The hottest Art Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Compare and despair!

Austin Kleon • 3297 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Comparing yourself to other artists can lead to feelings of inadequacy. It's easy to feel like you should do what they do instead of focusing on your own path.
  2. Reading about how others work can distract you from your own projects. Instead of creating, you might end up shopping for supplies or changing your methods unnecessarily.
  3. Your mindset influences how much you compare yourself to others. When you're feeling vulnerable or unsure, it can be tempting to try what others do, even if it doesn't fit your style.

Not knowing is the first step

Austin Kleon • 4016 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Sometimes not knowing what you're doing can be a part of the creative process. Even famous artists admit they often don't have everything figured out.
  2. Books can be powerful tools for dealing with loss. There are new releases that focus on saying goodbye and exploring difficult emotions.
  3. Documentaries can be really enjoyable when they're well-made. The recent Wham! documentary shows how good editing can make a story more engaging.

Curator of Secrets

Vague Blue • 579 implied HN points • 23 May 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. On June 13, a live Substack reading will feature secrets shared anonymously by various readers, creating an intriguing event to look forward to.
  2. Critics have discussed the intricate relationship between tennis, desire, and sexuality portrayed in the film 'Challengers', emphasizing the thematic depth beyond surface eroticism.
  3. The book 'Community Garden for Lonely Girls' by Christine Shan Shan Hou is described as a surreal, sensual collection worth exploring for its unique and engaging content.

The Weekend Press: Siblings Are a Gift

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 398 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Growing up with many siblings can be chaotic but also creates deep bonds and a rich, joyful life — siblings are a real gift.
  2. Small acts of gratitude, like handwritten thank-you notes, are meaningful and worth making time for even when life is busy.
  3. After the holidays, give yourself a break: cook something simple, binge an entertaining thriller about elite meltdowns, and read a short book or essay to reset.

the point of it all

bookbear express • 396 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. The core of who you are often stays the same over time — the things you loved as a teenager can remain the most meaningful parts of your life.
  2. Small rituals and recurring motifs like food, clothes, and favorite places give comfort, shape your personal style, and help create a steady sense of identity.
  3. Love and care require letting someone in, which feels blissful and terrifying at once because it makes you vulnerable and reveals contradictory parts of yourself.
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Lhasa ལྷ་ས

Cosmographia • 1937 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art
  1. The post is part of a series called Atlas' Notebook, which focuses on art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography related to a specific place. This particular post is centered on Lhasa.
  2. The content is for paid subscribers only, indicating exclusive access to detailed and curated information about Lhasa and other related topics.
  3. Readers are encouraged to subscribe to Cosmographia to access the full content and enjoy other similar posts in the future.

1 year of solo work!

vrk loves paper • 339 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Taking time off from work allowed for creativity and self-discovery. Instead of just quitting to find direction, planning ahead helped focus on what truly mattered.
  2. It's important to tackle personal projects based on what you genuinely want to create. Listening to your instincts can lead to fulfilling achievements.
  3. Creating alone has challenges, like managing all tasks yourself and feeling the pressure of deadlines. Recognizing these struggles can help improve work-life balance moving forward.

One Gift Guide to Rule Them All

Culture Study • 5142 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. This year, there's a goal to help those in need by raising funds for beds, bikes, and other essentials for refugees. It's all about making a difference as a group.
  2. Buying gifts from small businesses can feel more meaningful than shopping at big stores during the holiday rush. It can help support local shops that rely on December sales.
  3. The focus of gift-giving should be on thoughtful purchases rather than just getting a bargain. It's better to find one special item that feels right than to buy a lot of stuff just because it's on sale.

Apple Gets Creativity Wrong

The Analog Family • 439 implied HN points • 10 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Creativity can't be contained in just one device like an iPad. We need real interactions and materials to inspire our creative processes.
  2. Physical items around us, like books and art supplies, play a big role in fueling our creativity. It's important to have those tangible things to engage with.
  3. Digital devices can distract us from creative work because they offer too many options. We often need some friction and focus to dig deep into our creativity.

