Illustrators Hangout

[Guest]

 

[Vincent E]

I don't know what art is, but I know what I like.

In the past I have attempted to draw, paint, and scetch. The only thing that I can draw is a bath. The only thing that I can paint is a house. And as for scetching, I would just prefer to putma piece of tracing paper over an original image or two and do some creative reconstruction - probably in violation of copyright laws.

I am one of those frusrated artists who was never able to put on paper what was in my head. Basically, I threw my crayons across the room - just recently in fact - and resigned myself to more verbal expressions. I would love to have the talent to create visual imagery, but I've just never been able to do it. I think there might be several more people out there who are in the same boat with me.

If I could illustrate my own stories, I would probably do it for each one. I do think that there is definitely a place for illustrations on Lit.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

Rhinhombre, I think only a small number of the illustrations in stories are up to an acceptable par for anyone who appreciates "art". I looked at most of them when I found out I was in the top list of illustrated stories w/my H'ween entry. I merely included one of my muerto pics, didn't realize it would qualify me for that category.

So I guess that's the only criteria, which is too bad. Plus the ratings are most likely based on the story vs. the illustration.

Perdita

 

[Guest]

 

[whispering_surrender]

There are stories to READ on lit??? Who has time to do that?

Actually, in all honesty, lately the only ones I have read are ones I have been requested to read, either on the AH or personally. A few of those were illustrated but, by author I snobbishly (and unashamedly) believe are a "cut above the rest". As to the rest of what you find, I'm not sure....

I'd love to illustrate some of my writing, but that comes down to the tricky issue of the majority of my writing springing from my imagination, and not any "real life" experience in particular. Thus, any illustration I did would be coloured by my natural tendency to put myself into the plot for reference, and I cannot draw myself accurately. *grin*

Whisper

Ps. Goodness, I didn't mean to ramble like that....

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Without getting into all that right brain/left brain folderol (has that been disproved yet?) I think writing is much easier to critique, simply because the mechanics at least, can be judged objectively. It's a lot easier to spot misspellings and bad grammar than it is to identify specific deficiencies in a drawing.

Teaching people to draw is much more difficult than teaching them to write. The fact that we are talking animals gives us all a kind of native familiarity with written prose, but few of us gain that kind of understanding and command of the visual world.

A few years ago I became obsessed with drawing. I stumbled across a box of artist's pencils that made such a nice line that I spent all my time drawing. (They were Black Velvets. But only the ones made in Europe. The ones made in the USA weren't the same) It was very sensual, the feel of the pencil on the paper. I got pretty good at drawing figures in a kind of comic-book way, but I could never master layout and composition. I'd look at other artists' work and just despair. Then they stopped making those pencils (actually they changed the composition of the lead) and it was no fun anymore. I still have a few hundred dollars worth of markers and pens and rapidographs sitting around that I just don't touch anymore.

Drawing is much more gratifying than writing, because you don't have to describe stuff and filter it through words; you just show it. Maybe someday I'll go back to it, because it was wonderful fun while it lasted.

---dr.M.

 

[Guest]

 

[oggbashan]

Dyslexic in Art

I can write. Without a word processor no one could read it except my former secretary who could just about decipher my scrawl.

I can't draw; paint; sculpt or do anything that involves fine manipulation. Six inch nails and four pound hammers are more my line.

I'm a frustrated artist but I was born with recalcitrant fingers. They just don't work as they should.

I was taking Art at school but I couldn't produce anything worth looking at unless the canvas was six foot by six foot minimum and the school couldn't afford the materials. I was great at backdrops for school productions with a broom and buckets of paint.

So I write.

My brother, who doesn't share my lack of dexterity, actually makes MONEY from his art now that he has retired from being a production manager of five factories. I'm jealous.

Back to the writing. That makes him jealous and sibling rivalry is wonderful for encouraging us to work at our art. I also supply him with Art books. He buys the beer.

