Just an introduction...and maybe a small discussion..

[NazKazuul]

Well, my first post around here, and the Lounge seems like the logical place to introduce myslef. I've been in and out of this place for a few years, just never had the motivation to join. Let me throw the short version of my story out there, just so you fine folks know were I'm coming from:

I'm 25 years old, and had been drawing cartoons and simple things like that since I was a child. It wasn't until my later years in High School that I got in to more serious art, fine art, concept art, illustration, etc. Unfortunately, my High School years were riddled with drugs and a serious lack of motivation, so I never did anything with my interests. Blah, blah, blah fast forward 6 years. I'm engaged, clean (well, I'll have a drink anyway), and working in a creative leach of an office job. Fed up, I talk to my fiance and decide to do everything in my power to get in to art school and ditch this corporate scene. I'm going to start off getting some base credits at the Community college, and in a year or so transfer them to a dedicated art school .

I've had zero formal art training, which I think really shows, but I also feel that I will rapidly improve when in a creative environment. Judging by the AMAZING artists that frequent this board (amongst the best I've ever seen), I figure this the perfect place to pick up some inspiration and make sure I stay on the creative track.

Anyway, I just wanted to come in here and introduce myself. I'm looking forward a great deal of inspiring discussion, critisisms, and providing some input myself!

The discussion part of the topic: I've been wondering what other artists think about the influence of drugs on art. Do you think drugs enhance, deter, or have no real effect on creativity that can't be obtained otherwise? Just something I'm curious about...

[Interceptor]

It all depends on the drug, dosage and person, I say.

I've never tried using anything, though.

[JAG.]

first of all.. congrats on your decision to persue your interests, and welcome [officially] to CA.

alright, onto the drugs.. id have to say YES. indeed drugs can influence art and creativity for several reasons:

1. the habit itself could be good or bad [creativity wise] and may affect how you see or feel about life during those times of being under the influence or addiction.

2. the experience itself. say you have a bad acid trip one day and see monsters all around you. well lets say you start illustrating those monsters eating at your soul or something and they get picked up by some video game developer and BOOM.. your're on your way to success [pshh yeah right] you get the idea

3. the ugly lessons to learn. maybe you came close to death, and the experience rejuvinated your appreciation for life. and THAT may influence your work or your motivation for work.. or enables you to express your emotions thru your work.

etc etc.. the hard part is having to deal with that just to get some 'creative effect'. to answer the question again, yes drugs CAN influence your art, thought it doesnt necessarily mean they WILL. and drugs are bad anyway, dont mess with them. theres other sources of creative inspiration and influence - JAG

[NazKazuul]

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking really. I'm certianly not suggesting that taking drugs is guaranteed to improve your creativity...I know personally that it took quiting drugs to get serious about art.

Then you have people like Crumb and Bode, and you think "what would there art have been like without the drugs"? Crumb may have gone on to be one of the great modern fine artists, on the other hand nothing is likely to have changed with Bode. Cheech Wizard was created long before he touched a drug.

I guess it makes sense that drugs could ALTER the direction of your creativity, but they can't give you what you don't already have. Accelerate it maybe, but even then it may come out immature...if that makes sense..

[Seedling]

Hi Naz,

You might be interested in the “Concept Art 101” link in my sig.

About the influence of drugs on art: anything the drugged mind can invent, the clear creative mind can do better. The creative mind is like a muscle: it has to be exercised to reach peak performance. You can’t just dump drugs into it and expect it to suddenly function better.

About getting brilliant ideas while drugged and then getting rich selling those ideas to a game company: dream on. Every game company is already filled to the rafters with creative people who have far more ideas than time to implement them. If you want to work for a game company, ditch the drugs and make art like a fiend.

[Ilaekae]

I used a few scattered drugs of indeterminat origin a "couple of times" back in the 60s. Everything i painted look like dog shit because you get hung up on the action of the paint and just keep going until everything turns to mud...or dog shit. Worst way to do artwork I ever found.

At that point, I quit all drugs except booze and cigs, and sat in a dark room for three days taliking to and arguing with myself about what mattered in my head, and whether I could get it squeezed out somehow so other people could see it too. That's when I realized i didn't need any help to be "crazy." I've been 6" out of synch with the rest of the world ever since.

Now I sometimes scare small children and nuns, but my head works just the way I want it to...

[Shamagim]

I guess it makes sense that drugs could ALTER the direction of your creativity, but they can't give you what you don't already have. Accelerate it maybe, but even then it may come out immature...if that makes sense..

Drugs are not a shortcut to being a good artist.....just get it off your head, the human mind can be very self-indulgent sometimes.

[nicolas]

I used a few scattered drugs of indeterminat origin a "couple of times" back in the 60s.....

......At that point, I quit all drugs except booze and cigs


shit dood, I didn't know they had cigarettes in 1760.






Im sorry... I just had to!

