Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

@jon357, I personally can't have colourful art on my walls (even though I like colourful art), because I rest best in neutral, light-coloured spaces. I also don't like living in a space with too much clutter, especially on walls (although I like visiting such places lol). I'm guessing it's due to the fact that I grew up in a one-room flat with pretty dark furniture, dark carpets and a big, reddish corner sofa.

Btw, jon357, do you have any souvenirs from your travels, from places where you went to for work? You know, like handmade stuff, for decoration, something like that?


The thing is that it wasn't self-published, it was published by an actual publishing house and that's why I was so surprised by the low quality... The images weren't downloaded from the internet either, since the illustrations fitted the text and were clearly drawn by the same person. It's just they were really bad...
Maybe that wasn't a big publishing house (I don't remember which one was it), but there a lot of beginner artists who are just starting out and would be ready to make better illustrations for peanuts or even for free just to have something published, so it was hard for me to understand why they went for such low quality...


Me too... I didn't have my own room, so my desk was in the kitchen with a wall on the left and an old, noisy fridge on the right - there was no space for any cozy corner ;/


I've noticed many artists and craftspeople are - or, at least, of the Ikea's storage options (they use those mainly for storing art and craft materials) :)


And she has Ikea's pegboard over her desk too :) It seems to be very popular among artists and craftspeople and I was wondering whether not to get it at some point too since it's easily customizable, comes in different sizes and it saves desk space:

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

@AntV, btw, could you post some of the paintings by Peter Doig that you like and explain why you like them? I'm honestly curious why some people like this kind of art. 🤔


So maybe I'll try to explain... Firstly, you have to have that "calling" for making art to become an illustrator in the first place. Because in order to reach that level at which you're good enough to be an illustrator you have to learn and practice a lot. And you won't learn and practice enough without that drive to make art. You'll just choose another profession. And then in order to be a successful illustrator you have to love what you're doing. It's not only about illustrators - the same apply to anyone working in any creative field, imho... You have to have a passion for what you're doing. That's why artists fear being replaced by AI so much, because they can't just get another job... Because making art isn't "just another job" for them, it's usually their life's passion, their dream job, part of who they are... Of course, just like with every profession you can experience a burnout, but it doesn't mean that this "calling" wasn't there and isn't there.

For example, here Kate Pellerin explaines when and why she decided to become an illustrator:

mossery.co/en-ca/blogs/inspiration/artist-collaboration-an-interview-with-kate-poopikat

"I went to art school thinking I'd go into character design and work for game companies such as Blizzard. It wasn't until my second semester at Seneca College when one of my professors told me my work didn't communicate anything.

He happened to be a children's book illustrator and he basically opened my eyes to this whole new world. Since then, I've strived to make my illustrations more narrative-like, and begun to pursue a career in picture book illustrations."

Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]


Yes, he is and I forgot to add that I really like how he paints people - he's great at it.

Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

And the author :):

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

And those are her digital illustrations:

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]


I forgot to add two important reasons - because she enjoys it and to make people like me happy :)))


Me neither, but I would like to see his paintings in real life :)


Oh, Lenka, I'm afraid you have no idea what you're talking about :))))


I don't remember exactly, it was quite some time ago, but probably yes... That wasn't the problem though - a skilled and experienced digital artist can make lovely illustrations for children's books, even resembling traditional art. The problem was the skill level...

For example, there's a children's book illustrator based in Canada, Kate Pellerin, who creates both traditionally and digitally (in Procreate).

Here are some of her works done traditionally:

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]


Then why did you write that you "would classify Annie Stegg more as an illustrator" as if an illustrator wasn't an artist?


Not really, it depends what you're illustrating and what kind of illustrations the client expects :) (and it depends what you consider to be "solid technique" vs "weak technique"). Also, I've seen some really bad, very low quality illustrations in e-books for kids... The author/publishing house must've been really stingy or with zero taste lol


As for style - that's rather rare, from my observation... Often authors pick an illustrator precisely because they like their particular art style and they'd like that style for their book.


I disagree... It doesn't matter much if there's a material to base on or not. The artistic creative process is the same. Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were basically "illustrating" the Bible :))) Does that mean they weren't artists?