Og

 

[Couture]

I tend to agree with you Rhino. Did I mention that my story Sybian Training is the #1 illustrated story? Now, I realize that not everyone can be as talented and possessed of such a wealth of brainpower as I. Did I mention modest?

Damn-damn, now it's not even on the charts. Argh! You bastards!



I'm kidding and I'm a little over half way to being real and fully fucking snoggered. But, I'm a fun drunk. Annoying, but fun. At least that's what I tell myself.

Here's the thing. Writing is hard enough. I mean, the average reader of one of my stories has no clue what it takes to churn one out. There's the idea, then the writing, then the editing, then the editing, and then the editing, and then even more editing.

After that, unless I've already done a drawing of sorts, there's no way I'll start one. I'm so sick of the whole damned story by that point I don't even want to think about it any more. And, hey, we are not getting paid, so a professional illustrator is out of the question.

Shit, I'm so drunk I've lost my train of thought. My point out of all of this is that it's hard to do a good job of either. It's damned near impossible to do a professional job of both.

And Rhino, if you want to illustrate, feel free to do so with any of my stories. I'll give you all the credit you can stand.

Cheers!

 

[Guest]

 

[MathGirl]

Rhino's art

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[Guest]

 

[McKenna]

.

 

[Guest]

 

[Couture]

I've also had some more time to think about your original question, and I'm in a better state of mind than last night. I think the problem with using photographs instead of pencil drawings, is that the photos tend to take away from the readers experience.

A story, at least one that works for me, allows me to have a little world going on inside me head, while I'm reading it. The only limitation is my imagination. Many times, the cold harsh reality of a photo intrudes upon the world that my mind has created.

The advantage of art, is that so much interpretation is still left to the reader. The fairy, which I loved by the way, could have been the girl I had a crush on back in highschool or maybe the neighbor's hot daughter. My brain hasn't been given enough information to decide it isn't one of these, so it can fill in the gaps and she can become almost anyone.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I guess this is as convenient place as any to load a new picture for an illustrated story.

 

[KillerMuffin]

Muffie is a wannabe mangaka. Muffie has been diligently practicing for a grand total of like twelve hours in the past month. It's shameful, really. Muffie isn't very good, but she has a couple of college degrees to pick up so she isn't in any hurry since she'll probably have to open up her own manga publishing company just to get anywhere with it. (She isn't very good.) But Muffie is stubborn and will get better.


Click here for crummy picture

 

[Couture]

First of all, that's really not bad at all Muffie. You know, if you adjusted the nose to a more manga style (smaller and pointier) And I think the collar bones would be a bit sexier if they were angled. It would be really great.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

 

[wildsweetone]

My personal opinion...

Creativity for me is a relatively personal thing. When I pick up my drawing equipment the rest of the world no longer exists. When I sit to write, nothing exists and I am merely a scribe for others.

I know the kind of artwork that I like. I don't particularly like picasso bits and pieces, and not all abstract art appeals to me. I prefer 'smoother' art to 'jaunty' art.

Many of the photographs that adorn the stories in the Illustrated section don't appear as 'art' to me. It's as if somebody just flipped out a camera and took a flat no-dimensional shot of something and nothing.

Some other art using different media comes across as stunning. I'm not going to be specific here, I believe the artwork speaks for itself.

I'm surprised to note that of the 43 Illustrated stories in Literotica, none exceed the 4.50 voting mark.

Is that because of the art or because of the story the art accompanies?

 

[Guest]

 

[wildsweetone]

Re: Re: My personal opinion...

yep.
4.5 is a really good score!

it is VERY difficult to be good at BOTH.

rhino-master of none

I beg to differ there dear. You are a master of your pen. That much is obvious.

 

[Guest]

 

[wildsweetone]

no my penis master of ME!
...

Ah well, don't let it bother you dear, it's just a guy thing.

Do you know or plan what you are going to draw before you draw it?