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Visual Artists Should Learn to Love AI: Here’s Why
So no one (almost no one) really expected AI to impact on art and artists so quickly. In all honesty I have to admit that I was complacent about the impact and potential of these technologies for my own practice. Then I stopped using it to create photorealistic dogs in space helmets and started using it as part of my creative process. It has revolutionised how I tackle concept development and it could do the same for you. Let’s get right down to the nitty gritty before reflecting on the pros and cons. How am I using AI in my process? that’s the conversation I’m having most often with other…
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Painting: Portrait of Finn
Around April time I started in earnest trying to cut down the time it takes to do an alla-prima portrait. My target was to get it into a three hour window. This one of those ‘training’ paintings. I started with blue acrylic underpainting and then used oil colour on top of that. You can see progress thumbnails below. Finn is my oldest son, he’s a complex, intense and creative individual. The three hour window aside I think this absolutely conveys something of his personality. If you are lucky enough to know him you’ll agree. For this painting I worked on a white surface on stretched canvas. It’s not how I…
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SCAMPER Your Way to Creative Excellence
Creative practice is pure problem solving. The process of taking an observation, thought or emotion and making it communicable to an audience is a problem to be solved. As visual artists we often lean into the intuitive to the detriment of process. This is a shame because there are so many great tools and techniques from other disciplines that can help. With a little bit of re-framing and adaptation many of these tools can be used to support our creative process. In this article we’ll look at how to fine tune the SCAMPER for visual artists practice and creative problem solving. “It is easier to tone down a wild…
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Power Up Your Creative Problem Solving: Overcome Obstacles with Confidence
As visual artists, we face challenges every day that require critical thinking and creative problem solving. Whether it’s finding inspiration for our next project, dealing with the technical issues in our artwork or navigating the competitive landscape of the art world and the dreaded spectre of self-promotion. Despite all of this you might not recognise when you are problem solving. Worse still you might consider that problem-solving skills are an aside from what you do in your everyday practice. Something out with the intuitive world of creativity. In fact, problem-solving skills are just as important for visual artists as they are for anyone in any other profession, maybe more so.…
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Generate More Satisfying Art Ideas: How to Start Today
Are you a visual artist struggling to find ideas for a new piece of work? We have a five step formula for you that is guaranteed to get the creative juices flowing and kick-start your imagination in a meaningful way. Use this formula to generate more creative and satisfying art ideas from today forwards. Ready to beat the starvation of art ideas ? It’s sometimes one of the biggest struggles in our vocation. Your creative fuel dries up and you just cannot get the ideas flowing. Ten times worse when you have a looming deadline of course. So what are we going to do? Head to the nearest café to drown…
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Ideation Drawing -The Route to Better Composition
Do you want to maximise the potential of your ideas? Ideation drawing is the answer. It involves quickly sketching out initial concepts for a project without worrying about perfection. The emphasis is on generating a variety of first concept ideas and exploring different compositional possibilities. I’ve learned that this method can lead to more fully realised and successful artwork. By producing a large number of rough sketches, you increase the chances of discovering the best solution. By sketching multiple variations of an idea, you’re able to refine and enhance it. This time, it’s about quantity over quality. Let’s examine how you can try it out and see the improvements for…
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10 Personal Sketchbook Themes to Inspire New Artwork in 2023
The sketchbook is a versatile tool. I’ve seen individuals utilise it in countless ways. It’s crucial to recognise that there is no one “right” way to use a sketchbook. If you have honed your creative process, you may already have integrated sketchbook usage into it. If not, then this post aims to assist you in incorporating more productive sketchbook usage into your routine this year. Let’s make the sketchbook work for us and utilise it to cultivate fresh and improved concepts for our artwork. Your personal sketchbook is a tool for idea exploration When students first enter art education, they often use sketchbooks as a collection of disconnected drawings. There…
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How to Start and Finish Your Painting, Nine Practical Steps
Paintings often have no definitive end point. Deciding when a piece of work is finished can be a challenging task for even the most experienced artist. However, many paintings progress through similar stages. There are various techniques that can assist in guiding you through the creative process. In this article, I aim to address both how to get off to the best start and how to approach the often elusive resolution. Let’s explore some practical painting advice from the beginning to the end of a piece of work. Consider yourself in the following situation, as I sometimes find myself. You’ve spent the entire evening tinkering with that painting you’ve been…
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Understand the Creative Process to Make Better Work
The creative process serves as a framework for the evolution of a creative project. There is no one “right” way to follow this process. You will encounter various slightly different definitions and terminology for the stages, so don’t expect to find a single, universally accepted version. Ultimately, you will tailor the process to suit your own working style. Begin by adhering to the structure of research, development, implementation, and evaluation. Let’s examine the creative process and how to adopt a practical version of this valuable toolset. Why you should prioritise process improvement over technical skills development In my classes, I often begin the subject of creative process by emphasising to…
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How to Be More Consistently Creative at Art
Are you looking to boost your creative output and make more interesting artwork? By improving your process, you can increase your chances of producing better ideas and having a more fulfilling creative experience. In this article, we’ll explore six pieces of advice for improving your creative thinking and taking your art to the next level. So don’t wait – start enhancing your process today and watch your creative potential skyrocket! Are you tired of feeling stuck in your creative endeavors? It’s a common feeling, even for those who have received art education. As an artist, it’s essential to constantly strive for creative growth and development. But sometimes it can feel…
David Herds Night Studio
Creativity and Self Development