Also, you and Atch seem to forget that besides the paid work illustrators usually create their own art too :)))

Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

Based on some of his paintings I'm wondering if he has drinking problems lol:

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

And some more:

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

Another artist :)

Nick Alm is mainly an oil painter, but he also paints some very good watercolours. His paintings are defenitely not "comfort art" for me, since they can be sort of depressive and they sometimes make me feel uneasy, but I like his art style and compostion in his paintings. I like how he builds shapes with his looser brush strokes and creates a sense of intimacy in some scenes - it feels like we're in the room with the person depicted in the painting.

nickalm.com/about/

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]


I have no idea when that photo was taken - I found it on the internet and posted it because I like the fact that her painting is taller than her ;D From what I've managed to find on the inernet it seems that she was born in 1982 :)


But... as far as I know she isn't an illustrator :) She's a painter. I am not aware of her illustrating any books or anything of this sort. 🤔

In case of confusion about what I mean:

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illustrator


Sorry, but I'm not sure what you mean by "illustrator"...

If you mean the difference between an artist and a painter (as in "rzemieślnik"?) then I guess in your view the Renaissance and Pre-Raphaelite painters were "illustators" and not "artists"? 🤨

If I'm to be honest I don't care about that "question", that distinction anymore :) Especially that in English people seem to use the word "artist" very freely. I used to care about that distinction when I was at art school. I guess that's what an art school does to you - it turns you into a bit of an art snob :) Fortunately to a great extent I grew out of it and nowadays I just enjoy art.

That's why every time I'll post about another painter I will probably just call them "artists" interchangeably with painters or illustrators, because I personally consider illustrators to be artists too :)


I did and I'm afraid he's defenitely not my cup of tea...
From the paintings I've seen I only like this one a bit - I'm not crazy about the style, but at least this one is pretty good:

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

@AntV, I can't say that I am.


You probably could if you practiced :)


I forgot to post the artist herself :) - Annie Stegg with one of her paintings:

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

And some more:

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]


Thanks, it looks pretty cool and I'm guessing it's probably relaxing :)


:)))


I like those too. Maybe those are not the most favourite of mine, but defenitely high on the list :)

From contemporary artists Annie Stegg's art reminds me of those styles somewhat... Her paintings are beautiful, ethereal and very detailed. She's an oil painter and I like watching her video's in which she's painting those intricate little details :)

Some of her art:

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

Guys, could you take your discussion about monastaries and such to the Random Thread?

Honestly, it's the first day of existence of this thread and it's getting derailed already... ;/


Actually I'd say in a way such category does exist, but that's usually abstract art - at least for modern interiors :) It fits modern interiors very well and it can look great together with those interiors, but besides that, just like photorealistic art in your case, it doesn't do anything for me... Well, it can look pretty sometimes :)

Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

Guys, that's so weird, because when I was a teen I was thinking about becoming a nun too ;D Although for me it was more about feeding starving children in Africa... you know... the Mother Teresa style... and having more time to read the Bible lol

@Bobko, it's similar with me, I guess - I like a lot of stuff too or at least I appreciate it... It's just I like realism a lot too and I appreciate photorealism/hyperrealism. I'd like to try painting such a photorealistic painting one day, even if only to see if I can manage. 🤔 Although I have to admit that I wouldn't be able to paint such art for the rest of my life - it would be too boring for me.


I see, I didn't know that.


Yeah, not my cup of tea either...


Ha, I love Vermeer! :) My favourite old master... I copied one of his paintings at an art school. I don't like Cezanne though (his still lifes are OK ;)).


Realistic still life paintings have been around for a long time and art was commercial back then too. Many of the old masterpieces we admire today were simply commissioned by rich people or the Church. For me that doesn't take away anything from them though.

"Still Life with Herring, Wine and Bread" by Pieter Claesz, 1647:

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

@Bobko, as for "what's the point" - I kind of explained it in my previous post, I think... It's about marveling at human skills and it's a challenge. An art challenge :) "How realistic am I able to make it look like?" You know, pushing yourself, perfecting the skills... And those paintings are usually simply beautiful from the visual point of view.


OK, so what art does speak to you? This is what this thread is all about, after all :)

Btw, I've got to say I'm a bit surprised - I thought that people who aren't very much into art like/appreciate realistic/photorealistic art the most - that's one of the reasons why I chose those two artists for the start of this thread :) So that's an interesting turn of events for me - I'm intrigued now what kind of art you guys like :))

Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]


I see, pity... That's why it's always better to give some basic info also at the back of the painting - the author, the title, the date, the technique... Maybe there's something at the back of that painting? 🤔


Wow, that's a pretty strong sentiment...


