I’ve always preferred solitude. No office politics, no customers—just me, my rig, and the hum of the open road. All I need to do is get from point A to B, and since I’m paid per mile, I don’t mind the long cross-state treks. The only downside is that I don’t see home nearly as often, but when I do, I make sure to spend as much time as I can with my family and friends. Besides that, I love blasting music, eating greasy fast food, and driving through the beautiful scenery America has to offer. But lately, the road hasn’t felt as peaceful.

Since the birth of animation, the entertainment industry has quickly adapted and produced feature-length films using the technique. Over time, companies such as Disney and others have shifted from traditional 2D animation to 3D to bring stories to life. Through the use of CGI, or Computer Generated Imagery, the impossible has been brought to life as we experience modern marvels such as Avengers: Endgame and the entire live-action Transformers collection. Intricate moving parts and lifelike creatures have become the new standard in sci-fi, and it would not be possible without modern technology. So for today’s post, I’d like to focus on the history and growth of CGI and give appreciation to the people behind it.

With the rapid development of technology, the world is constantly changing in ways we could never expect. It was only around 140 years ago that cars were invented, and just over a hundred years ago, man touched the skies with the invention of planes. Only about 58 years later, the first man flew through space. My point is that technology is so rapidly transforming and developing alongside our society that it’s become part of it. Within the modern age, we’ve steadily traded tools such as hammers for computers as we march on. Within this march, some artists no longer require a brush to make breathtaking works of art, but rather a controller and a headset within the world of Virtual Reality.

Vincent van Gogh once said, 'If you hear a voice within you say, "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.' His wisdom applies not only to painting but to writing and other creative pursuits. However, like many other creatives, I’ve faced that inner critic and the frustrating experience of a creative block. But what exactly is a creative block? It’s that stubborn feeling when your ideas run dry, and the spark you rely on suddenly fades. Or it’s when you know exactly what you want to do, but you can’t get it perfect so you throw it all away. Every artist, writer, and creator knows the frustration of staring at a blank canvas or page, waiting for the flow to return. It’s painful, and if not dealt with properly can kill the artistic spirit.

"Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable" is attributed to Mexican poet and academic Cesar A. Cruz and is something I often resonate with. It suggests that art is dual-purposed as it can bring solace and comfort to struggling people by offering them a sense of understanding, healing, and even escapism.  For those who are already content or complacent within themselves, art serves as a way to challenge them, prompting reflection, or awakening them to new perspectives and social issues. I have found that Zdzisław Beksiński’s art encompasses this quote perfectly.

In the past, many people have expressed interest in the arts, yet they often hesitate to pursue it. Usually, this hesitation comes from not knowing where to begin—questions like “Where do I get the materials?” and “What tutorials should I follow?” can delay the start of an artistic journey. Today, I want to outline an easy way to get started—all you need is a working computer, access to the internet, preferably a mouse, and a good attitude to begin with pixel art!

In the modern age, technology has rapidly evolved, becoming a central part of our daily lives and reshaping various industries, including art. One of the most notable examples of this intersection between technology and creativity is the rise of digital art. As digital tools and platforms continue developing, artists have more freedom and opportunities to express themselves. However, not all technological advancements in the art world have been universally accepted. One of the most controversial movements in this space is the emergence of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), a concept that has sparked both excitement and skepticism.

Inktober was originally created in 2009 by an illustrator named Jake Parker, to improve his overall inking skills and to establish a habit of drawing. What began as a personal challenge soon grew into a global art movement. The concept was simple: produce an ink drawing each day for 31 days during October. Artists were free to interpret the challenge however they wished, using any tools or subject matter as long as they adhered to the daily drawing prompt list or simply created ink-based art. While at the beginning Inktober was primarily focused on traditional ink drawings, it has grown to include other mediums which include brush pens or markers.

In recent years, the popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) has skyrocketed and has become part of many people’s everyday lives. Whether it’s talking to your phone’s assistant or using ChatGPT to help with personal or work projects, AI has transformed into a widely used resource and tool. However, this rapid advancement brings up many questions about the ethics behind it. Specifically, what do we do when AI oversteps its bounds and starts replacing human artists by creating unethically sourced artwork?

Performance art is defined as “an art form that combines visual art with dramatic performance.” This includes many mediums such as acting, poetry, music, dance, and in some cases even painting. We often consume performance art daily through television, movies, and in live theaters as well. Performance art, in many ways, shapes our cultural experiences and expressions, offering powerful narratives, emotional depth, and unique insights into the human condition.

For most of my artistic journey, I relied on digital tools like painting programs and tablets to create my artwork. I usually would use painting programs with a tablet on my computer or an iPad to create artwork. During that time, I encountered people who believed that digital art was “cheating” because you can undo mistakes, unlike its traditional counterpart. Others told me digital art is not real because art should be tangible, a physical item you could feel and see in person. Today, I’d like to make it clear that digital art is entirely real and it deserves the same respect as traditional art.

Beautiful vases or stained windows often come to mind when people think about glass art. However, I’d like to discuss something far more dynamic today in the works of Dale Chihuly. Chihuly was born in 1941 in Tacoma Washington and has completely revolutionized the world of glass art. What once started as a simple craft has been elevated into a new fine art form that’s been displayed in museums, botanical gardens, and public spaces all over the world. His work consistently pushes the boundaries of traditional glassmaking by creating pieces that are fragile yet monumental and beautiful.

When thinking of the great sculptors of the Renaissance, figures like Michelangelo, Donatello, and Bernini are often hailed as the masters of their craft, with their works representing the pinnacle of classical beauty and securing their legacies in history. However, many other sculptors of the time made equally significant yet overlooked contributions. One such artist is Baccio Bandinelli, the Florentine sculptor behind the striking Hercules and Cacus.

Peter Sheeler is an internet personality and self-taught professional illustrator who has amassed almost two hundred thousand subscribers on YouTube, where he shares his techniques for creating beautiful urban sketches and miniature watercolors. He also runs an Etsy shop, where you can find prints of his works and even paint-along kits that correspond to his YouTube videos. His platform has allowed him to connect with a large audience of people who love his work and learn from him as well!

We’re often taught about the old masters of painting—artists like Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and others who defined entire periods of Western art. Their works fill history books, art classes, and museums, and for good reason. These Renaissance masters pushed boundaries and brought a level of human expression and technical achievement that shaped the trajectory of art for centuries. However, while it’s important to honor and study these iconic figures, I don’t think we give enough time and thought to contemporary master artists who are redefining what is possible today. One of these modern masters, who has captured and held my long time admiration, is Leng Jun.

The brilliance of van Eyck’s skill with oil paints is clearly on display in this piece, where he convincingly captures the subtle play of natural light across the room. You can see how the sunlight filters through the window, leaving a gentle shadow from the window rail. The chandelier’s golden metal seems to shimmer as it catches the light. And perhaps most impressive is the convex mirror in the background, reflecting the backs of the subjects in stunning detail—even the faintest outlines of other figures in the room.