Category: Wall Art

Memory and Truth

Memories
Memories

Memory and Truth

I’m reminded constantly these days that memory and truth are not immutable. One of the first lessons one learns when taking up photography is that capturing a fraction of a second in an image does not represent truth. It is just a moment in time. It is equally true that memories are liable to change by the very act of   recall. Life, love, past deeds whether heroic or dastardly get rewritten in time.

By the same token tools used by artists do not define the validity of the work created. Art is not in the expert use of tools but the ideas brought forward by the artist. New methods of working, even AI automated tools are not the death of human creativity. They are just another way of working. 

Technical skills such as drawing are sometimes said to represent art. It seems to me that art is much more that dexterous tool use. I’m careful not to define my images as art. However someone using the same tools could produce art. It’s all about intention.

City Mirage No2

City Mirage No2
City Mirage No2

City Mirage No2

I seem to be spending lots of time exploring image composites. ‘Borrowing’ the work of others always made me uncomfortable so my photo archive is primary source material. Combining photos is much like using found images.

MidJourney and similar tools make it possible to generate specific source material for compositing. It is an inexact process but with some work you can get interesting and useful results. Such is the case here by building upon the City Mirage work posted a week or two ago.

That brings up some interesting issues for commercial illustrators and similar work-for-hire consultants. Highly specific time sensitive advertising work seems to be the niche for AI imaging at the moment. For Ad-Men time is money and good enough is the goal. Many people feel AI devalues commercial work in general. Possibly, but looking back, automation has increasingly been a factor for at least a couple of decades.

From my point of view ideas are where value is to be found. Manual skills will always be in demand in an upscale market. Quick production of good ideas is bread and butter for commercial work.

City Mirage No2 and the original City Mirage are not fine art, probably not art of any sort. They are an exercise in quirky creative imaging that is entirely personal. I’m sure there must be many people like me doing ‘vernacular art?’ and enjoying a bit of creative freedom.

Dream Whisperer

Dream Whisperer
Dream Whisperer

The Dream Whisperer

Dream whisperer fills the mind between conscious thoughts. Conjuring subtle mysteries from the edge of nothing into the beginning of something, The magic just happens, we don’t know why.

It is cold today here in Texas. Creativity favors cold and dark as days become shorter. It could be the whispers get louder this time of the year. Be careful out there!

Wings of Desire

Wings of Desire
Wings of Desire

On the Wings of Desire

What do we all seek as humans? Companionship must be near the top of the list of priorities. We are greatly diminished as solitary individuals. So celebrate with those who have chosen to share your life.

This image started as a digital watercolor with many elements and textures added to produce the final composite. The finished work has some resemblance to conventional mixed media but strictly speaking it is simply a digital image.

World Was Young

World Was Young
World Was Young

When The World Was Young

Self-image is an interesting human trait. I wake up feeling pretty much like I did forty years ago. The illusion crumbles about the time my feet touch the floor. Seventy something year-old reality settles in pretty quickly. Well that is the way of the world.

People tend to be in good shape these days but eventually life happens to everyone. It is a little disappointing being invisible to young people. The experience of getting dumbed down clownish explanations of technical things is trying to say the least.  After all I spent my life writing code and playing with computers. Of course that was back when the world was young.

So make every day your best day. It’s worth the effort.

Red Portrait

Red Portrait No 4
Red Portrait No 4

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.

Red Harmony No 1
Printable Wall Art in the
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City Mirage

City Mirage No 2
City Mirage No 2

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 No1
Abstract Forms No1

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.