Beyond
Computer Art - Part II
Back in 1999 I wrote how my effort as a digital artist had change since
my startup in the medium in 1984. During
that span of years PC hardware and software had come a long way in visualization
of graphics that were more convincing as "fine art."
At the beginning it was attempting to smooth out blocky pixels and jagged
lines. By 1999 systems became sophisticated enough to effortlessly produce
comparable airbrush quality resolution imagery. I was free to spend more
creative effort in creating than editing to refine canned software marks.
Today I have the privilege to work with Bryce and Vue, powerful 3D
programs. It is quite easy to
capture rich visual complexity in my compositions.
I can now "paint" as a professional digital artist.
I write again on what is "beyond computer art" - for me, at this juncture at 2005.
Last week I
spent a day in the country at a good friend's art studio. No computer there.
So, along with him, I got lost in painting with brush and canvas for 5
hours. The new works "made by
hands" amaze Larry as well as myself.
They represent some sort of breakthrough for me as artist.
Surprisingly, the acrylic paintings appear like the digital art I now
create! As I work I remember constantly referring back to
step-by-step decision making that I do as a digital artist working with software
and mouse. I was thinking in
pixels, gradients, 3D primitives, filtering effects, etc. Even with paint my creative process and mind set was -
digital!
So when the
series of works successfully emulated my digital works there was this excitement
that possibly, this might be a whole new style of painting.
The
works are abstract, a mix of Jackson Pollock and Abstract Expression in the
Modernist mode. But added to the
mix is the novelty of including areas that mirror 3-dimensional faceted planes
and lines like those produced in 3D programs. I can't wait to create more works
- without the computer.