You may ask what all the fuss is about regarding understanding space. You may think to yourself, “I can always follow a tutorial and get the results I need.” In return, I ask you this: Are you truly your own artist if you do this? Or are you an extension of the tutorials that govern your creations? Thanks to cookie-cutter tutorials and walkthroughs (which I am at least in part responsible for), the realm of celestial art is now a horrible cliché inundated by artists and dreamers who cut corners to get their shiny, mass-produced results. Only a dedication to complete, utter and exquisite excellence will make this genre respectable again. I’ve hinted at this decline throughout the whole of this article (and tried not to be overbearing, since I’m just as responsible as any for the fate of this genre), but the message is of paramount importance. Space is dying. As a realm free from restraint or rules save those that we make for ourselves as artists, it has suffered the blows of ready-made filters, plug-ins, and campy computer-generated shortcuts like none other. I suppose the thing to remember is that, no matter what anyone says, those cheap derivations of space will probably always be there. It is the responsibility of the serious artist to govern his or her own efforts, to exercise discipline and to learn respect for the truly awesome topic that we strive to represent and do justice to. So much of art isn’t the program you use, but the understanding you exhibit through whatever you create. The differences between the images created off the cuff or after copious research are dramatic. Personally, whenever I attempt a project without a firm footing in the subject at hand I flounder. Badly. I can only imagine how other artists feel about this subject, but for me, to draw something you must know it intimately. In this, an open mind and open eyes are your best tools. Many tend to forget that observation and research are part of the job of being an artist, and that careful analysis—both in terms of the medium (programs) and the physical nature of what is being created—can yield answers far more illuminating than any tutorial or step-by-step instruction. The road to understanding something can only be traveled by your own two feet. Your personal style and the insights you bring to a subject through art are what make your creations different from anyone else’s. Ultimately, that’s what keeps art interesting. Certainly, that’s what keeps art alive.I hope this has been some help. Now... it’s time to draw.