#art meta
Text
i don't write tips often but i got asked frequently about characters designs and how i could make up one based on few source materials for fan designs or even from scratch for my ocs. so here's my general thought process which can be applied to both visual art and writing
are they a lazy person? -> do they care how others think about their appearance? (they may get creative in maintenance and wearing their hair/clothes if both questions are affirmative)
where does the character come from? how would you embed their culture onto their look?
mementos?
what's their occupation? how can elements in their outfit reflect that?
adjustments based on their disability (physical, mental, neurodivergence...) and body types?
are there any unnecessary or unpractical elements? (eg: elements that hinder how they walk if their job requires them to run a lot)
*it all boils down to the character's preferences*
169 notes
·
View notes
Note
hello, dearest topsy! ❤ i know you're busy and flooded with asks so don't feel pressured to respond right away but as someone trying to get their art off the ground, do you have any tips about lighting and general composition? those are two areas that have always been tough for me to figure out and you're an absolute boss.
may your road lead you to warm sands, my friend! :)
HELLO! I'm SO SORRY it's taken me so long to get around to answering you!
Lighting and composition are honestly still two things I struggle with myself, or at least it FEELS like a struggle. One of the resources that helped me out with color theory and thinking about shadows/light/etc. was this book:
It has a REALLY interesting and helpful comprehensive breakdown of color theory, both the basics and a bit of advanced stuff, as well as plenty of examples of practical application.
Also, one thing that I find helpful is working from limited color palettes when painting. Usually I'll either pick and choose the colors that interest me to create a palette, or use the Procreate feature "Create Palette From Image" (which is awesome). Here's an example of what I mean:
As for composition.... man, idk what to tell you. I kind of just eyeball it and aim for balance. I used to have pretty bad compositions, and then they slowly got better. Very slowly. Taking inspiration from classical art, as well as modern illustrations, is also a good way to trick yourself into being better at coming up with compositions.
But if you want one of the more classic examples of types of composition, the "Letters/Symbols" trick can be really helpful if you're stuck:
(I wish I new the source of this image, but it's been passed around the internet so many times at this point that I just have no idea. So if you know what book this is from, sound off in the comment!)
I hope this helps, my friend!
102 notes
·
View notes
Text
Alicent + the woman in the window: Analysing the trope
“You desire not to be free, but to make a window in the wall of your prison”
— Rhaenys to Alicent, Hotd 1x09
There's a lot going on between Alicent and windows in House of the Dragon:
Alicent is a hightower, a woman trapped in a tower looking out the window. Her daughter and granddaughter die by jumping out the window.
For the purpose of this post, I'm limiting myself to analysing the "woman in the window" trope as seen in art.
The woman in the window has has been featured in Mediterranean pottery from the fourth century BCE through Botticelli, Raphael and Rembrandt, Sickert and Picasso.
A window is a border between the inside and the outside, the private and the public, the light and the dark. It provides commentary on cages, frames, prisons, and the limit of the subject's freedoms and horizons.
When a woman is framed in light streaming through a window, we are are seeing her as she was seen by the artist.
Tracy Chevalier noted the presence of a "relentless male gaze" when she visited Reframed: The Woman in the Window, an exhibition at Dulwich Picture gallery.
Between those two poles there are various depictions and judgments of women. Sometimes they’re prostitutes; other times they are the Virgin Mary.
In fact, among the earliest depictions of "a woman in the window" is a Mediterranean vessel depicting a courtesan.
1. Courtesan in a window, 18th century
2. The caption of "Woman at the Window" by Degas reveals that the featured woman is a courtesan he paid to model for him.
3. The Virgin and the Child, seen by a window
Are women in windows protected by being inside and shutting out the world, or are they being confined against their will?
In one of Picasso's portraits, his partner Francoise Gilot looks out the window, her hands pressed against the glass. Tracy notes that
knowing what we know about Picasso and his partners, it is clear Gilot is trapped inside the male gaze (though she does eventually escape the relationship), her hands semaphoring anxiety.
Windows and Waiting
Windows are also linked to waiting, and this is especially true of women in medieval times, waiting at the window for men to return from war, waiting at the window to learn their own fate.
62 notes
·
View notes
Text
I made myself into a meme!
