TODAY'S FEATURED POST

Beyond The Orbs Of Sight

Vanessa Lemen

I think as creative humans, it’s important to have a deep and strong connection to the senses. And I feel that all senses are a support to the others. They work in tandem, and along with understanding and openness, a presence. For example, let’s take what it is to see. What does “to see” mean to you? I feel that to see is… To be awake, aware, to let ourselves be lifted by all that…

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EVERYDAY ORIGINAL

Pied Peahen and Peonies

YESTERDAY’S POST

Image

Research Images Like a Pro

Lauren Panepinto

June 12, 2025 - I just did a spurt of portfolio reviews (it's fresh graduates season!) and a topic seemed to come up more than a few times, and that usually means it's worth a Muddy Colors article. So here we go. I don't want to make this sound like a "the kids don't know X" or "back when I was in school we knew how to Y" kind of thing, but I think some old(er) school knowledge might help a growing problem. A growing problem of using search engines for image research. Since I've been reviewing portfolios and commissioning illustrators (for 20ish years now) I have occasionally had to have a conversation with artists about their image research. Sometimes amusingly referred to as "Google-Fu". The most glaring issue was most often reminding an artist — usually one fresh…

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