TODAY'S FEATURED POST

The Power of Preliminary Studies


Julie Beck

Preliminary studies are crucial to my process. Each artist approaches prep work different but as someone who teaches both technical skills as well as the importance of design and composition, I emphasize the importance of massaging the design before you get into the nitty gritty. Preliminary thumbnails help in a multitude of ways: Planning: Sketches help you organize ideas and create a clear roadmap, saving time and reducing frustration. Problem Solving: They allow you to…

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YESTERDAY’S POST


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Survivor: Sculpture Frenzy


Kristine Poole

May 8, 2025 - Ever feel like your life as an artist is the lunatic version of a reality TV show? Yeah, us too. You're floating gently down the stream of creativity enjoying the view... then the  the current sucks you under and you're paddling for your life. Often times when I'm faced with boring, repetitive, production sorts of jobs like dressing waxes or chasing bronzes, I play a mental game with myself, pretending I'm a contestant on a game show -"The challenge, Team Poole, is to get this task completed in the next four hours, but don't forget you'll also be judged on the quality of your work. If you win, your prize is some free time to do the creative work you love." It seems to make the unpleasant work pass more agreeably and I enjoy the…

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Muddy Colors is a collective of more than 20 artists, dedicated to providing a free, online resource for aspiring and professional artists alike.

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