Hey I'm Nina! I'm a pixel artist who is also a vtuber and actually also does a ton of different creative things like lowpoly 3d and gamedev! Pixel art is my main job though. :) https://misnina.com
I remembered I could do stuff with layers to trigger multi-states better, oops!
I'd call this 1.0! Using veadotube (full)
alt: A pixel art illustration rigged to move between certain face angles, eyes moving around based on cursor/joystick movement, and the mouth shapes of the character based on non-present audio. A happy/mad state is being triggered based on voice sounds, not toggles.
Pokemon as Food
Here's the results of the first stream I did where we are going through the pokedex and writing notes on how we'd cook pokemon!
I think the most interesting parts are the ideas around pikachu, and the discussion of what properties fairy meat would have. Here is the VOD (music removed, bring your own) if you'd like to look at any of the discussion.
Art Journey Log: What is Artmaxxing... and Why Does it Bother Me? (02/12/2024)
There's a specific type of art content creation I've noticed, especially on Youtube, that I've been wanting to talk about for a while. I'll admit though, even now I struggle with exactly what I want to say, and how... But I really want to try, it feels important that I get out what I've been thinking.
So this thing I've noticed is something I've been calling "artmaxxing", which I define as content centered on attempting to and explaining how one can get as "good" at art as fast as possible. Here's what makes this tricky: there is nothing actually WRONG with that type of content. Sometimes, often even, it can in fact be a very helpful form of video, and suggestions from these videos can, in fact, help you improve on an objective level. But...
(I will not be pointing at any examples, as I don't really want to draw negative attention towards these creators. Just know that they are very common on Youtube's art space, and you wouldn't have to look far to find one.)
(These contentmakers also tend to be the type of creator to make "critiquing/roasting your art" videos, which I also have severe issues with, but is not the subject of this current blog post. Perhaps another time...)
But here is where my issues start. The idea that the pursuit of improvement is not only necessary, but MANDATORY, I find, can be extremely harmful to the art mindset. "Soli, that seems, like, really counterintuitive," I hear you say. And you are correct! But here's the thing: unless your artistic goals begin and end with growth for growth's sake, you will end up standing in your way. And I'm gonna dare say that, for most people, the point of making art isn't inherently just to get better at it.
Most artists start making art for a purpose. Whether it's to make comics and tell stories, make characters, to externalise the visions you are plagued with, for fashion design, or just because you liked a piece of media so much that it inspired you to create something new based on it... There are endless reasons, and they are rarely Just For Arts's Sake, or Just For Growth's Sake. So the problem is when an artist holds themselves back, keeps themselves from creating the things they actually want to make, because they see themselves as not good enough yet. They want to wait until they are better, until they've improved,
The problem is that "better" is a constantly moving goalpost, and one which, simultaneously, you may never actually get closer to. Your own improvement is not always obvious, and there is always something more to learn.
Do the thing now. Do the art you actually want to make now. Pursue what inspires you, what makes you want to create. Improvement will follow, because every time you draw, you get better. If you're struggling on a part of a drawing, find reference, look for advice as to how to improve that one part, and remain specific. Remember that you can always come back to the same work, the same themes, iterate and improve on them, your piece doesn't have to be one and done. Do not let yourself get too general, or you will stand in your own way. Ignore the voices telling you you aren't good enough yet, that you NEED to work to improve.
Don't stand in your way, and don't listen to anyone telling you want you Should or Need to be learning and doing to improve.
You are good enough right now to start being the artist you want to be.
amandla
pixelskylines
izzy806
gracieabrams
theartofmadeline
romaincrisis
