A dangerous fact of art making, I’ve found, is generalizations. I can discuss most things on a superficial level, and I suspect that most other people can too. Art is about expression, about revealing new perspectives. Generalizing about a subject becomes boring and common. You need details! The only way to get those details is educate yourself and to dive into new territory.

If I’m painting a simple boot from memory, I may only know the overall shape and color. But if I want to make it look realistic, I need to know how the material reacts with light, how many laces there may be, or the different styles. I also need to know the right decade since fashion changes over time. I’d like to know why they change as well; is it out of necessity or artist vision? All of this for a simple boot. Imagine how far I have to dive in to understand how a steam engine locomotive works or why the trees of Virginia look different than my home town. All of these details add to the realism of the project.

The first source I start with is usually Wikipedia. If I need a general rundown on a subject, it’s a wonderful resource to use because it’s easy to wade through lots of information. If I need a more in depth look, I will attempt to find a blog or website that specializing in the specific subject. There are an endless number of people out there with enough fascination, whether because of a career or general interest, to write about a subject. They’re usually my best resource.

The most thorough type of source I use is always a well written book. They’re big, they’re long, and the authors aren’t afraid to elaborate. I use reference books, biographies, picture books, whatever provides the best information. You can take a look at my library. Another source that I have a lot of fun with is maps, especially older ones with sepia tones and hand drawn lines. Photographs and images are another obvious type that I use constantly.

During the art making process, I use research throughout, from the beginning to the end. I do try and front load my learning though. I realized early on that you need a better understanding of a subject early on to make quick decisions when you are in the middle of actually creating something. You can’t get caught up in constantly going back and forth; it’s not efficient.

So, I usually do a broad look, then start to pick apart the info I need. Once I have a general grasp on a subject, I move further into the project. It’s quite often the case, though, that I fall down a rabbit hole and end up on a completely different subject than I started. I love when that happens, but I have to be careful not to waste too much time on irrelevant information. It’s difficult to find when to stop, but it’s usually when my mind can’t absorb any more or I forget why I started. Some research I can remember and recall later in my mind, but more often than not I have to leave the source up as I create, whether it’s an image, article, or just a list of facts.

During my childhood, playing with toys wasn’t just about have fun, it was also about discovering new ideas. Every year would bring more complex gadgets that would fascinate me to no end. These toys lead to my gradual interest in science and engineering. During school I had to learn how bridges worked or how clouds were formed.

Now, I’ve moved on to tinkering with computer simulations. All of these resources give me new information to work from and help me make better artwork based on physics and chemistry from the real world. An artist has to understand how light travels and why colors appear. We also need to know how it refracts when it comes in contact with different surfaces in order to build accurate materials in 3d. The realism in my work depends on my grasp of how the world works around me. I’m still looking for new toys to play with.

Finally, this is not just an art project. My goal from the beginning has been to start to build an educational project, either by passing on information I learn about or inspiring others to do the same. I’ve found tactile ways to learn about the world, and I’m looking to draw people into my interests through my artwork and website.

The way we analyze and interpret information around us determines how we move forward. Wisdom and improvement relies on trying new things, discovering new ideas, and being able to learn from our mistakes. Appreciating artwork depends on a deeper understanding of its context as well.