tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91988767931822911812024-03-06T09:57:39.508+01:00Philosophy of ArtArt inspires us, turns us into better humans and connects people from all over the world. This blog is about understanding art on a more abstract level.Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-75564194590698476292018-11-01T15:00:00.000+01:002018-11-01T15:00:00.264+01:00Art vs. Real Life - Being a "Creative Person" Is a Bad ExcuseFor
artists there seem to the two worlds: the world of art and "real
life". While it might be legitimate to enjoy the former more than the
latter it's dangerous to neglect one's everyday duties and responsibilities ...
If you don't care about anything else than your art,
you're destroying your own life and that of your loved ones.
Sometimes
artists seem to live in another world. Here areFeael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-55230521068327985482018-10-04T15:00:00.000+02:002018-10-04T15:00:09.915+02:00The Guilty Pleasure of Lowbrow ArtPeople
often like to differentiate between highbrow art and lowbrow art and look down
on the latter. But is it really that low? Doesn't it have an important function
in our lives? Do we really have to feel ashamed for enjoying it?
Many highbrow individuals enjoy lowbrow art as some kind of "guilty pleasure".
Having a
master's degree in literature, I often feel obliged to adore highbrow Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-74272063203501204722018-09-06T15:00:00.000+02:002018-09-06T16:16:04.607+02:00What Is the Purpose of Art?There
are many people out there who believe art to be useless. And, on the surface,
it is. However, in truth, it is one of the most important forces driving
individuals and whole societies to become better versions of themselves ...
Art may not save lives in a biological sense, but it does save souls.
There are
professions people respect more than others. There are people who save human
Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-76766270918407375482018-08-02T15:00:00.000+02:002018-08-02T15:00:22.984+02:00Art and Self-Confidence - Feeling Your Art Is GarbageA man's
praise in his own mouth stinks? But what if your art actually is good?
Artists often tend to be overly self-critical and lose sight of reality ...
Self-criticism is a core requirement for being a good artist.
Sometimes
when looking at one's own art it does feel great. Yet more often than not, we
tend to be overly self-critical and see our weaknesses rather than our
strengths. Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-20900950037229238392018-07-05T15:00:00.000+02:002018-07-17T12:42:35.917+02:00Art and Self-Discipline - The Struggle to Finish
Losing
passion for one's creative project is just part of being creative. So don't
stop. Because finishing is one of the factors that qualify you as an artist ...
Sadly, some artworks remain unfinished ...
We're
always so full of energy when starting a new creative project. We have an idea
and we are passionate about implementing it. We burn and burn and burn until
... until the creativeFeael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-80694040416560547172018-06-07T15:00:00.000+02:002019-01-26T17:16:57.623+01:00Blackwashing Is Racist TooWhitewashing
is just simply weird, ridiculous, racist and unnecessary. So … let's turn the
tables and make justice by "blackwashing"? Well, I'm afraid that it's
a horrible and extremely racist idea: Because blackwashing means denying
racism.
Who else wants to see big-budget movies and TV shows about exciting events like the Haitian Revolution?
Racism is a
horrible thing. I believe this isFeael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-5293357239846212392018-05-03T15:00:00.000+02:002018-05-03T15:06:05.126+02:00What Is Artistic Success?There
isn't only one way to be successful as an artist. Even though making a living through
one's art and getting praise seems like a universal ideal, it is not. So what
is your definition of artistic success? Here are some thoughts ...
Chaliapin was an extremely successful opera singer. And for a reason!
He indeed was very talented and had a beautiful voice.
There are
artists and artistsFeael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-55329287739580843332018-04-05T15:00:00.000+02:002018-04-05T15:00:22.812+02:00Clichés and Stereotypes in ArtUsually clichés and stereotypes are considered bad. They can even deprive an artwork of its artistic value. But what are they actually and are they really as bad as many people think?
Both clichés and stereotypes put our world in order, categorizing everything and everyone.