20 notes
·
View notes
Text
people will be like "don't trace!!!" as if it's an issue without nuance. yes, don't trace someone else's art, post it, and pass it off as your own. no, it is not considered "cheating" to post a picture of a drawing whose sketch you traced from a real-life photo as long as you give credit to your reference in your post. and if you take a picture of yourself to trace, you don't need to credit it or say "i traced this" or anything! tracing is how most people learn structures bc most of us don't have the time/money to take drawing classes. if you DO trace another artist's art, whatever, but just don't post it. it's that easy.
7 notes
·
View notes
Text
As much as I agree these designs are… subpar for a lack of a better and nicer word, I really do feel bad for Lavendertowne. If you compare her personal art and character design from before starting Youtube/her first couple years being a YouTuber to her art now the downgrade is just sad. Keeping up with social media algorithms really takes a tole on the skills of artists.
Unfortunately that will probably never be a discussion as long as the masses find laughing at the artists obviously affected more fun than any critical thinking or maybe even empathy.
#art meta#sort of#social media#Oh and this isn’t any attack on the people in the screenshot whatsoever…#even if I don’t think it’s very kind I don’t hate them for pointing out the obvious
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
working like on a wip back and forth review, if you’d like to do it yourself:
- we started off aimless but agreed on general style and subject beforehand. in this case we knew we both liked to paint and as such went painterly on this one. this was a good idea imo.
- the initial plans went back and forth pretty quick because sketches r ez. i left many notes, which was one of my favorite parts of the process- getting notes and sending notes teehee. i recommend notes especially especially if you’re unsure.
- i love love loved getting drafts back. usually artists i feel like don’t get stuck on the same thing which is a huge plus. and it was really fun to be surprised on what clever thing was to be added! i felt like they were fixing all my mistakes, and we were making each other better. i think.
- i can totes foresee a sort of situation where one person kind of hogs the best parts. i felt a little like i was hogging the best parts, or maybe i was playing to my strengths? :< i think a good fix would be to add a note on what to work on next. maybe a red circle?
- because we painted the actual details back and forth could be pretty slow. personally i think this is a plus because you simply never get stuck on a thing too long. but it totes takes a while and the ball does stop and start. thus, patience is needed, and one should agree on who should finish it and at what round. i was the finisher and asked for feedback before finishing, for instance.
thx again to @seafortskua for playing and also being the most patient person ever 💖💖💖💖
#inconsequential nonsense#art meta#but ya id recommend it!#again to emphasize i sprung this on them and they were gracious enough to put up w my shit 🥺🥺🥺#this meta didn’t belong in the post post n i forgot to put it in the process sorry
13 notes
·
View notes
Text
"We can't all be professionals, but that shouldn't be a reason not to sing."
- Frank Watkinson on YouTube
youtube
#frank watkinson#art#artwork#creative process#art meta#mazzy star#fade into you#Youtube#not escaflowne
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
2/10 - do not recommend
So, when I travel, I love to pick up interesting local art supplies, which were surprisingly difficult to find in Australia. At one store I tried in Sydney, the clerk was quite sure they didn't have anything. I came across these on clearance, though. And now that I've had a chance to try them, I can't tell you how glad I am they were cheap.
They're a bit like trying to paint with damp sand. Which is dumb, because soluble graphite exists and *can* be an absolute delight.
I'm also so, *so* glad I decided to swatch them instead of going straight to using them in a drawing.
Has anyone tried these and not hated them? Are they just a ripoff of Derwent Graphitint? Is there a trick I'm missing?
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
I know it's been said many times before, but it's very important to remember that everyone starts as a beginner.
No matter what you're working at, be it writing, art, music, or anything, you will improve as you do it. The trick is to not lose heart, and keep doing it.
I am by no means a great artist, but I've still improved hugely through the years. I haven't taken any classes, I rarely use references or tutorials, and I know nothing about anatomy or color theory. If I chose to study these things, I'd get even better. But the point is, I've gotten better just by doing it consistently.
If you don't have time or money for music lessons, if you can't comprehend color theory, if studying english bores you, just keep creating anyway! You'll get better.
