Art & Music Discussion - For on-topic chat times!

[beesmygod]

Has anyone watched that "Work of Art" show on Bravo? It's a reality show competition between like 14 artists to have a personal exhibit in the Brooklyn Museum or something, like Project Runway or Top Chef. I haven't watched an episode yet, but I wanna know if I should get into it.

So bad its good. I mean it. You have a hodgepodge of people with actual talent but little creativity and some people that are just super wtf. Everything they make is SO forced and manufactured it's kinda painful. Like they had one episode where they had to make something "edgy" and it was just embarrassing to watch these hipsters run around trying to figure out which body fluid would be most repulsive to get their point across.

[TheBoyd]

so theres this art contest in the meta-misc subforum of the mspafa forum. Maybe it'd be better here, thats not the point, the point is, that it isn't getting much traffic. So I thought I'd mention it too you guys because its pretty awesome and fun and stuff. you should check it out.

[Puppies and Sunshine]

I watched like a video review/recap of an episode and I think the judging part works better for design competitions instead of fine art competitions, but I think I'll watch it for the, "um what are you even doing," moments. But skill-wise, even just for the generic paintings, I know kids who paint just as well as these people. :I

[Shaon]

Apparently there's an art show in a nearby city featuring female comic book artists, most of which are graduates of my college of choice. I can't decide if I'm excited to see it or if I want to strangle the guy who thought "sugar ninjas" was a good name for anything.

edit: looking at the art on this page, it looks like it's just popularizing the stereotype that girls only draw ~anime~.

[LeoModesto]

The name "Sugar Ninjas" kind of implies that. I'd be interested in seeing an exhibit or feature based on women who work on the western comic book industry. You know, the DCs and Marvels and Darkhorses. Is there any woman actually working there? As an artist or even a writer? It seems like such a male dominated hobby.


About the previous discussions over WIPs and the like - does this mean you're not supposed to post finished pictures in the doodle topic? I think it's a bit redundant to start a topic all of my own, but I mostly won't keep working on a picture after I post it - I typically don't have the patience to work on the same thing through multiple sessions. I might even draw the whole thing again if I need to.

[tynic]

No, you can post finished stuff in the doodle thread, it's all fair game.

I was just wondering if people were missing the point of the thread - which is not to be a place for doodles per se, although they can absolutely go in there, but rather a zone for things that people want feedback on but don't by themselves warrant their own thread. So that's, like, concept sketches, roughs, WIPs, and also finished products if you haven't made a thread for yourself. Maybe there should be an explanation in the first post? But nobody will read that. Or a clarification in the 'tidy' section of the rules?

[Shadow of the Lotus]

I do find it strange that people seem to be mistaking the doodle thread so much. I don't draw a thing but I still knew that it was what you just described there Tynic. Perhaps clarification in the rules section would help, yeah. Or I guess a thread rename but that doesn't sound like much fun. I mean, what would it be?

"Doodle Thread: (sketches, WIPs, finished products welcome; feedback encouraged)"

That seems kinda lame.

[LeoModesto]

I've never had a problem with posting finished pieces in there; it just seemed that, after the conversation on the thread's purpose a few pages back, things changed and I was not supposed to post them there anymore.


The reason I haven't made a thread of my own is because people (myself included) seldom check those - usually going for the doodle thread because it's easier to post and look at art all in one place instead of opening a bunch of new tabs

[tynic]

Nothing changed, we were just having a convo about potential changes - you'll be notified if anything gets switched up, don't worry.

[Mayu_Zane]

Just wondering: Anybody here a frequent visitor/member of the conceptart.org or wecookart forums?

[Pereza0]

I have an account there (CA), but posted once, I think.

Its just sort of overwhelming how good people are there, becoming one of the "average artists" there is something im pretty sure ill never manage to do.

I sometimes lurk around and take a look at the sketchbooks of people, one can easily spend and entire afternoon doing just that

[tynic]

I used to lurk a lot and post a bit, but haven't for years. At conceptart, that is.

[Mayu_Zane]

Semi-regular member at CA, I update my sketchbook thread from time to time. Main reason I come there is for the tutorials, as well as finding some awesome stuff for inspiration. Never would have found my favorite artist if it wasn't for CA.

Freelance opportunities' all right too.

