While browsing this morning I stumbled on an interesting take on the obscurity of modern art as some kind of conspiracy theory of the art elite. Yeah, it does sound exaggerated and I beg to disagree with it. But it's a nice starting point for a discussion I'd like you to join as well. Is the modern art really hat obscure? Is it made that way by intention of an elite that tries to protect its position? 

But let's start from the beginning, by the question the mentioned article tries to answer: What is art? Read more…

Today's thought provoking twit comes from Nicholas J. Ambrose:

You don’t always have to write what you know. After all, who knows about aliens, or magic?

Which is a good advice. I often suffer of need to be exact in every minute detail. Still, I beg to disagree in this particular case.  Read more…

In the last half a century or so, computers went from ballistic machines size of a building to excellent chess players that fit inside your pocket. Not only they got smaller and faster. Decade after decade, their creators conquered one field after the other. Each of those usually thought to be out of reach for artificial intelligence. Sometimes we thought there is a limit for what can be done by math models and data processing, sometimes we thought of technical limitations. Sometimes it was just our vanity and fear of being replaced by a machine in something we humans are proud of doing. 

It's time to ask ourselves about one more human activity that computers might tap into. Will they steal the art production from us?

Those bloody machines are really great in calculating and all the intelligence stuff. But, one might ask, can they write novels? Read more…

Behind every successful and happy artist stands something that audience is not acquainted with. No, not the inspiration, genius, talent… not even the years of hard work and practicing, though all of those certainly count. The missing link is something even more mundane. Tyler Weaver was kind to offer us this great guest post and reveal us an important secret. It's a part of his Great Blog Tour. Enjoy! Read more…

Ever so often I hear some of my artist friends coming with a new interesting idea. Which is, of course, great. But sometimes, they get stuck and even if they work out the idea, they get stuck in publishing it, showing it around, making it available for the audience. If you've ever did something serious in the realm of arts, you probably know the feeling. You were worried whether somebody will steal the idea. Read more…

Recently, there was a surprising statement in one of NSFW feeds that usually just post photos:

Any picture done in monochrome is automatically art; its practically one of the governing laws of the universe…

Now, this theory is worth exploring. Especially because in this case it taps in one of my favourite questions about relationships of art and pornography. For your office-reading convenience all the examples are just linked to (and you probably don't want to open them in the office). Read more…

While this post is a part of Peevish Penman's blog fest about writing, it actually applies to any kind of creative work. I'll talk about writing, but it goes the same for painting, making music, origami folding, whatever. Actually, it's a simple truth that works for any area of human activity, not only for artsy stuff. So feel free to translate it to your area of expression. 

The simple truth is: if you want to do it good, you have to do it every day. Read more…