(art below the cut)
#found the old pic and decided to say what would've been nice to hear when i just started drawing#i only started drawing 'seriously' so i could make comics#that was what started it and here we are now lol#writing community#whump community#art meta#art inspiration#not whump
33 notes
·
View notes
Note
Have you taken any art classes (college or online). Or have you always been self taught?
(I think I might have seen an ask like this before but I can’t remember)
I went to college for art! I was a studio art major for two years before switching majors, so I've had a good deal of formal training in anatomy, still life, illustration, etc. I know people who are self-taught that have far surpassed my skill level though, so formal training is a great head start, but it isn't the end-all, be-all in terms of becoming a competent artist.
I AM self-taught in terms of digital painting. The digital painting class I took in college didn't teach me a single thing I hadn't already figured out on my own. But I've been using some form of digital painting program since about 2007 (when I was in high school, yes I'm An Old), and it's been trial, error, and looking up online tutorials. I used to look up the step by step tutorials on deviantArt before Youtube became what it is today.
But these days I'm definitely self-taught. I've considered picking up some painting classes, just to keep my skills sharp, but I unfortunately don't have time right now. So I try to force myself to do little life drawing exercises now and then.
21 notes
·
View notes
Text
Digital artists, a few art discourses from twitter (phrased more gently for your nubile eyes) to gingerly stir the discourse stew.
Do you use stabilization?
I personally don’t, or just like, a 10 on CSP whatever that is. In any part of my process, unless I’m doing something like, katanas, they’re pretty tough to get right. I find the lag behind my pen extremely annoying and unpredictable, I’d rather improve my ability to get my hand to go where I want it to with practice, to improve my draftsmanship.
Do you erase more, or undo more?
I used to undo more but I recently found a pencil and more importantly, IMO, an eraser in CSP that really work for me, to the point where my flow has moved from draw/ctrlZ/draw to draw/erase/draw and it feels much more natural.
How do you draw/render gold?
Please help it’s very annoying I keep trying but it looks like bronze or copper and it looks dull I can’t make it bright and shiny
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Having so many feelings about art right now. Art as conversation. Art as language. Art as mathematics. Art as cognition. I don't understand so much of it what its trying to tell me. But also I'm in love with it. I love looking at a painting and knowing there's a whole world in there I can barely glimpse.
7 notes
·
View notes
Text
“Oh but AI art is just like photography!”
EDIT: Actually I thought of a way shorter way to phrase this drawn-out essay: If using an AI to make art makes you an artist, then by the same logic commissioning a human artist makes you an artist too. After all, it was your basic idea. You told them “Draw a wolf in the forest at sunset for me”. They just did the “grunt work” of planning out the details and creating the actual picture (i.e. 99% of the work).
---
I see this argument around that AI generated stuff is to both digital and traditional art like 100 years ago photography was to paintings: a recent technological invention that will automate certain procedures that were traditionally done by humans. Cue outrage by people who were left behind by history. Bummer. I suppose the argument has some truth to it - you don’t need the technical skills of drawing anymore and can still “create” a nice image - and as someone who does photomanipulations I can’t disagree with the idea that using computers to help you create art is legitimate, but there is still the huge difference that all human-created art - including photography, at least the more artistic stuff, as I will explain below - is created from scratch in accordance with an artistic vision and AI stuff generally isn’t.
To me, if your prompt to an AI is a 300 word description of the precise thing you imagine in your mind’s eye, down to the details, the colours, the image composition, and then the computer generates that for you, I would actually be open to calling that “art”. You still have the moral/legal issue of image scraping and copyright of course (though there could be an AI that only uses open domain pictures and other pictures where the artist has given consent), but that doesn’t impact whether it’s art, just whether it’s moral/legal to make art this way. If the problem you are solving with AI is that you lack the technical skills to make your ideas a reality, I would be fine with that. But if you just enter a general twenty word description into a prompt window (at worst including the name of an artist or a word like “beautiful” or “trending”) and sort through the results, that’s a very different matter, and to me that is not art.
