What Inspires Me?
CLARA LIEU
Clara Lieu is a visual artist and professor at RISD College. Her blog is filled with tips that are useful to the aspiring artist or wannabe art students, such as: How to Build an Impressive Portfolio, How to Motivate Yourself Into Drawing, What Art Teachers Look For In A Student, etc. She also tells of her experience as an artist and a teacher, such as how much a simple "thank you" can make a difference when it comes to asking for recommendation letters.
I love her blog because, as an aspiring visual artist and graphic designer who wishes to study abroad, her tips about the do's and dont's of the art world comes in handy.
Also, as a teacher and artist, she can give an insightful and fresh perspective into any topic.
Clara also does FAQ sessions where she answers practical questions such as how to apply to art schools, what is expected, to philosophical ones such as how does one find inspirations for one's art.
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We Make Money Not Art is a UK-related art blog that focuses on social and political themes. Its articles feature unusual or revolutionary artists, such as a multi-instrumentalist thatt designed a booth to replicate various drum sounds.
The blog also features many social causes and movements, as well as how they express through art. Examples include the current Syrian refugee crisis, and the art that corresponds to it---below, a group of Syrians step over a rug featuring a famous politician. It is a good blog to discover new artists/ongoing art movements, exhibitions and news.
It's important to keep up-to-date in an ever-changing and rapid world of art, its politics and fruits.
It is exactly what I need right now---more experience and knowledge about the world of visual arts and graphic design.
We Make Money Not Art also hosts the occasional contest, such as a Digital Designs contest, which to my knowledge is open internationally. Though I cannot hope of entering it (as of this moment, anyway!) it is good to know for the future.
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BANKSY
Banksy is an English-based artist, though no one knows who he is, where he lives, or even if he's a he. A street artist, Banksy's works range from murals to smaller graffiti art to elaborate paintings and installations.
He features a lot of social, economic, political and psychological themes, usually anti-war, anti-politics,
and anti-art. His works are sharply satirical, which is why I love them so much---my artworks also frequently feature cynical, satirical themes. He likes to point out the issue of existentialism---do we really matter? Do the things we say and the actions we commit actually make an impact to the world? In his most recent exhibition, Dismaland, he parodies the hidden consumerism and unhealthy idealism of Walt Disney's Disneyland and turns it into a dark and gruesome nightmare. For example, one of the installations featured a troop of soldiers firing at Cinderella's carriage. Another showed a lady being attacked by pigeons.
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DANTE ORPILLA
Dante Orpilla is probably one of my Instagram artists at this moment, because I find that his works are a perfect combination between realistic and abstract. For example, he uses a lot of human anatomy, especially females, in his works, but instead of making them super realistic he uses lines to replace shadows, muscles, contours, and body parts.
Instead of being completely in control of his art or completely let go, he achieves a balance between control and non-control.
His watercolour works are especially stunning, creating a melancholic feel to the overall tone of his work.
He often uses charcoal, ink, and watercolours to achieve the desired effects. Visit his Instagram now (link above) because the scope of his skills just can't be shown in full here.