i'm trying to make myself smarter and my paintings better, so i've been staying up late–until i can feel myself falling asleep on the couch–and watching videos of other, way more successful artists talking to public access tv people about their work. growing up my dad always did the same thing, except instead of consuming media about culture or philosophy, he would watch like, ghost adventures, or shows about building cars.
linked is my favorite clip that i've watched recently; an artist with no pretentions and who uses their work to invest in and be a creative catalyst for their local community is something that i strive to be. also, did anybody else here get a BFA and just absolutely love getting assigned to watch one of these videos???
Mar 27, 2024
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Hello! I am an artist and I work with a lot of video. Video art was the first thing I really made and it made me totally fall in love with contemporary art. These are my tips:
- Keep your ideas safe. Keep them written down in a sketchbook, notebook, notes app so you don't forget them. Log them every time you have them. Add as many notes as you can (visual ideas, story boards, colours, references etc). Go back and read them regularly until you feel you have the right circumstances to make them. Maybe it needs some planning to make happen or maybe you can do it there and then
- Watch video art made by artists. At first I found it really weird and inaccessible but then it just sort of clicked. Now I look back on the first ones I saw with great admiration and they became important influences. I recommend diving into the work of: Pipilotti Rist, Hito Steyerl, Signe Pierce, Kara Walker, Molly Soda, Nam June Paik, Bill Viola, Ryan Trecartin & Julianknxx as a good place to start. Watching in a gallery is great because the intended viewing experience is usually central to the work but you will also gain a lot from just finding the films online. You should be able to find them mostly on Vimeo but also YouTube and the artists' own websites.
- Be self sufficient but also make stuff with your friends! You can do literally everything you need to do with a phone and a video editing app (I like You cut and Videoshop). Equipment limitations can be a really good thing and will force you to think outside the box. However, work with your friends! My friends were in all my first videos and now I'm ten years in and they're still happy to be involved, whether that's holding a camera or acting in a scene. It's really fun to work collaboratively together if you're into the same kind of things and you will remember the experience for a long time.
- Free software: I have a Mac so I used iMovie for a long time but before that when I was a kid I spent all my time on Windows Movie Maker and taught myself so much. Audacity is a good free sound editing software. You can find every sound you'll ever need on royalty free sound websites. YouTube has a tutorial for everything but if it doesn't just bodge it til you get something!
- think about where you want people to view it before and during your making process. Things to consider: what device (projector, TV, other), how is it mounted, are there headphones or speakers? This will help shape your ideas
- don't be afraid to share it but also don't care about the reception! Vimeo is a good place to keep your art films. If you don't get any likes on social media don't let it stop you from creating. Art films and social media are often not a recipe for success, maybe it just needs to be in a gallery to make sense.
- this is a lot of advice but don't let it overwhelm you, the most important thing is to just follow your instincts and create as often as you feel like you want to and enjoy every part of learning your craft!
Mar 23, 2025
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when I am alone, I connect with other human beings trough their art. including illustrations, tv series, films, podcasts, youtube videos, books, etc.
this makes me feel as if I chill with somebody, i guess, but also, that I am a part of a community. bunch of small communities, actually.
The great thing about being alone looking and listening at all this content, is that nobody else knows wich creators you are chilling with. I love to keep a secret garden.
Feb 26, 2024
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i make things as a hobby, whether it be bits of music, awful drawings, writing, whatever, and i find that i work best after admiring others’ art.
maybe it inspires me, maybe it’s just how things work in my head, but i feel that art, or any sort of creation, comes from creation, and so, it‘s ALRIGHT to use something else as a reference point, or rather, consume something before you create!!
i like just sitting with something for a while, eventually something pops into my mind and gets my thoughts going. sitting with an instrument and messing around makes it easier to make something up, or scribbling makes it easier to think of what to draw.
also, doing what’s best for you, whether that be taking ages to come up with an idea, and even longer to see it through, or making lots in a small amount of time. YOU do whatever is best for YOU, and probably your sanity. just generally loll
have a lovely day slayyyy 💕
Oct 29, 2024
Top Recs from @bonnieprincebilly
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my house is lousy with bandaids, but doesn't it just make the task so much more rewarding if i get to wear a cool design around on my thigh after i give myself a t shot? even if i'm the only one who will see it? before this it was peppa pig but now we are starting a pack of multi-color tie dyes.
Mar 27, 2024
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i am on my fire escape watching the neighborhood cats play with the tall grass in the yard next door and really enjoying myself.
Mar 29, 2024
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i am admittedly a bit crazy about scent in the home. every corner of the apartment has an opportunity for activation: incense and smudge sticks in the bedroom, reed diffuser in the bathroom, a mini candle in the kitchen for when the lack of ventilation makes the stench of burned food linger and choke up the air. sometimes there is ritual involved in these smells, but walking past the big coffee-scented candle in the living room and stopping in my tracks to light it became so second nature to me that i don't even think about it sometimes.
the issue lies in this conundrum: i like the living room to smell nice, but i'm usually just lighting this on my way to the kitchen or my office and won't be on guard to protect all the wood furniture in our home from the flame. so today, i announced to my housemates and our guest: "i'm going to take a shower, and i'm lighting this candle, but now it's your responsibility. keep an eye on it for me."
why? because a living room candle warms up the room with its glow. it's a warmth that just makes sense for this space, dim illumination, with everyone together in a row on a couch that could stand to be longer. and there is something to be said about the trust involved in lighting a candle. everyone in this room knows what i need in our home to make it function for me, and when i tell them to keep an eye on the big candle in the living room, i know they will, for me.
Mar 22, 2024