I looked up how “prompt engineers” craft their prompts currently, and they’re much closer to 7 than to 300 words, not big on details, and use words like “magnificent” or “trendy” - which means that the computer does the actual thinking and decides how to achieve the wished-for effect. (Disclaimer: There might be AI systems that actually use 300 word prompts and artists who already use the level of control that I’m citing as a pre-requisite for “real art”. If so, please direct me to it, because I haven’t seen it.) An artist thinks “An eagle is magnificent, I will add an eagle to make the viewer think my image looks magnificent”. That’s creativity. These prompts say “Put in something that is magnificent”. See the difference? But even when the prompts are more concrete, they’re still leaving out most details. They say: Generate a wolf in a forest. What does the forest look like? The machine decides. Is that creativity? I don’t think so. Clearly a birch forest in spring evokes different emotions than a fir forest in winter. A fir forest in winter at dusk vs. at dawn evokes different emotions. Are the needles brown or green? Different emotions. Is there snow on the branches? Is the forest on a slope or on a plain? Are there branches only high on the trees or do they extend to the ground? Different emotions. An artist has to make dozens or thousands of decisions, depending on the complexity of their project, or there will not be an image.
I recognize that books have been written on the question of “What is art?” and everyone has a different answer to it. Maybe all of them are self-serving to a certain degree. Maybe I would have a different definition of the word, one that doesn’t put the concept of “vision” in a central place, if my own work hadn’t in the past been praised (if and when it was) most often for its “originality”. Maybe if the predominant praise had been that was “beautiful”, I would criticize AI stuff for being “tacky” instead. All those fake little details that look intricate but are really just swirls! And it takes its cues from so many different artists that there’s no visual coherence to it! But if “what is art?” is a question that has had thousands of answers in (probably) thousands of years, I might be forgiven for having my own. Creativity and self-expression matters for art.
Also this “AI is like photography” argument implies that nowadays everyone sees photography as equivalent to a painting/drawing, which is entirely not true. There are plenty of art websites that don’t accept photo submissions, and photography has to generally live up to a higher standard to be seen as art because of a general awareness that, in principle, every moron with a hand (or a nose) can press a shutter release. No one claims an idle snapshot has the same artistic merit as a painting that took 30 hours to complete. Serious, “artistic” photographers do a lot more than just take snapshots, there’s plenty of planning involved. You have to know about the effects of different lenses, lighting, make-up if you’re dealing with a human model, just the general staging of the scene. Serious photographers are generally able to edit an image after pressing the button as well, again in accordance with their plans, or “vision”, for the photo.
And also, photographers generally don’t pretend to be painters. It’s its own category. In analogy to that, if you autogenerate a landscape painting based on an open domain collection of Romantic era paintings, that is of course an entirely different matter than if you can replicate the style with your painting skills. Again, I make photomanipulations. If I pretended to be a painter, I’d get undeserved praise for how photorealistic my work is. But of course it’s photorealistic because there are, say, 30 different photos involved in the picture you see. Also, to return to the moral implications of AI image generation again, in general all the photos I use will be stock that is legitimate for me to use and I will link to each and every one of those if I didn’t take them myself. Because it’s the decent thing to do and because the DA photomanip groups I’m in wouldn’t even accept my submissions if I didn’t use and credit legit stock sources exclusively. Contrast that with how AI “art” is made.
So, in conclusion: I, personally, would see AI generated images as legitimate art if they are (1) planned out by humans, (2) based on willing/open domain source material, and (3) clearly marked as AI-generated. And currently, for the vast majority of AI-generated images I’ve seen, none of these criteria, or one at most (usually number 3) apply. And perhaps over time there will be more regulation that will make point 2 and 3 more common. I don’t think number 1, the point I consider the most important for the question whether it’s art or not, will become more common. In my best case scenario, in a year AI art uploads will have captions that begin with words like:
Created with Open Domain AI DreamBurst using the following prompt: ...
People who make fractals already write captions like this, so it’s not like it’s impossible. I think a lot of it will be up to how much of a “community” solidifies around AI image generation, and what the values of that community are. There are, after all, different types of people everywhere. But considering how much art theft there was on the internet even before AI images, I’m not holding my breath for it to become very common among people who use AI to generate images.
8 notes
·
View notes
Text
this is art, to me
1 note
·
View note
Last Seen Blogs
sleeping-slytherins
draco malfoy af
timeloops
🦷🪜⚰️🫗
shortformblog
Ernie Smith
maripelomundo
Mari pelo Mundo
lizmamont
Liz Mamont Illustration