[Proxzee?]

Oh conceptart.org i dont get any visits there. that forum is so clunky that its a pain to update too.

[Lexxy]

Since it's not terribly clear that the term "art" encompasses both visual and musical arts, I've altered the thread title to clarify this! Feel free to talk shop about composing and music making programs as well as drawing, photography, and other such creative outlets.

[Nucleose]

Hooray. This makes me happy. I'm actually wondering if anyone that uses FL Studio know how to, kind of "stop" the auto balancing things it does to the volumes of the instruments with songs. Like, when one instrument is playing by itself, it's loud, but when other instruments come in it's low. This gets awkward when at random moments in a phrase, it sounds like the volume is phasing in and out because of rests and whatnot. At least, that's what my friend hears, and what I slightly hear. Messing around with this program is interesting. I'm interested in effects and techniques other music makers use with their programs.

Also, anyone actually looking to compose as a career?

[Lexxy]

Man, I should get my friend Beatdrop in here, he is pro at FL.

[Dacen]

Also, anyone actually looking to compose as a career?

That would be me! I know there's a bunch of other folks in here who are studying composition at a post secondary level, too.
In about twenty days, I will be one of those people as well! I am really looking forward to it.

I have an old copy of FL studio that I used briefly in a course. I would still be making music with it if I were not mac based at the moment.

[Nucleose]

That would be me! I know there's a bunch of other folks in here who are studying composition at a post secondary level, too.
In about twenty days, I will be one of those people as well! I am really looking forward to it.

I have an old copy of FL studio that I used briefly in a course. I would still be making music with it if I were not mac based at the moment.

Oh! Cool! I plan to compose as a career as well. I'm glad there are people on the forum I can look to for guidance on these things, going into that field can be intimidating!

[Dacen]

Oh yes it can be intimidating, but take solace in that you'll never please everybody, so as long as you handle your criticism well you will be just fine.
It took me a while to realize just how many forumites are composers! It's why I'm really glad this thread has been expanded, so composers can talk shop a bit.

So, lad Nucleose, what kind of music do you compose primarily?

[Nucleose]

Oh yes it can be intimidating, but take solace in that you'll never please everybody, so as long as you handle your criticism well you will be just fine.
It took me a while to realize just how many forumites are composers! It's why I'm really glad this thread has been expanded, so composers can talk shop a bit.

So, lad Nucleose, what kind of music do you compose primarily?

I agree!

Also, that's a good question! I actually try to expand my borders all the time, and only decide on style depending on what I'm composing for. Versatility is a big thing with me, and I've been getting more varied the more I compose. There are two good sayings I think of. One could argue against me saying that a jack of all trades is a master of none, which could work, but I also believe in the principle that specializing too much ends up exploiting weaknesses in what you can do. I've recently done a straight piano remix and jazz remix of two Homestuck songs, although people say that my music often sounds like it has jazz influences in it. Do you have a field of specialty though?

As for the songs I just talked about, for some reason I want to hold them back until I'm done with my series of fan musics to post them in the fan music thread. Not sure why, but resisting the temptation of saying "screw it" and just posting them is tough!

[Dacen]

I agree with staying varied in your composition. As you can see I write solo guitar music, but lately I've tried dipping my toes into choral ensembles, string quartets, small jazz ensembles, and solo piano music. Stylistically I sort of just write whatever I feel like. You can probably hear Debussy in my piano music and Eric Whitacre in my choral stuff, but that's because I haven't written enough of it yet to develop a clear voice of my own. Listening to a lot of diverse musics in those idioms would help me develop a voice, probably. In the guitar that kind of thing is already emerging.

Style is sort of a nebulous thing for me because I tend to look for the elements of the style rather than the style itself. And then I take the stuff I like and stick it in my own toolbox.

I'm not really an electronic music guy, as far as my own composition goes. I really do love good electronic music but at the moment I'm writing stuff out in Sibelius to be played. I'd love to learn a bit more, and am strongly considering buying a massive pack of sounds for 200 bucks that gets me 1000 dollars worth of sounds. I'm not really sure about it though, because, like I said, electronic music really isn't my focus right now.

Yeah, make sure you're comfortable with your pieces before you post it! No sense in sharing something that you are unhappy with!

