The hottest Visual Arts Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

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.

'The Old Man and the Sea' Is a Tremendous Spectacle

Animation Obsessive • 3498 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Visual Arts Cinematography Storytelling
  1. The film 'The Old Man and the Sea' is a spectacular visual experience that sticks with you.
  2. Director Alexander Petrov used a unique 'paint-on-glass' animation technique, creating a massive, enveloping spectacle.
  3. The film faced controversy for drifting from the original story, focusing more on visuals than the narrative.

#144 Design Déja Vu

Design Lobster • 479 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Typography Creativity Aesthetics Visual Arts
  1. Corporate Memphis or Globohomo is an overused illustration style characterized by flat colors, geometric elements, and simplistic human figures, popular in Big Tech software.
  2. The Lobster typeface, designed by Pablo Impallari, became widely popular in the 2010s for its retro-contemporary appeal, but font choices should always align with the intended message.
  3. Designers should aim to bring a human touch to designs without relying on typical illustrations, considering alternatives to communicate warmth and humanity.
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The Anatomy of Photographing a British Party

In the Flash • 1199 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Photography Visual Arts Event coverage
  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.

Let’s throw an art show!

Austin Kleon • 1099 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Contemporary Art Visual Arts Digital Art
  1. We can now share pictures in our chats on the web, which makes connecting easier. It's a fun way to show off our art creations!
  2. There's a virtual art show happening where everyone can join and post their recent artworks. It's great to see what others have been working on.
  3. Engaging in these chats and sharing our work helps build a creative community. It's nice to connect and inspire one another!

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.

🎁 Special Holiday Surprise 🎁

Generative Arts Collective • 39 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Generative Art Creative Coding Visual Arts Digital Media Art Community
  1. There is a special surprise for paid subscribers who support the newsletter. It's a small thank you gift to show appreciation.
  2. Subscribers can enjoy a 7-day free trial to access the full post archives. This allows new readers to explore past content without commitment.
  3. Generative arts and creative coding are the main themes of the newsletter. These topics encourage creativity and innovation in art and technology.

Basic human situations

Vague Blue • 299 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Film Literature Visual Arts Short Stories Performance art
  1. Basic human situations are simple yet universal experiences that involve conflict or tension between people.
  2. Two people with conflicting ideologies often lead to conflict, but even everyday interactions can become a basic human situation.
  3. The essence of a basic human situation can be seen in the waiting and dependency depicted in plays like 'Waiting for Godot' as well as in personal struggles and choices like in the film 'Wanda.'

Macau

Cosmographia • 399 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual Arts Literature Photography Poetry Cartography
  1. The post is part of the Atlas' Notes series on Cosmographia, focusing on art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography centered on a specific place.
  2. The content is for paid subscribers only, indicating exclusive access to detailed and curated material.
  3. The post promotes the full map of Cosmographia, encouraging engagement, subscriptions, and sign-ins for existing paid subscribers.

Two Ways of Thinking About Modernism

Castalia • 379 implied HN points • 26 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Modernism Art history Representation Cultural criticism Visual Arts
  1. Art has changed a lot over the last hundred years, and many feel that modern art doesn’t resonate as strongly with people today. Unlike the past, when artists were central to cultural life, modern artists often seem disconnected from the public.
  2. The shift from painting’s focus on realistic representation to abstraction was influenced by technology, leaving behind traditional techniques. While early modernists responded creatively to these changes, later artists seem to have lost that boldness.
  3. The art world is heavily influenced by money and market trends. Many notable artworks were pushed to success by a few wealthy individuals rather than by a collective appreciation of good ideas, which can cloud our understanding of what makes art valuable.

Mirrors, not windows

Alberto Cairo's The Art of Insight • 19 implied HN points • 01 Aug 24
🎭️ Culture Visual Arts Literature Community Engagement Social justice
  1. Use data to create mirrors, not windows. This means helping communities understand themselves better, instead of letting outsiders judge them.
  2. Visualizations can be made more inclusive and participatory. Designers should involve the community in creating the data displays.
  3. The benefits of datafication are not shared equally. Often, dominant groups gain more advantages, while marginalized groups face increased risks and harms.

Collage problems

Austin Kleon • 1518 implied HN points • 28 Jun 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Collage Visual Arts Creative Process Mixed Media
  1. Collaging can be a fun and calming way to process thoughts. Just gluing random things together can help find new ideas.
  2. Using technology like a photocopier can make collage work easier and more efficient. It's a simple way to create many copies of an image you like.
  3. The most important aspect of collaging is to have fun and not take it too seriously. Sometimes, just playing around can lead to great creative outcomes.

Ouvert Sur - Résilience

Newsletter Artistique • 314 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual Arts Poetry
  1. The article discusses the resilience of the buxus tree, which has endured attacks in the past.
  2. The author draws parallels between the tree's resilience and the ability to overcome challenges.
  3. The message conveys hope for those going through tough times, emphasizing the potential for renewal and strength.

Tomi Faison: First As Tragedy Then As Larp

Do Not Research • 199 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Exhibition Film Photography Installation Visual Arts
  1. The artwork 'First As Tragedy Then As Larp' by Tomi Faison delves into the concept of devirtualization and the transition of online politics to physical actions during specific events.
  2. The piece 'Carousel No. 1 (Desire Is Structured Like A Montage)' showcases a series of 35mm slide shows that explore the circular nature of desires and the unconscious through various sourced images.
  3. Through the use of film slides and montages, Tomi Faison's work reflects on drive and desire with a focus on the repetition and cyclical aspects of the unconscious.

TITAA #40: Post-Creative Creativity

Things I Think Are Awesome • 216 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Game design Storytelling Visual Arts TV Poetry
  1. Conceptual artist Sol Lewitt's wall drawings are executed by others based on his written prompts, highlighting different interpretations of instructions
  2. Poetry translation can lead to varied interpretations of the same text in different languages
  3. Copyright laws and the concept of dual authorship raise questions about originality and authorship in derived works