[CaptainInsano]

No excuse for doing drugs... ever. Doesn't help with creativity, trust me I tried a "couple of times" myself during college. Just slowed me down. I got clear headed and I'm way better off.

Using drugs to be "creative" is like starting to smoke thinking it'll make you lose weight.

[Steph Laberis]

RE: the drugs, it's not a question of enhanced or hindered creativity to me, it's a question of health. There are enough reasons why any of us may not be here tomorrow, there is no way I'm putting my health or safety on the line for a prettier picture.

Please start posting some of your work in a sketchbook Naz, so we can see where you are and where you would like to go from here. :)

[cartoonfox]

The way I see it if you want to become a professional in either concept art or illustration, you need to be able to create on demand, for a deadline. If one needs to rely on drugs to bring upon their way of working or to create their known art "style", then one will not become very successful in the field, in my opinion.

But then again I'm a good boy, I don't even drink alcohol! : ]

Welcome to the boards, I look forward to you posting some of your art.

Peace

[Interceptor]

No excuse for doing drugs... ever. Doesn't help with creativity, trust me I tried a "couple of times" myself during college. Just slowed me down. I got clear headed and I'm way better off.

Using drugs to be "creative" is like starting to smoke thinking it'll make you lose weight.

Unless, of course, you want to paint the future.

http://www.nbc.com/Heroes/images/photos/scet/337/hro_1006_014.jpg

[Sativan]

Welcome.
I know the 'drugs and art' thing has come up before, but it's always an interesting subject....
I think it really depends on which drugs, there are a lot of them-
alcohol has never done anything good for me, I think it just makes people feel more creative or happy or whatever they want to feel.

weed can make a lot of problems too, but it can also open up the flow of creativity a little more. the first times I combined getting stoned with drawing things, it always came out wrong. it was fun but the drawings were just nonsensical and incomplete. with time however, that has changed. with the right music and the right mindset to begin with it can open a few doors and help me get really into what I'm working on. of course all things in moderation, being stoned all the time won't get you far no matter what you're trying to do.

acid and mushrooms seem to help with creativity for me, some of the best, most cohesive drawing I've done (which ain't sayin much) has been under their infleunce. painting would be different matter though, I'd probably think the colors were changing and mixing differently than they were and make a huge muddle.

as for other drugs, I doubt stimulants and depressants would do anything positive. the reason I experiment with 'hallucinogens' from time to time is that they do open doors in your mind and make the imagination more tangible and I find that interesting.
of course if you can't find creativity without drugs you will never find it with them either.

welcome again
Cheers

[Ilaekae]

nicolas...I'm going to hurt you...a lot...:confident

What everbody is saying is that contrary to all the bullshit that has circulated for hundreds of years, drugs DO NOT help your art...ever...

[0kelvin]

In my experience (which is only observing others, never having done drugs myself), drugs don't boost your creativity, but they do change your perspective of your creativity. The ideas people get while they're stoned seem to be a lot like the ideas they get while dreaming, they seem intensely interesting and downright genius to yourself, but are entirely uninteresting to anyone else.

I've had plenty of friends that do drugs and I've never observed any positive effect on their artwork while they were high.



0kelvin

[BlackGuy]

In my experience, drugs (including alcohol) can help you see things from a different perspective, but often it's not really worth it. Sometimes, what seemed like a fantastic idea when you were high/drunk/whatever will seem retarded when you take a look at that idea when sober. I think it really can help you think of things you wouldn't have thought of otherwise, but I'm sure that the reason for that is either

a) Your confidence and/or enthusiasm is boosted, so fear may have been holding back some of your own ideas.

b) Maybe you think more creatively because you're expecting to.

A lot of the time, extreme relaxation will help you out just as much. While I'm not a big fan of the biases that jump to people's minds when thinking of drugs/alcohol and the people that use either one (especially the hypocrisy considering what most of us consume on a daily basis), I will say that I personally wouldn't drink or do any drug just for the sake of creativity because it will probably become a dependency. If you wanted to compromise the situation, I'd suggest just putting the work away and going out to the bars with some buddies and maybe brainstorming ideas there. The environment and just being out with your friends helps

[nicolas]

I knew you would Ilaekae, but I couldnt resist....its like that red button that you just HAVE to press....

[Carnifex]

http://www.cowboybooks.com.au/html/acidtrip1.html
always a fun read and interesting look at the subject.

The ideas people get while they're stoned seem to be a lot like the ideas they get while dreaming, they seem intensely interesting and downright genius to yourself, but are entirely uninteresting to anyone else.
i think that's nailing it there. i did have a drawing session with friends where we smoked some,and then we decided to draw environments. now,I've never been good with these,or atleast below average...yet. in my altered mindstate though,i felt like i could do anything. the pictures came out quite satisfying,but they weren't revolutionary in any way,just alot more fun to draw than in sober state (environments).
as i have only done this one time though,i can't really say so much about it-in my experience,whatever drug(alcohol most often for me) you take,it will make your brain work on 180% capacity,but only the ideas department. your hands will be futile.