Art Thread for Artists

The Emperor's Lounge
#104

I think sometimes first hand experience can create stronger blocks; though it does also point out the big boulders that can get set up in the way.

I am only speaking from the point of view of fine arts made by hand like painting, drawing, printmaking and the like, so I wouldn’t want to generalize out into digital arts or more commercial art.

My take, and I have discussed this with others is that arts like painting are getting more marginalized, and while there has not been a major market for this type of work in recent times, the market seems to get worse and worse. A very few artists receive most of the sales. There is just very little room to break in.

One must start by showing art in art centers and galleries and museums. This is essential, but it is disheartening that so often this process does not give one much momentum or actual sales.

I have been in many exhibitions. Few have led to sales. I have even had a buyer approach me through the gallery he usually worked with and to make the sale I needed to give half of the money I would have made to the gallery, even though I was not represented by it. The buyer would not work directly with me. The gallery did almost nothing but took half of the money I would have made.

I would like to be disabused of my notions on this topic, but I do not think it is too far from the truth.

I think one idea from recent Law of Attraction thinking is that any problem or blockage can be overcome. This can lead a person to really feel like shit when they cannot solve the problem that they face.

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#106

Finally finished this one yesterday. One of those tracks I’ve “finished” but feels like I need to change it or alter it in some way. I think it’s just my discomfort with how it turned out. It’s a little happy at points, but the harmony pulls it back a bit with some contrasting mood. Probably an expression of the reconciliation I’ve been going through.

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#107

Got another one I finished. I guess this is progress. About 4 years ago I was lucky if I finished a song in half a year.

I think I’ll have to let this one sit for a while and then return to it later to really appreciate it. Right now I’m still going through my post burn out from working on it too long. I like it, but it’s got that familiar feeling of not really being “done”. Seems like I was able to put that aside more and just close the chapter on it to move on to something else.

And I had to laugh the other day, I checked my streaming revenue for the hell of it on distrokid and I actually made 38 cents on there. I think that’s entirely from me listening to my own songs on youtube lol. And that was kind of growth too because not too long ago I’d feel like a failure for not getting plays from anyone.

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#108

clean ass drums. complex rhythms and dissections of rhythm.

For me, harmonies are the primary musical means of emotional connection (obviously drums also play a major role too). I connect most strongly with the harmonic narrative that develops from about 3:18 to 5:28. If I put part of the emotion into words I’d say I hear Hope and Defiant Protection of Beauty. Those are definitely a part of my emotional bag, so I connect.

The progression, the artistic journey, as you continue to compose and produce, is undeniable. Glad you’re sharing.

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#109

Thanks man. I saw this in the morning when I got up and it started out my day right. Appreciate you taking the time to listen.

It’s interesting you picked that up as the overall theme which helps me confirm I’m getting better at conveying my own feelings through the music. There was definitely something ethereal or more sacred about this one. Which is why I chose the name sky palace.

I like having my music speak for itself as much as possible. I’ve found that if I have to explain to someone the overall theme I was going for I fell short with conveying that.

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#110

Not sure if this should be another thread or not. But since this is the artist thread, I thought I’d pick the minds of fellow artists.

I’m overwhelmingly critical of my own art. Despite how hard I’ve tried I have a lot of trouble breaking this habit. I routinely step on my own creations. I legitimately get stressed when writing music and have to push through it. If I don’t force myself to sit down and write I’ll avoid it. It doesn’t seem right, but I don’t really know what the alternative is or how most people go about creating. I’ve probably been seriously working on music for 5 years now. Closer to 7 if you want to count my beginning stages where I procrastinated and couldn’t even get myself to sit down at my computer.

Is this a common struggle for any of you guys? I kind of see why some guys decide to turn to alcohol or drugs, getting out of your own way to create is difficult. Well it is for me at least.

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#111

Salvador Dali used hypnogogic or hypnopompic states as inspiration. I think he called the method Paranoid Critical.

Others just sit and do it.

I wish I knew what else to say. Have you thought about UA? Or other artist type subliminals?