Non-Euclidean Churches

Reactionary Feminist • 15 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Athens layers ancient and modern architecture so densely that ruins, metro lines, and shops coexist, creating a living palimpsest of history.
  2. The encounter between Greek thought and early Christianity — epitomised by St Paul preaching on the Areopagus and conversions like Dionysius — is presented as a foundational moment for Western identity.
  3. Sacred places carry memory that bends perception, so small churches like Panagia Kapnikarea can feel much larger and more timeless inside than they appear outside.

The meaning of discipline

Austin Kleon • 2437 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Discipline is about making a commitment over time. It's important to stick with something consistently, even when it's tough.
  2. Musicians must balance three types of discipline: hands, head, and heart. Being good at one area isn't enough; all three need to work together.
  3. To be disciplined, you need to show up and get the work done. Sometimes, that just means sitting down and starting the task at hand.

Whiskerology!

Culture Study • 1538 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Hair has been seen as a reflection of personal identity, conveying information about character, race, and gender in the 19th century. People believed that their hair could reveal their true self.
  2. In early America, hair length was linked to social status and power. Short hair signified masculinity and political citizenship for white men, while long hair was associated with marginalized groups.
  3. Today, hair autonomy is connected to self-sovereignty, as people express their identity through their hair. However, there are still challenges, especially for Black individuals, in facing regulations about hair in workplaces and schools.

Just do your dance already

Experimental History • 3868 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. It's common to get stuck trying to give detailed responses to questions. This can lead to wasting too much time on one email.
  2. Finding balance in communication is important to stay productive. Spending all day on one task can keep you from accomplishing other things.
  3. Prioritizing efficiency in response can help manage time better. Instead of focusing on a perfect answer, aim for getting back to others more quickly.

Summer diary

Austin Kleon • 3117 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Keeping a diary helps track daily life and creates a record of experiences. It can provide a sense of accomplishment and reflection.
  2. Summer in Texas can be tough, both weather-wise and emotionally. Writing about it can help cope with the challenges.
  3. Re-reading diary entries serves as a reminder that tough times will eventually pass, offering comfort and perspective.

Spitballing

Chuck Palahniuk's Plot Spoiler • 3085 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Consider focusing on a very small customer base that will pay high prices for your service or product.
  2. Creating a high-status-signaling commodity can attract a niche market of wealthy individuals.
  3. Emphasizing exclusivity and luxury in your offerings can drive demand and high price points.

There are two mes

Austin Kleon • 3636 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. There are two sides to everyone: the public persona and the real self. Recognizing this helps us understand people better.
  2. Life is a learning journey where experiences shape how we live. This idea emphasizes the importance of staying curious and open to growth.
  3. Children's creativity is pure and inspiring. To create great work, we can learn from their open-mindedness and natural expression.

The Truth About Bob Dylan’s Falling Out with Pete Seeger

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 4229 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Bob Dylan's conflict with Pete Seeger was more about differing political views than Dylan going electric. Seeger and others were concerned about Dylan's lack of interest in their leftist politics.
  2. Dylan's career has played tricks on fans and critics alike, creating misunderstandings about his true beliefs and intentions. His complex lyrics and infrequent interviews lead to lots of interpretations, some far from the truth.
  3. The film 'A Complete Unknown' attempts to provide a straightforward take on Dylan's early career, but it misses the bigger picture of his unique relationship with the political scene around him. Dylan chose his own path, moving away from the expectations of his folk singer peers.

Dreaming and Fighting

Animation Obsessive • 5112 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Art isn't just a way to escape problems; it can inspire change and make a difference in the world. It can connect people and provoke thoughts about important issues.
  2. Artists throughout history have fought through tough times to create meaningful work. Their stories remind us that creativity can thrive even in challenging circumstances.
  3. The process of making art can be just as valuable as the final product. Different ways of telling stories and sharing ideas can open new paths for inspiration and understanding.

New York City

Tao Lin • 499 implied HN points • 28 May 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. The author is in New York City for a week, where he will host a reading and lecture. He has been to New York several times before and enjoys the experience.
  2. He plans to talk about his cat Nini during the reading, sharing personal stories and experiences, including Nini's health issues.
  3. The author hopes to sell art prints at the reading to help cover his travel expenses, as he is not being paid for the reading itself.