When I
first started writing I unknowingly used many clichés and stereotypes. That's
actually part of what defines aFeael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-27303687700998398432018-03-01T15:00:00.000+01:002018-03-01T15:00:24.039+01:00The Portrayal of Men in Media
What our
culture defines as masculine hurts: If a man fails at being that perfect,
invincible hero, he's a loser. Shouldn't we creative people help finding new
heroes and role models?
A "real" man is the shining hero, the dragon slayer who never wavers,
always able to overcome even the hardest difficulties. This needs to change.
It is very
common nowadays to see women as the Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-34385671947724649882018-02-01T15:00:00.000+01:002018-02-01T15:00:07.519+01:00Good and Evil in Stories
Interesting,
complex characters aren't "grey", since grey is still only a mixture
of black and white. Good characters have colour. And for that
storytellers need to shift more towards an alternative worldview ...
The very idea that there is only one true god expresses thatthere is only one right way to think and to live and everything else is bad and linked to evil forces.
One advice
Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-16730021649562436242017-11-23T15:00:00.000+01:002018-04-27T22:04:03.221+02:00How Encyclopaedias Define Art
Defining
art is a complicated task, and it had been handled very differently throughout
history. So how do modern online encyclopaedias and dictionaries define it?
Dictionaries are a very good source for general definitions.
In April
2016 I defined art as "any kind of creative production or service" and I still believe that. But this is only my own definition. What I wonder now
is: Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-49774934044671022782017-11-09T15:00:00.000+01:002017-11-09T15:00:00.957+01:00Should Artists Create for Financial Success?
Modern
technology makes it possible to calculate what you have to do if you want to be
financially successful as an artist. But wouldn't following those calculations
kill art and turn it into faceless, commercial crap?
Selling well and quality aren't opposites, but it's good that not every artwork is a bestseller.
A book
doesn't become a bestseller by coincidence. This is result of JodieFeael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-24503617057044518442017-10-26T15:00:00.000+02:002017-10-26T15:09:37.722+02:00Does Fan Service Destroy an Artwork?
There
are different kinds of fan service, from using elements you think your fans
will love to allowing your audience to participate in the art creation process.
But doesn't fan service destroy an artwork?
Sometimes artists turn into magic fairies and fulfill their audience's wishes.
If you want
your art to be seen by a large audience, you need marketing. Marketing means
understanding Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-84662503568625150842017-10-12T15:00:00.000+02:002017-10-12T15:00:00.271+02:00Why Contests Are Crap
Awards
don't say much about the artworks they were given for. Contests promise to
determine the best, but they rarely actually do it. Here's why ...
Contests say very little about quality. An artwork approved by other people often is good,
yet it doesn't mean it's better than a non-award-winning artwork.
I hate
contests. I did participate a couple times, a few times I even won, and I Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-57996464032413370492017-09-28T15:00:00.000+02:002017-09-29T17:14:17.570+02:00Why Do Artists Procrastinate?
You
really can't compare procrastinating something unpleasant to procrastinating
art. One of the most common explanations for procrastination is fear. Is it
also true for creativity?
It's the hurdle of remembering the invisible, intuitive part that costs me extra effort.
One of the
most common problems artists face is the creative block which I believe is in
truth procrastination, as I Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-51637591053595591572017-09-14T15:00:00.000+02:002017-09-14T15:00:46.070+02:00Are Artists an Intellectual and Moral Authority?
Famous
artists are often treated like some kind of superhumans with an accordingly
superhuman authority, even on subjects they have nothing to do with. What are
the consequences?
We can't trust anyone expressing his or her opinion publicly.
And how can we consider someone so untrustworthy an intellectual and moral authority?
You see
this quote often. Artists, let's say the actors ExFeael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-21249986773185682262017-08-31T15:00:00.000+02:002017-08-31T15:00:23.343+02:00Art and Intuition - How Trustworthy Is an Artist's Inner Voice?