I'd say that Gabriela's art is saying "Eat me!" ;D And if it looks so edible then it means she did a good job ;)

I wouldn't say that her paintings are "soulless". I generally don't like dividing art like this. Every art style has its place, imho. Realistic/photorealistic art doesn't have to say anything. It's supposed to "wow" us. When I look at such art I marvel at the human artistic skill. And I personally like that feeling of wonder, especially that I know first-hand how much skill, practice, work, time, patience and observational skills such paintings require. Especially at the level of Nick Sider, for example.

@AntV, so what kind of art you do like? Do you have any favourite artists/paintings? :)

Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

@jon357, I agree, she's very good, especially considering the smaller size of her paintings :)

I've noticed that hyperrealistic paintings usually range from big to very big - I think the reason for this is that it's easier to paint all those realistic details on big canvas. Painters are restricted by the size of the smallest brushes available, so the bigger you go, the more details you can fit in and the more realistic the painting looks. 🤔

Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

@jon357, interesting, does that craft have any particular name? 🤔


lol That's funny :D
Do you know the name of the author of that painting, btw?

And another artist:

Nick Sider lives in New York and is a self-taught hyperrealistic painter who paints with acrylics, which makes his big paintings even more impressive, imho. He mainly paints big cats, but he can also paint other animals and humans. He wanted to be a painter since he was a little kid, but decided to do other stuff after high school. At the age of 25 he quit his job and decided to teach himself to paint - with great results, as we can see :)

From his website:

"Sider has always maintained a hyperrealistic style, attempting to create paintings that extend beyond what a photograph could ever capture, ."my favorite moment while painting is when a subject on my canvas begins to come alive." His main goal for his paintings is to use detail and color to create the illusion of life spawning from the canvas."

Some of his paintings (he must have a lot of patience to paint all that fur, damn! ;O):

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Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]

And some more:

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History / Let's talk about the POLISH ARMY [79]

@jon357, I don't know, I don't see a reason to withhold such basic info - whether she died of natural causes or not. Look at all the info/details given here:

tvn24.pl/swiat/zolnierz-jednostki-grom-zginal-w-afganistanie-ra301879-ls3422496

History / Let's talk about the POLISH ARMY [79]


Yeah, true.


Why not?

History / Let's talk about the POLISH ARMY [79]

@Alien, I think any normal family would want to know what happened and would want an autopsy...

History / Let's talk about the POLISH ARMY [79]

@Alien, I imagine that in such a situation there must've been an autopsy performed...


True, but I think that an autopsy would show that...


Sorry, her father was a soldier and her husband a BOR (Polish Secret Service) agent.

History / Let's talk about the POLISH ARMY [79]

Today is the 15th anniversary of the death of Ewa Baran, a GROM soldier. It was a mysterious death - she died a few months after coming back from Afghanistan where she was the only Polish female SF soldier. It's suspected that she got either infected by some unknown bacteria or virus or that she was poisoned by the locals back in Afghanistan. She left a husband, also a soldier, and a daughter:

warszawa.naszemiasto.pl/tajemnica-smierci-ewy-baran/ar/c1-33501

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News / Flood in Lower Silesia in Poland - looks catastrophic [94]

@Lenka
Were you living in the area affected by that flood?


"No tak, a nie odpowiadamy tylko za trzęsienia Ziemi, gradobicie i koklusz!" :D 😂

News / Flood in Lower Silesia in Poland - looks catastrophic [94]

Czechowice-Dziedzice:

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News / Flood in Lower Silesia in Poland - looks catastrophic [94]


The Racibórz Dolny dry detention basin is the biggest hydrological object in Poland. The dams alone are 22 km long.
It's supposed to protect 2.5 mln people.

Its build was planned since 1883, but it was too expensive. Finally it was the Millennium Flood in 1997 due to which 56 people died in Poland that prompted the decision to build it. For this to be possible the course of the river Oder had to be changed and two villages liquidated and people resettled. The build was financed by the Polish state, the World Bank and the EU.

The first plans were made in 2001, the tendering for the project took place in 2010 and the building started in 2013 and got finished in 2020 (right in time, I guess ;O). The basin wasn't tested by such a big flood yet.