Sub-terranean

Inkblot Kaos Parameter File Getting through the winter seems to be so complicated and expensive for us humans. On the other hand, in the tropics houses are simple. All you really need is a roof that keeps the rain out, screens on the windows (or a mosquito net to sleep under), four walls and a … Continue reading →

When Art is Useful

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Inkblot Kaos Parameter File From time to time I become curious about something and I start reading about it. A month ago it was hibernation, and in particular, the winter homes of animals. Lately it’s been nuclear reactors. This sort of informal, casual study of things I’ve found to be similar to assembling a puzzle, … Continue reading →

Termites

Termites

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Termites (2007) Termites are morphologically uncomplicated insects, in contrast with their astonishingly complex social behavior. –Robert L. Smith, Termites Several weeks ago, while commuting to work, I was listening to Dana Gioia, director of the National Endowment of the Arts, chatter away on National Public Radio about how no one reads anymore. He claimed that … Continue reading →

I Feel Corporate and Inspirational Too!

While doing some serious research on calendars recently, I stumbled on a gallery where:Big Black Framesand Short Inspirational TitlesIn Glowing White TextSeparated by a White LineWith Snappy Quotation Subtitles BelowWere The House Specialty They looked nice. In fact, this inspirational poster framing style looked very polished and professional, which is what I think, “Corporate” is … Continue reading →

Desert Roads and Mountain Lakes

Desert Roads Back several month ago, I posted about a program called Fyre. As is often the case with new programs and new forms of algorithmic art, I quickly reached what I thought were its creative limits. A recent comment on my blog asking for information on how the images from Fyre are made, re-kindled … Continue reading →

The Fractal Alternate Universe Calendar 2008

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“For some folks I write a profound, richly articulated blog posting, and for others I just draw a picture.” Here’s my latest commentary on the Fractal Universe Calendar: The Fractal Alternate Universe Calendar. I made the cover for the Fractal Alternate Universe Calendar, so I’m especially proud of it, despite the lack of a cash … Continue reading →

Test-Tube Art

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Inkblot Kaos parameter file Back to fractals. I think I did something to the other machine. It’s leaking oil, or something. I smell something “electrical”, too. My seven year-old daughter was recently invited to a birthday party. While we were looking around in the Barbie Doll aisle of a department store for a suitable present, … Continue reading →

Summer in Malibu

Summer in Malibu

Summer in Malibu (1999) Nine campers view photos of longboarders and swells of smoke. Hot Hub said industry crosstalk. Click the link to flame on and off premises. Dry weather, a tourist, checks in and tan lines glow white hot. Wet suits curdle. Surferscrawl a foam floor nosing wipe out exits. The coast highway burbles … Continue reading →

Peter and Alice visit Santa

Santa’s Bunker Peter and Alice were still a long way off, but stopped to take another look through the telescope. “I can see it!’ said Peter, “It has to be Santa’s home. But it looks strange.” “Here, let me see” said Alice. “That’s barbed wire. It’s all over the place. He’s practically living in a … Continue reading →

The Price of Professionalism

The Price of Professionalism

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Naysayer (2007) The price of professionalism is no more costly than the mistakes of amateurs.–Slogan for MonkeyIT The fractal contest fracases refuse to “go gentle into that good night.” After much sound and fury (signifying nothing?) in the OT comments, I finally posed this challenge seeking whether someone could: explain to me why these contests … Continue reading →

The Wind Stole My Piano

Made with vernissage.8bf, a couple of Andrew’s filters, India Ink, some hue adjustment, and the cold November wind. technorati tags: digital art | wind | picture-writing | illustration | half-poem | piano | music lessons | singing | photoshop filters | vernissage | high class art

Spider Writing

Block-waving is all about lines. If there’s no lines, then you just end up with a pile of block-waved mush. I was looking through an old book on my computer. It was a series of scanned, tiff images. I noticed the fine lines in the black and white engravings and instantly opened it up in … Continue reading →

Damien, Inc.

Damien, Inc.

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A Crash Course in Reaganomics (2000) The medium is the message…—Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media Marshall McLuhan was concerned with the observation that we tend to focus on the obvious. In doing so, we largely miss the structural changes in our affairs that are introduced subtly, or over long periods of time. Whenever we create a … Continue reading →

Columbus

(from the journal of Columbus) Whereas, Most Christian, High, Excellent, and Powerful Princes, King and Queen of Spain and of the Islands of the Sea… …this present year 1492, after your Highnesses had terminated the war with the Moors reigning in Europe… …having been brought to an end in the great city of Granada… …I … Continue reading →

Meet the New Masters

Large Bank with TreeJust as some people admire the traditional artform of painting because of the skill and effort that goes into making it, I’ve come to realize that I have the same sort of admiration for machine-made art. Furthermore, just as many people will quickly associate artistic merit with almost any subject done in … Continue reading →

Fresh-made Rothko

These days, you could find yourself travelling half-way around the world in a few hours. And in the world of art: a couple clicks and you could find yourself in the Louvre. That’s the reality of our tiny, modern world: technology takes our little feet and straps jet engines on them. Unfortunately, there are no … Continue reading →

Stone of Mystery!