[Nucleose]

I agree with staying varied in your composition. As you can see I write solo guitar music, but lately I've tried dipping my toes into choral ensembles, string quartets, small jazz ensembles, and solo piano music. Stylistically I sort of just write whatever I feel like. You can probably hear Debussy in my piano music and Eric Whitacre in my choral stuff, but that's because I haven't written enough of it yet to develop a clear voice of my own. Listening to a lot of diverse musics in those idioms would help me develop a voice, probably. In the guitar that kind of thing is already emerging.

Style is sort of a nebulous thing for me because I tend to look for the elements of the style rather than the style itself. And then I take the stuff I like and stick it in my own toolbox.

I'm not really an electronic music guy, as far as my own composition goes. I really do love good electronic music but at the moment I'm writing stuff out in Sibelius to be played. I'd love to learn a bit more, and am strongly considering buying a massive pack of sounds for 200 bucks that gets me 1000 dollars worth of sounds. I'm not really sure about it though, because, like I said, electronic music really isn't my focus right now.

Yeah, make sure you're comfortable with your pieces before you post it! No sense in sharing something that you are unhappy with!

Hmmm, I should probably try a choral piece sometime. I've actually always composed on my computer, it's what helped me learn about music theory and convinced me to actually spend money on a book for the first time in years. Being in my school band has also helped rhythmically, as I've always been in the percussion section, although recently I've been playing marimba too. Sadly, it's because I'm the only percussionist that knows how to play it, and I found out it's actually expected of a percussionist to play marimba along with the other stuff.

I started out composing for games anyways because of my old game making hobby, so electronic stuff was my beginnings. I've been composing for about two years now, and have made about 90 songs. That doesn't mean they're all noteworthy! The reason I got better is because I realized I loved making music more than programming or drawing/spriting, and without realizing, I was making music and doing nothing else. How'd you start out?

As for style...hmmm, I've never really thought about that. I used to have a distinct style, but the more I learn the more I messed around and started making all kinds of things, which is good, because my old style was basically poop.

...

I hope other musicians or people start talking before this turns into the Dacen and Nucleose talk about music thread. Please, talk about yourselves and answer some questions brought up in this conversation!

[silence]

Wow, another percussionist! I've actually met quite a few who, like myself, have turned to electronic music. That's an interesting trend. Nucleose, you've mentioned many times that you're working on fanmusic, and I can't wait to hear it. It will be cool to have another artist in the fanmusic thread. Also dang, 90 songs? In my ~4 years of composing I've probably made about 50 total, most of those within the past year or so. Gotta pick up the pace.

I'd like to ask for help on DAWs here: I used FL Studio for a while until my PC kicked the bucket, and now I use GarageBand (). I've been considering Ableton Live, though- seems decent, the only problem being the price tag for what I want (the full version plus the EIC). Has anyone here used it?

[Nucleose]

Wow, another percussionist! I've actually met quite a few who, like myself, have turned to electronic music. That's an interesting trend. Nucleose, you've mentioned many times that you're working on fanmusic, and I can't wait to hear it. It will be cool to have another artist in the fanmusic thread. Also dang, 90 songs? In my ~4 years of composing I've probably made about 50 total, most of those within the past year or so. Gotta pick up the pace.

I'd like to ask for help on DAWs here: I used FL Studio for a while until my PC kicked the bucket, and now I use GarageBand (). I've been considering Ableton Live, though- seems decent, the only problem being the price tag for what I want (the full version plus the EIC). Has anyone here used it?

Haha, I'd like to restate that about half of those songs are of low quality! I started two years ago, but it was about March of Last year that I would consider the point where I started making good music. I think any pace in making music is good, whatever works for you and the song. Sometimes I make a bad piece over a long time, and a good piece in short time, and vice versa. Unfortunately, I've never used Ableton, so I can't help you there. Does it have a trial? I usually avoid pricey programs I can't try out first, even if reviews are good.

Now that I finished the Spider's Claw/Staring mix, I'm trying to work on transcribing Light. If anyone already has it and it's chords, that would be great! Although part of why I'm doing this is for the challenge. Remixing and transcribing and studying other songs intently can really help learn about other styles and what I can do with my own music, as I've been finding out. I haven't remixed a song in a very long time!