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PascalCampion β Devious Journal Entry
Published: 2014-03-28 18:40:00 +0000 UTC; Views: 15691; Favourites: 83; Downloads: 0
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Just a little note...When you see an artist you like and you are trying to figure his work out... the question that gets asked a lot is" How did you do it?"
What software did you use to make this effect?
What is your technique?
These are questions that won't get you anywhere. It's like asking for the fish.
A question you should probably ask is WHY did you do this?.. WHAT were you thinking?
When you ask this question, you are thinking about the principles of fishing, and not just about catching A fish.
If you wonder why, then you won't be stuck with the HOW.. you will most probably create your own "HOW", your own method of putting your WHY into existence..and this is what will really make you unique.
Once again.. this is just my take on things.
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Comments: 33
Thank you 
I've finally found my answer 
Cheerio!!!
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You couldn't say this any better! I hope that whoever's looking for an answer has found theirs
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man, as a photographer I can sooooooo relate to that. thanks for putting it into such great words!
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The how and why questions have their place depending on the situation.
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Agreed, everybody should forge their own path.
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EVERYONE learned from someone
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I think this has a good point but the same can be said for the complete reverse.
If you know the "HOW" by asking people how they make something, then you can create the "WHY" yourself. Which I actually think is maybe more important.Β
Either way it's a good thing to think about.
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People who ask these questions want to know the technical side of things, not the emotional one. I see nothing wrong with that. Your need to learn the know-how first, after all. If I want to learn a particular effect in Photoshop, knowing that my favourite artist was thinking of yellow roses while painting his piece won't help me very much. I just want to know how he did it.
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this here is so spot-on!
itβs also a big problem with so many tutorials these days. a lot of money is spent at places like gnomon to record stuff at high quality, but itβs mostly a walkthrough with commentary: "then i painted the arm, then i painted the leg, then back to the armβ¦" I CAN SEE THAT FOR CHRISSAKES! if such a tutorial video goes "in-depth," we get a short run-down on how someone sets up his brushes or uses layers. the reasons behind decisions are woefully underexplored.
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I don't wholly agree.
To expand on your fishing reference, the "how's" are like fishing lures, and as my dad used to say "most lure's are made to catch fisherman not fish". People do have a tendency to get caught up on the "HOW".Β Like it's some magical talisman that make their art awesome.Β (You can't see this but I'm waving my hands in mock of this magic solution.)
But....
If you don't have any lures you can't catch any fish. And some times having the wrong lures can be just as bad.
As artists we need to have a good collection of "how's" (and yes, a good understanding of why they are used when..)
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Holy words!
I couldn't have explained it better. You can give some tricks, but it will never be enough... The only thing to do in order to learn how to draw is pick up a pencil and some paper and just DRAW! Draw things as you and only you see them. Art is truly beautiful when it is personal
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Thank you for this. I follow one artist in particular..and I'd like to learn their technique. You're right, all I thought to ask is, "how do you do this" or "what program do you use". When I mentioned this desire to others, they thought and said the same thing. But I always feel like I'm trying to steal.
What's interesting is the artist that I'm thinking of, well, her art has changed over time. She used to have very dark, evil art, but now it's very sweet and whimsical. That makes me think that SHE has changed and in turn her art has changed. This simple question begs for a deeper answer, and we can find what we need to find for ourselves within that answer. We are never going to be able to do exactly what they can anyway.
This really helped me and changed my way of thinking.
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but I can understand where you come from when you said what you said.
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I cant say I agree with this. I am always searching for ways to better my technique and stuff. So when I see a really cool effect, it helps that I ask the software or how they did the effect so that I might add it to my own work. Knowing how other artists that I like do things and what techniques they use inspire me and help me develop mine better!
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For someone who is trying to improve my artwork everyday this is a great way to look at things when it comes to finding my own voice.
I can definitely relate to this comment as I struggle on how to achieve a style that I like best and would often wonder how other great artists does theirs, but sooner or later I would just deviate from that thought and instead do what I feel is the best and efficient method that pertains to my own adhere style.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and finally bringing that revelation to me
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I agree! I also find that a little help with technique is also invaluable at some point though. I feel that a balanced back and forth between learning and exploring what was learnt is necessary to evolve in art or in anything else for that matter.
I feel it is helpful to know the whys and hows of an artist you like even though I also feel that how it is done goes deeper than the tools that are used and encompasses all the knowledge the artist posses - how he/she understands light and anatomy for example and his/hers mental process to translate it to an image.
Like life there is always a balance to be achieved
Anyways thank you for sharing your thoughts and love to see your work it is inspiring at many levels (for me contemplating your images already tells me a lot of hows and whys. And I hope with time they can rub off on my own perspective and artistic expression)
Cheers
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Great tip!
I try to think in therm 'Would I answer this question if someone asked me it about my work?'.
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My answer to "how did you make this" has and will always be: "...with my computer???"...I never really know what they're really asking. Thanks for posting this. Its definately something to share.
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yet another reason why i aspire to be like you some day~
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Agreed! Knowing the feeling and thought process behind a masterwork is not only interesting but also motivating.
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I think also, you should ask yourself "Why do I like this?" not "How can I do that?"
It's understanding why you like things that starts to develop your own style. Β I imagine, what people are responding to with your stuff is the strong style and the effortlessness of your work.
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Thank you for your response as well. I need to hang these up in my work area for inspiration.
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Been asked "how" a lot, haven't you? Your answer is very true.
Cheers.
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