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Look at it. Stare into it. Learn it’s mysteries –if you dare! Stop! Stop!Your mind is in its icy grip!Run, you fool!The Stone of Mystery will DESTROY YOU!!!Your puny brain can not survive its thunderous torrent of KNOWLEDGE!!!(sung to the tune of, “Here Comes Santa Claus”) Could this be the innocent precursor of… The Stone … Continue reading →

The Dead CEO Watches His Back

The Dead CEO Watches His Back

The Dead CEO Watches His Back (2007) Your decisions passed on cancer. A memo meant as a joke killsquicker than all layoffs. Death won’t get you a bye. Workers lean from chemo and fleeced pensions speak of you to lawyers. Your investing and gilded chute fold up in wind like a bum umbrella. Safe in … Continue reading →

I’ve been reviewed

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I deleted lycium’s (Thomas Ludwig’s) original comment to my posting about Fractal Art isn’t Rocket Science. But his expansion on the theme expressed in his original Orbit Trap comment grew to become an interesting work of art and well worth reading. It was posted in the fractalforums.com site, where I recently found it. It’s not … Continue reading →

Timbuktu

Technorati Tags: timbuktu block wave filter photoshop filters digital art fractal art join the mirage

Party Guys

Party Guys

Party Guys (2007) I need my head examinedI need my eyes excitedI’d like to join the partyBut I was not invited—Elvis Costello, “Two Little Hitlers” At first look, tonight’s image seems to show a “couple of wild and crazy guys.” But is there something darker around the edges? Elvis Costello initially wanted to call his … Continue reading →

Click-ism: a Manifesto

I’ve been reading a book about various “-isms” in the art world. Eagerly wanting to follow in the footsteps of those great, outspoken artists of the past and to contribute something new and personal to the exciting pursuit of labels and the ever teetering tower of human achievements, I propose… Clickism. First rule is: Mouse … Continue reading →

Evening Stroll

Evening Stroll

As an art lover, one thing I enjoy about the Internet is that I am always only a few mouse clicks away from a museum. When Orbit Trap first began, I wrote a post called Morning Walk where I wandered into a few fractal galleries and reflected on what I saw. I’d like to take … Continue reading →

Mourning Becomes Fractalus — Act III

Mourning Becomes Fractalus — Act III

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Mourning Becomes Fractalus Act III ~/~ …with still more apologies to Eugene O’Neill. Made with an early version of Comic Book Creator. Fractal images used are my own. Text is a mashup of my own writing collaged with comments made on this blog. Technorati Tags: fractal, fractal art, fractal contest, fractal comics, digital art, Benoit … Continue reading →

Mourning Becomes Fractalus — Act II

Mourning Becomes Fractalus — Act II

Mourning Becomes Fractalus Act II ~/~ …with more apologies to Eugene O’Neill. Made with an early version of Comic Book Creator. Fractal images used are my own. Text is a mashup of my own writing collaged with comments made on this blog. Technorati Tags: fractal, fractal art, fractal contest, fractal comics, digital art, Benoit Mandelbrot … Continue reading →

Mourning Becomes Fractalus — Act I

Mourning Becomes Fractalus — Act I

Mourning Becomes Fractalus Act I ~/~ …with apologies to Eugene O’Neill. Made with an early version of Comic Book Creator. Fractal images used are my own. Text is a mashup of my own writing collaged with comments made on this blog. Technorati Tags: fractal, fractal art, fractal contest, fractal comics, digital art, Benoit Mandelbrot Fractal … Continue reading →

star of arabia 2

somewherein the worldthere is a cave and the eye that looks from itsees the star of arabia years have passedthe eye, unblinkinglooks from it pale, dark, written with redsees the star of arabia the wind blowsthe sand is rewrittenthe eye, unblinking there is a cavein the worldpale, dark, written with red somewhereand the eye that … Continue reading →

Artists and Craftsmen

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Here’s another theory in the rough; something that I think is relevant to Fractal Art, and probably all artforms: There are “Artists” and there are “Craftsmen”. An artist is… I don’t know what an artist is, exactly. They make “Art”. What is art? It’s more of a concept, somewhat subjective in nature, but not just … Continue reading →

Fractal Art isn’t Rocket Science

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The Fractal Art world is an odd place. The strange combination of technical people (mathematicians, engineers, programmers) and artsy, creative people is curious and could almost be the setting for a mystery novel. My wife once told someone at work about my fractal hobby and said they were really impressed after visiting my website that … Continue reading →

Orbit Trap’s Change of Format

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Orbit Trap has abandoned the goal of becoming a group fractal blog due to lack of interest. Continuing to present Orbit Trap as a group blog is confusing to readers and misrepresents it’s actual content. Despite the very serious attempt to build for the fractal community a venue to express themselves, the reaction has been … Continue reading →

Placing the Blame

Placing the Blame

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Soma (2001) It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you place the blame.—Oscar Wilde Why is it that people who question the improprieties of the BMFAC contest are repeatedly told they must “get over it.” Yet, if Dzeni and other supporters are still able to comment, then why can’t I do the same? … Continue reading →

Cowards of Us All

Cowards of Us All

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Thus conscience doth make cowards of us all.–William Shakespeare, Hamlet I know it is sometimes difficult to speak out. There can be consequences. One might be embarrassed — attacked — even punished. So far, only one person has spoken out directly to us here at Orbit Trap about our remarks on the Benoit Mandelbrot Fractal … Continue reading →