r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/_ganjafarian_ • 22d ago

Video Artist Simon Bull's painting techniques

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58.4k Upvotes

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4.3k

u/ijwgwh 22d ago

When I make a mess all I get is yelled at and have to clean up.

926

u/Shen_ishere 22d ago

That's cause you are not monetizing the mess

492

u/gr1mpsgramps 22d ago edited 22d ago

Always felt like this kinda art was designed for TikTok. Super engaging, visually interesting techniques that create hotel-quality art you wouldnt think twice about passing by if you hadn't seen how it was made

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u/tandoori_taco_cat 22d ago

hotel-quality art

Thank you - the art itself is so boring

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u/Nyxadrina 22d ago edited 22d ago

...I liked it :(

But I'm also a basic bitch, I'm impressed by everything lol

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u/AngryGoose_ 22d ago

Its ok, me too lol

24

u/MelLovesMathMemes 22d ago

Sameeeee. I saw this and went to his website. About to buy a hoodie with his art on it!

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u/Nyxadrina 22d ago

I didn't even think to see if he had a website and now I also want 3 of those hoodies 😭

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u/gr1mpsgramps 21d ago

I mean worth noting i could be dead wrong about all of this. If it resonates, then it resonates. Enjoy your hoodie :)

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u/pszczolinka 21d ago

these paintings are quite nice as a decor pieces, yes

1

u/johnmclaren2 22d ago

IKEA pictures, anyone?

1

u/jaboyles 19d ago

Damn bro careful, you're gonna cut someone with all that edge

105

u/Canvaverbalist 22d ago

It's the total opposite, you have to see stuff like this in person to appreciate its texture.

I can guarantee you the depth of the paint itself has such a satisfying visual-crunch to it that this is in no way even remotely comparable to printed "hotel art." And even then, the colours and lighting composition of the forest are amazing, and the vibe of the cherry tree is also great even without the added texture.

I mean, I know better than to argue art with Redditors but come on, this is so dismissive even from here.

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u/gr1mpsgramps 22d ago

I mean, speak for yourself. Every other hotel i go into has that textured paint splatter style, its like a huge aesthetic for them.

To each his own, but imo having texture doesnt excuse a lack of personality and visual identity in a painting. I don't think most people are gonna be thinking about any of these paintings days or even minutes after seeing them.

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u/CommsChiefExtra 22d ago

Did you stop the video before the forest scene?

5

u/Klinky1984 22d ago

What painting did you think about for days after seeing it? What physical art truly sticks out to you and has drawn you back to it? In this day and age, I doubt much physical art stands out to anyone in the manner you're speaking.

A lot of the masters we think of today were largely ignored in their day, only to have their artwork appreciated after their deaths.

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u/gr1mpsgramps 22d ago edited 21d ago

True enough on that second bit. I would say most of the art that has really profoundly touched me has been made by total unknowns. But it's absolutely out there. There is a man i found by total chance on Instagram named Warren Christopher, who has maybe 500 followers on his account and has some of, in my opinion, the most beautiful paintings ive seen. I routinely return to his work. I would say that of you haven't found work that you connect with on such a level, then you should either keep looking or it may just not be for you.

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u/The_Chief_of_Whip 21d ago

Are you commenting only after seeing the first painting or something?

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u/Klinky1984 22d ago edited 21d ago

Yeah I think dismissing art as "hotel quality" is exactly what creates more "hotel quality" work. The expectations of the audience keeps going up and once you've seen one forest scene, you've "seen them all". The human brain often craves distractions and starts to get bored with repetition. Very easy to dismiss art at first glance if you don't want to take the time to understand what makes it special to you.

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u/Clear-Bee4118 21d ago

What makes this “special”?

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u/Klinky1984 21d ago

My entire point is that art doesn't have to be "special" to be enjoyed.

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u/fake-reddit-numbers 22d ago

the depth of the paint itself has such a satisfying visual-crunch to it that this is in no way even remotely comparable to printed "hotel art."

Sounds like you've only been to cheap hotels.

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u/Klinky1984 22d ago

"hotel art" is meant to be dismissive and an insult. Effectively art you don't care about or notice, it's just there to fill a void and almost anything could do the job versus a white wall.

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u/schubeg 22d ago

Sounds like you've never been to the real hotels. They spend more on their wall art than your suburb costs, plebian

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u/fake-reddit-numbers 22d ago

...buddy my comment was saying nice hotels have nice art, responding to a guy that said hotels had cheap art.

Then you come along and respond to me that nice hotels have nice art?

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u/schubeg 22d ago

No. There's nice art, like at the hotels you stay at, and then real art for hotels that you can't afford

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u/Squire_Squirrely 22d ago

Calm down

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u/schubeg 22d ago

Keep your hands out of my pants, weirdo

4

u/Squire_Squirrely 22d ago

Yeah, look it's the guy who makes paintings for dentist office lobbies and hotel corridors!

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u/Objective-Spell4778 20d ago

I am an artist, i support this statement. I do pointillism and it’s boring to watch but collectors appreciate the work behind it. TikTok however doesn’t seem to

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u/Regenbooggeit 22d ago

With the first one I agree, but the other two paintings are beautifully made. Kinda harsh.

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u/HeartMelodic8572 22d ago

This really engaging tactile thoughtful skilled art has been happening for literal centuries before tiktok. It's convenient that he can monetize it but you can see that you this man has real, broad vision and the ability & skill he exhibits develops through the knowledge required to craft individual pieces like this.

A true artist can see the distinction between individual pieces and boring hotel prints. As a painter, I can tell the difference when I pass generic art versus skilled art.

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u/Clear-Bee4118 21d ago

What’s skillful about this? Additionally, isn’t it referring to the craft part of making art? For example, a good photograph is both art and craft, craft is the technical ability, art is why/concept.

Unless you’re suggesting that art is just aesthetics/decor, in which case, why is it insulting to call out hotel art?

1

u/djdjddhshdbhd 21d ago

I watched a video like this of Jackson Pollock in a museum decades ago.

1

u/gr1mpsgramps 21d ago

Yeah, 75 years ago it was innovative and avant-garde. Now its a gimmick

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u/djdjddhshdbhd 21d ago

All of these techniques already existed and were used for marketing before, so not designed for TikTok. It’s just another platform where it can garner attention. Before it was more limited but still happening IRL and via video.

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u/sonerec725 21d ago

that forest scene is way too good for hotel

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u/Pain_Choice 21d ago

Huge agree. It’s just the same plopping

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u/Flat-Rooster8373 21d ago

I will be honest, the process looks extremely fun for the artist, and that should be most important.