ShopDreamUp AI ArtDreamUp
Deviation Actions
5. Be informed, be organised, be inspired.
I my experience creativity is fed by new experiences and new ideas. So, for us artists it makes sense that if we want to be more creative, we should open our minds to as many potential sources of inspiration as possible, and when something clicks- we should grab it! Here's a few methods that have worked for me:
1 Be informed by the work of other artists.
This one is a no-brainer perhaps. For many of us the reason we chose to become artists is because we were inspired by the work of someone we saw when we were younger, and now with the information overload culture of the digital age it's easier than ever to be swamped with amazing and inspiring artwork. What I would suggest to you is to whenever you see a picture that you feel can teach you something- you grab a copy of it and put it in a folder on your computer. Once you've got a few images have a look through them and study what it is you admire about them so much. What can you learn from them and apply in your own work?
2. Be informed by your own boring life- make notes.
Yes I wrote boring, but I'm of the opinion that great ideas are not delivered from heaven in golden envelopes accompanied by fanfares and cherubs- more often than not the best ideas are accompanied by showers or bowel movements. When you're out and about and some fleeting event or idea makes you smile; record it. It doesn't matter what it is, every trivial little idea can be mixed up with another one and combined to make something else. Ideas are conducive to more ideas and all these little ideas are the fuel we burn to create artwork! I suggest getting a tiny little notepad or sketchbook and a little pen so you never have to be without a means to record stuff.
3. Be informed by your own boring life- Observe
You can do this almost any time, anywhere, all you have to do is look at something and ask yourself "why does it look like that?" Why did the designer make it that way? if I was going to draw my own version what would I do differently. Or why is the light reacting that way on it's surface, what am I actually seeing? Internal questions like this encourage you to actually understand something in detail so that when you come to create you have an internal knowledge base to fall back on rather than needing to simply copy something like a camera.
4. Inform your artwork: gather some reference
Similar to point no.1: Have a folder on your computer where you save every potential reference picture that may prove useful later. Have sub-folders within that folder to organise all the different reference photos you'll end up with, one for animals, one for landscapes, people etc...
I should point out here of course that common sense applies when using other people's photos. Don't ever directly copy someone else's photo and try to pass it off as your own original piece, but don't be scared to study different photos to inform your own work. Credit those who offer their photos for artists to use and ask only for accreditation in return, it's not such a big deal.
I my experience creativity is fed by new experiences and new ideas. So, for us artists it makes sense that if we want to be more creative, we should open our minds to as many potential sources of inspiration as possible, and when something clicks- we should grab it! Here's a few methods that have worked for me:
1 Be informed by the work of other artists.
This one is a no-brainer perhaps. For many of us the reason we chose to become artists is because we were inspired by the work of someone we saw when we were younger, and now with the information overload culture of the digital age it's easier than ever to be swamped with amazing and inspiring artwork. What I would suggest to you is to whenever you see a picture that you feel can teach you something- you grab a copy of it and put it in a folder on your computer. Once you've got a few images have a look through them and study what it is you admire about them so much. What can you learn from them and apply in your own work?
2. Be informed by your own boring life- make notes.
Yes I wrote boring, but I'm of the opinion that great ideas are not delivered from heaven in golden envelopes accompanied by fanfares and cherubs- more often than not the best ideas are accompanied by showers or bowel movements. When you're out and about and some fleeting event or idea makes you smile; record it. It doesn't matter what it is, every trivial little idea can be mixed up with another one and combined to make something else. Ideas are conducive to more ideas and all these little ideas are the fuel we burn to create artwork! I suggest getting a tiny little notepad or sketchbook and a little pen so you never have to be without a means to record stuff.
3. Be informed by your own boring life- Observe
You can do this almost any time, anywhere, all you have to do is look at something and ask yourself "why does it look like that?" Why did the designer make it that way? if I was going to draw my own version what would I do differently. Or why is the light reacting that way on it's surface, what am I actually seeing? Internal questions like this encourage you to actually understand something in detail so that when you come to create you have an internal knowledge base to fall back on rather than needing to simply copy something like a camera.
4. Inform your artwork: gather some reference
Similar to point no.1: Have a folder on your computer where you save every potential reference picture that may prove useful later. Have sub-folders within that folder to organise all the different reference photos you'll end up with, one for animals, one for landscapes, people etc...
I should point out here of course that common sense applies when using other people's photos. Don't ever directly copy someone else's photo and try to pass it off as your own original piece, but don't be scared to study different photos to inform your own work. Credit those who offer their photos for artists to use and ask only for accreditation in return, it's not such a big deal.
Airships of Oberon launches on kickstarter
Airships of Oberon is now on Kickstarter!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1132744086/airships-of-oberon
If you like steampunk, and you also like board games- or know someone that does- take a moment to check this out!
Clockwork Armada Launhes
Last year I had the pleasure of working on a project that is right up my alley- in that it involves airships, space and first world war battleships all mashed up into one absurd and imaginative universe. What's not to like?
That project is Clockwork Armada- which is now launching over on kickstarter
"Clockwork Armada is a tabletop miniatures game of space battles set in a fantastical alternate reality. In this universe, planets are flat, and the laws of physics function on very different principles. The upward rushing hurricane that makes up outer space is known as the deep sky, and strange alien life hides in the mists. The battles tha
Video: Painting a face from imagination
I decided to make a video. People have been encouraging me.
It shows my painting process from start to finish when working on a portrait from imagination. It's not a tutorial exactly but hopefully it'll be of some help or interest to someone out there.
Frankly, it's a bit stupid, but my main goal was to get to grips with making a tutorial video so if I ever want to then I can. Consider this one a dry run- I'll probably make something more useful in the future.
Another tedious case of art theft.
A quick message to my fellow deviants, you may recognise some of the work hosted on the google plus profile of this odious thieving twonk:https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/106947889240147971800/albums/5887816797542472481?partnerid=gplp0
If you or someone you know is the author of any of the works on that site, you may wish to report them to google in order to have the work removed, and possibly send a polite but firm message about the hurt you are experiencing that someone would steal your work to sell on for profit.
I suppose it's slightly flattering.
*sigh*
© 2013 - 2024 SpikedMcGrath
Comments3
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
On a related note, saw this posted on facebook a little bit ago: [link]
Also, I agree 100% with the shower/toilet comment
Also, I agree 100% with the shower/toilet comment