Why So Many Elites Feel Like Losers

Persuasion • 3007 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Elite overproduction can lead to social unrest among the financially secure who feel entitled to success.
  2. The democratization of creative tools has not made it easier for aspiring artists to make a living.
  3. The lack of a clear, achievable vision of success can lead to destabilization and dissatisfaction in society.

Ancient Wisdom: The World Says ‘Quit,’ But I’m Not Done Yet

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1201 implied HN points • 10 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Staying motivated is important, no matter the age. Having passion for your work can keep you feeling alive and engaged.
  2. Facing challenges and setbacks is a part of any career. It's crucial to keep pushing forward instead of giving up.
  3. The culture can sometimes make it feel like certain voices are less valued. It's okay to acknowledge that and still find ways to contribute.

A Portal to the Past

Animation Obsessive • 1793 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. The 1980s were a special time for Shanghai Animation Film Studio, making it a leader in Chinese animation.
  2. A rare brochure was digitized to preserve and share the studio's history and artworks from 1957 to 1987.
  3. The article expresses gratitude to readers for their support and mentions excitement about an upcoming trip to a festival.

Things Worth Remembering: A Chinese Poem on a Greyhound Bus

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1187 implied HN points • 10 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Traveling can be tough, especially on long bus rides, but it offers a unique view of the country. Seeing the landscape change outside can make the journey more enjoyable.
  2. Memories and poetry can provide comfort during tough times. Having something meaningful in your mind can be a source of support when needed.
  3. Life's challenges can be tough, but there’s a desire for change and better living conditions. Sometimes, getting away is necessary to find some peace and stability.

Artists must be allowed to do bad work

Austin Kleon • 4636 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Artists need the freedom to create bad work. It’s part of the process and helps them grow.
  2. Creative exploration sometimes involves messy experiments and repeating ideas without clear purpose. This can eventually lead to better discoveries.
  3. Reading about philosophy can inspire creativity. Classic thinkers can offer insights that enhance artistic expression.

Talking about taste

The Common Reader • 1134 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Good taste can be a tricky subject, and it's debated if anyone can really develop it or if it's just a way for some people to feel superior.
  2. The conversation touched on how some classics in literature didn't do well when they were first released.
  3. There was also a discussion about how even AI might develop its own sense of taste in the future.

Literary culture can't just dismiss AI.

The Common Reader • 3402 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. AI is changing how we think about literature and culture. It's important to embrace this change rather than ignore it.
  2. Modern literature needs to engage with new technologies to stay relevant. Just like past innovations, AI can be a tool for creativity instead of a replacement.
  3. Writers should adapt to the evolving cultural landscape. Accepting AI as part of the literary world can help create a richer and more diverse artistic expression.

The Khyber Pass

Cosmographia • 1976 implied HN points • 09 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art
  1. The post discusses 'The Khyber Pass' and is part of the 'Atlas' Notes' series.
  2. The content includes an artwork, poem, literature excerpt, antique map, and photography related to a specific location.
  3. Access to the full post is available for paid subscribers only.

The joy of interviews

Austin Kleon • 2158 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Listening to artist interviews is enjoyable and can be enriching. You might find interesting insights and stories that inspire you.
  2. Repetition in interviews can reveal important truths. When artists repeat certain ideas, it shows what matters most to them.
  3. Collecting and studying interviews can be like a mini class. You can learn valuable lessons from what artists say and how they express themselves.

Tlaxcala

Cosmographia • 1497 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art
  1. The post is part of the Atlas' Notes series on cosmographia.substack.com, focusing on art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography centered around a specific place.
  2. Access to the full post is reserved for paid subscribers.
  3. The post by M. E. Rothwell on Tlaxcala was published on Jan 16, 2024.

