.
  2. Making art is a journey that involves exploration. It's important to try new things and take steps, even if you don't know where they will lead.
  3. Looking deeper into things can reveal their true complexity. Just like knowing more about birds goes beyond their colors, understanding art involves seeing beyond the surface.

Artt in the Age of Artifficial Intelligence

Donkeyspace • 18 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Contemporary Art AI Art Art Theory Art Criticism Visual Culture
  1. Art is not just pretty pictures; it's a project deeply connected to its context and history. Each piece of art tells a story influenced by the time and place it was created.
  2. Many people struggle with modern and contemporary art because they don't want to engage with the complicated ideas behind it. They just want nice visuals to enjoy without any deep thinking.
  3. The relationship between art and public taste can be messy. People may like things not because they are genuinely good, but because they want to fit in or impress others.

Artist Profile: Dena Yago, by Günseli Yalcinkaya

Do Not Research • 59 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art Art Theory Community Building Content creation Cultural critique
  1. Being an artist in the age of social media means navigating the intersection of art and commerce, where the artists' creations and online presence get quantified and exploited
  2. Collaborative platforms like Are.na and collectives like K-HOLE have been vital in forming connections and providing alternative spaces for artists to create and share their work
  3. Dena Yago's art explores complex societal issues through familiar cultural symbols, reflecting the challenges artists face in balancing commercial work, art practice, and navigating the gig economy

A Measure of Excellence

Jake [Building in NYC] • 19 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Virtue ethics Art Theory Creativity Existentialism Aesthetics
  1. Excellence comes from creating and pursuing what is good and beautiful in life. The more you create, the more you grow in excellence.
  2. Artifacts, or creations like art, writing, and projects, show evidence of our existence and impact on the world. The more artifacts you have, the more impact you likely have.
  3. To become excellent, keep creating and don't be afraid to start. Just like any skill, practice helps you improve and get closer to your goals.

In Search of Artistic Integrity

Castalia • 59 implied HN points • 11 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Theory Literary Criticism Cultural critique
  1. The book 'Foodie' seems to be intentionally obscure, and the author chose anonymity to focus on genuine artistic expression rather than popularity. This suggests that true art can exist without the need for a large audience.
  2. Guy Debord's idea of the 'society of the spectacle' highlights how society values appearances more than substance. This shift makes being an artist more about social media presence than the quality of work.
  3. Authentic art is not about making money or gaining fame; it's about connecting with others and expressing true emotions. Artists should focus on their work rather than trying to be famous.

Diary #24

Autoscriptorium • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
📚 Literature Creative Writing Art Theory
  1. Talent cannot be quantified like a substance, it grows in different environments.
  2. Choosing the right scenes is crucial in creating extraordinary art.
  3. Finding a calm space amidst interruptions is important for creative work.