Artists are expected to follow their intuition. But does it always lead to great results? What if your intuition is playing a trick on you?
Intuition is important when creating art.
The
stereotypical artist uses some kind of sixth sense instead of his mind. His
ideas seem like a divine vision that he only has to bring in a physical form in
order to create a timeless masterpiece ...
Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-33839754262997306452017-08-17T15:00:00.000+02:002017-08-17T15:00:29.157+02:00Why Is Art Lying?
When we
were little artworks taught us lessons about the world that turned out to be
lies as we grew older. Every one of us has faced such disappointments in life.
Every one of us knows how they hurt. So why do we keep passing these lies on to
younger generations?
We keep passing on stories about great heroes from generation to generation. - Why?
Last week I
had a discussion with a Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-3606662494417409392017-08-03T15:00:00.000+02:002017-11-08T12:25:33.453+01:00Art and Marketing - Know and Respect Your Audience!
We all
want to be "free" when creating art, but we also want our work to be
loved by a large audience. So should artists think about their audience's needs
and wishes when creating their work?
If you want to be understood you have to speak the language of your audience.
I'm a
writer and a hobby artist. I'm also an internet marketing manager. And as such I
know that if you dream of Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-70965140934763477052017-07-20T15:00:00.000+02:002017-07-20T15:31:03.410+02:00Art and Personal Experience - How Much Do You Need to Know?
Life
would be boring if art dealt only with everyday life. We want art to be
exciting, we want our characters to face hardships we never faced ourselves.
But how can we create art around something we have no idea about?
If you lack personal experience: Do research!
How much
personal experience does an artist need in order to create good art? This
question has bothered me ever since I Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-53749090125902679782017-06-08T15:00:00.000+02:002017-06-08T15:00:04.226+02:00Summer Break!
It's nice
and warm outside and I'm exhausted from all my countless projects. This means
it's time for a few weeks of timeout to gather strength and new, fresh ideas.
I wish you
all a great summer. The next post on this blog is scheduled for July 20th.
Yours,
Feael
Silmarien
Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-40007717699769534232017-06-01T15:00:00.000+02:002017-06-03T18:52:00.790+02:00Am I a Racist Writer?
There
are many groups underrepresented in today's culture. As a woman, I often feel
underrepresented. As a straight white person I'm objectively overrepresented.
And I do underrepresent people of colour and the LGBT community in my own
writing. So am I a bad person?
If you look closely and try to understand why underrepresentation happens you sooner or later
realize that you underrepresent Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-90612062503367842872017-05-18T15:00:00.000+02:002017-05-18T15:00:22.763+02:00Art Is Immortality - Why Artists Never Die
It's
fascinating how the words "art" and "immortality" often
stand close to each other. We speak of art that is immortal and the immortal
fame of artists. And though this may sound like mere rhetoric, art and
immortality actually are linked very closely. Because, in a way, art is
suited for communication with people long dead.
The most
realistic way to become immortal is to create art.
Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-47955896769473260122017-05-04T15:00:00.000+02:002017-05-04T15:00:13.716+02:00Does Specialization Kill Creativity?
Sometimes
artists we admire don't seem to move forward. They're good at what they do, but
they don't seem to evolve. May they be trapped in their respective field? And
is it bad for creativity?
The multipotentialite Leonardo da Vinci would have had quite some trouble in our era.
I've
followed quite a few artists so far. I enjoyed their books, their music, their
paintings, their movies,Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198876793182291181.post-16160237809332551422017-04-20T15:00:00.000+02:002017-05-06T13:07:57.892+02:00The Art of Imitation - Lack of Originality?
There
are many different kinds of imitation in art. At the same time, we expect
artworks to be original. But is it really a contradiction?
What makes realism and photography artistic is the original input by the artist.
Most people
in the art community agree that tracing other people's drawings isn't the ideal
form of art. Many people feel it's okay for learning purposes and I, too, Feael Silmarienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337532446889124908noreply@blogger.com1