A Failed Rock Adaption of Dune Might Have Starred Mick Jagger, Orson Welles & Salvador Dalí (with Music by Pink Floyd)

The Honest Broker • 9441 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Famous films that were planned but never made include adaptations like Orson Welles of 'Heart of Darkness', Martin Scorsese's George Gershwin biopic, and Spike Lee's 'Porgy and Bess'
  2. The failed rock adaptation of 'Dune' envisioned in the 1970s had a star-studded cast like Mick Jagger and Salvador Dalí, but the ambitious project never materialized due to challenges and lack of funding
  3. Alejandro Jodorowsky's extravagant vision for 'Dune' involved notable figures like Salvador Dalí and Pink Floyd, but the project collapsed after spending extensively on script, storyboards, and negotiations

Performative hydration has gone too far

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 838 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Performative hydration in wellness culture has become excessive, with water being portrayed as a solution for various health and beauty issues.
  2. The trend of performative hydration is closely tied to the rise of wellness culture in the past 15 years, where water has been turned into a fashionable accessory.
  3. Public health attempts to promote water consumption have evolved into a market of exclusive and expensive water products, potentially detracting from the original goal of encouraging healthy hydration choices.

How To Choose Your Nemesis

The Ruffian • 288 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Personal, repeated, and evenly matched rivalries raise motivation and often boost performance and creativity.
  2. Rivalry can also be destructive: it can encourage unethical behavior, waste resources, and make lower‑skilled or status‑anxious people perform worse.
  3. The healthiest rivalries are non‑zero‑sum “nemeses” where each competitor has strengths the other admires and learns from, and confidence lets the contest push both to improve.

#228: Maybe we don’t need to know

Maybe Baby • 1309 implied HN points • 06 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Sometimes it’s nice not to know everything and just enjoy the mystery of life. Experiences like magic shows can remind us how special unanswered questions can be.
  2. Magicians protect their secrets to create a sense of wonder, which is a precious feeling. It's important to appreciate the enjoyment of being puzzled rather than always seeking answers.
  3. In our search for knowledge, we often overlook the joy that comes from experimentation and making mistakes. Embracing the unexpected can lead to delightful surprises.

The stone walls of Ireland and human insight

The Leap • 299 implied HN points • 19 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. The stone walls of Ireland reflect human creativity and resilience. They show how people adapt and use local materials to build something lasting.
  2. The idea of spontaneous human insight is important. Sometimes, communities naturally find solutions to problems without needing a formal process.
  3. Traveling can offer new perspectives. Exploring different places, like the hills of Ireland, can inspire deep thoughts and insights about life.

You don't need a vision

Austin Kleon • 3457 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. You don't always need a clear vision for your future; sometimes it's okay to go with the flow. Life can be unpredictable, and paths can change in unexpected ways.
  2. Focusing too much on a specific vision can limit your perspective and keep you stuck in the past. It's important to stay open to new possibilities and experiences.
  3. While having a vision can be motivating for some, others may find inspiration in exploring their interests and passions without a set end goal. Enjoy the journey and see where it leads.

Inside my commonplace diary

Austin Kleon • 5155 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Keeping a commonplace diary is a fun way to collect quotes and thoughts. Instead of writing about daily life, you can enjoy capturing interesting things you hear or read.
  2. Over time, a commonplace diary can reveal themes and connections between quotes, making it a creative project. It can even help inspire new writing pieces or ideas.
  3. Writing things down by hand helps you remember them better, and it feels like a little adventure in time. Looking back at your quotes can bring back memories and show how your thoughts have grown.

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #176

Creative Destruction • 34 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. Our future is sliding into a ‘Homogenocene’ where profit-driven standardization and global platforms flatten cultural and biological diversity, making systems less innovative and resilient.
  2. AI is shifting the business model from an attention economy to an attachment economy, where chatbots exploit human bonding and loneliness at scale, creating new psychological harms.
  3. The real paperclip problem isn’t a rogue AI but our own race to scale AI: we’re pouring huge resources into marginal gains for winner-take-all rewards, consuming energy and social capital in the process.

Studio as a verb

Austin Kleon • 3217 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Art
  1. The word 'studio' comes from a verb, which reminds us that being creative is an active process. It means that we should always engage in making, experimenting, and creating.
  2. To generate great ideas, start by getting rid of your lesser ones first. Sometimes copying others can lead you to unique insights and inspiration.
  3. You can connect with people in special ways, like through shared interests. For example, cartooning helped a son bond with his elderly father, showing how creativity can strengthen relationships.