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#112

I’ve thought of UA. I actually had UA in a few customs. My current custom has the music producer module in it which I thought would be enough with AM. But I’m wondering if Ascension and UA would be a better combo. I’m still unsure about Mogul in AM. If that’s helping or hurting me. I just went with the lighter build with my current custom to get my life together more and left out UA. But I’ve also realized I don’t lean heavily towards conventional business oriented stuff, I’m really just an artist at heart. I know business is important when it comes to music, but it’s not the primary goal such as someone building up a virtual storefront or something like that for a business. It’s a very different mentality.

I’ve rebuilt my customs too many times, I guess i just thought leaving it out would accelerate my results with AM but it has kind of made me feel listless.

Eh not the best time to evaluate, I’m going through a lot right now.

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#113

Often I find it useful to intervene on the level of physical experience. The narrative, storytelling mind is too good at creating these fake, forced-choice scenarios.

It has to be this or else it’s that

I can’t do this because I’m doing that

And so on.

It all seems incredibly logical and obvious in the moment, but most of it is just stuff we’re making up. Conditioned by the past and reinforced by emotional/physical states.

It’s the animal we are. Likes stories. And likes believing in stories.

But often, if you’re lucky, you can just press the ‘mute’ button. Let it talk if it wants to, but you’re on something else.

Take a hike.
Go swimming.
Put the focus onto someone else for a while.

They’re just less damaging ways of doing the same thing that the alcohol does:

Putting a muzzle on your out-of-control Prefrontal Cortex. Annoying genius that it is.

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#115

Digging through the crates of the past again tonight. Thank Dragon Reborn.

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#116

Your tracks always give me Bjork vibes. You’ve got that same ethereal quality to them and they’re structured but free to meander. Very relaxing.

You use nanostudio 2 right? I’m always curious when I listen to your tracks. Is it all programmed in or is some of it loops? I can’t imagine working on music with only one screen lol. Just seems like working on an ipad would be tough.

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#117

I love Bjork.

These older tracks were all made on Nanostudio v1. It was so much easier for me to work with than v2.

But it was also a different point in time. I think/hope that I’m in a kind of transitional phase right now. The beginning of some real shifting.

But it’s affecting my relationship to composing.

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#118

I play the keyboard on the screen as if it were a piano. Choosing different voices that I like from the many choices in the synthesizer. Sometimes I play around with the wave programming and various sound features to create a different voice. And I build up the rhythms layer by layer. You know, now that I think about it, it reminds me of collage-work.

What do you mean is it programmed or is some of it loops? My vocab may be a bit spotty.

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#119

Workflow is a very delicate thing I’ve come to realize. I’m actually in the process of reworking my setup because I’ve been frustrated with my own setup.

I like this method too. I find that each individual voice influences the next. That’s why I can’t pre-plan most of my music. Timbres effect moods which can effect note choices. It all somehow comes together at the tend though lol.

I meant by loops some people just drop in pre-composed things. Like a shaker loop that goes for say 4 bars or hi hat pattern. Mostly asking because I was curious how in depth you go with nanostudio.

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#120

#121

Taking a massive risk here:

DSC_0163
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Leah (L), Diana (R).

I paint in acrylics. Spent 3 years in the dumps when so called art friends abandoned me, then decided to pull my head up.

Don’t let others talk crap about your creativity, just get better friends.

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#122

Agreed 100%. I arrived at that same conclusion several years ago after reading Marie Kondo’s book and realized how many people in my social circle were aggravating me (excessively snarky and judgy) and excessively critical of my values - capitalism, in this case. They were what is now generally classified as “woke”.

I never got into painting, my main medium (back when I considered myself “into art” was sculpting, actually. That’s messy and time-consuming though, but after I nearly took my thumb off with a chisel I decided to try digital art. haha.

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#123

I think that’s best lol :no_mouth: that’s some self mafia shit.

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#124

Haha more so a combination of not paying attention, not being careful, and using a freshly sharpened wood chisel on a plaster block… went through it like a hot knife through butter… right into my thumb. :sweat_smile: :drop_of_blood:

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#125

This came into being today. Actually first started during the ZP trial, but I forgot about it.

Not done, but done for now. [slightly altered]

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