Ken, Author at PhotoTrice Studio

Red Portrait

Red Portrait No. 4

As the caption suggests this is the fourth in a series of related images. All are similar in size and general appearance but differ in details. My goal is to simplify the subject as much as possible.

I removed any information that seemed unnecessary to describe the so called ‘portrait’. Once the minimum arrangement of lines and shapes was achieved texture was added back for visual interest. The left/right asymmetrical imbalance is intentional to create unresolved tension for the eye.

The title Red Portrait describes my feeling about the finished work rather than the color. For what that may be worth. Just something a little different for today. Change is good.

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Dark Sky

What do we see in the dark sky?

Dark Sky

What do we see when we look into the night sky? Unseen dangers lurk in the darkness. To be safe we must step back into the light. Stay close to the fire and hope for the best.

City Mirage

CITY MIRAGE

Trust yourself to know truth from illusion. Certainly truth often seems to have an imaginary quality. The artful Topsy Turvy world of spin keeps us guessing.

About the Image

This image evolved in the early hours this morning when the house was completely still. It combines at least half a dozen image sources using masks and blending modes. Looking back the flow of work felt like automatic processing. Perhaps a surrealist moment or maybe an illusion.

Click the icon below to see in Pinterest.

Abstract Forms

Abstract Forms

This image is a composite of digital elements including watercolor, texture and AI generated samples. It seems to suggest grass or perhaps ocean waves or maybe nothing at all. To my eyes, the hard edged textures help give the image a suggestion of depth.

I’m sure some people will find the image boring due to the low key treatment and lack of color. All in all I’m pleased with the finished work.

Clicking the Pinterest icon below should take you to a larger version of the image.

Universal Voyeur

The voyeur is probably not actually looking in your window. It is there silently collecting bits of life everyday, everywhere from everyone. The convenience of using ‘free’ services enriches our lives. We are happy to let ourselves be cataloged and tracked. The grip tightens just a little more every day. We politely avoid the issue.

New Beginnings

The MidJourney Ahead

I started doing non-professional photography a couple of decades ago. It is a passion of mine. There is creativity to be found in making photos but also constraints. My photo archive could be used as inspiration or direct source material for other kinds artistic image making.

My goal in using MidJourney is to create ‘mixed media’ images that have unique character. Combining photography, MJ and other source materials seems to be a way to extend my creative reach. I’m not trying to duplicate photographs. The photography community is rather conservative about accepting non-traditional images.

So far my projects combine MidJourney output, photos, textures and digital watercolor to create abstract or surrealistic finished work. Certainly I have no reason to expect genuinely artistic results.You never know until you try.

So what about MidJourney?

MidJourney is an example of image creation software that uses text based descriptions to indirectly control graphic output. Basically you type a description and instructions for what you want to see with perhaps a reference image. The software then creates something on-the-spot. Chances are good the results will not be what you were seeing in your mind’s eye. But they may very well be interesting perhaps even what you could call artistic.

Humans make art. Machines even fancy ones create something that might be called AI art. A human can use AI art as a component or idea for making actual artistic work. Unfortunately the hype over this is causing great distress among some visual artists.

Making a Start

From the point of view of a techie, ‘Hello World’ is the way to announce something new. Except this blog is about art, design and creative thinking. However we are living in the twenty-first century using modern tools and communicating over the internet. It should be interesting blending traditional and new ideas. You never know.

Glad that is out of the way. Making a start is always a struggle.