Sunday, April 15, 2007

Progress

Thank you to everyone for coming to my blog to view my fractal art. I hope you enjoy your time here.

I believe I've come a long way with Apophysis. If you would like to see some of my earlier creations, visit my old blogs at http://fractalrock.blogspot.com and also http://fractalrock.deviantart.com

I haven't created any fractals since February of this year, but I have plans to begin creating again, so I hope you will return soon. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at fractal_rock@yahoo.com I would love to hear from you!

21 comments:

Wontar said...

Someone was complaining about your fractals? How amazingly petty. You consistently make fractals do things that I can't even begin to envision. And I state without hesitation that I use Photoshop on most of my fractals. Just like I combine Poser images and Apophysis images, or I use pencil and paint on the same canvas. I guess I'm not much of a purist, but then again I don't really care. I make the images for me. If people don't like them, that's fine. But to complain about them? That's just funny.

Dave Chow Illustrations said...

What's the big deal if you use Photoshop? Personally it wouldn't matter to me if you used the hairs off of the back end of a mule... your fractal art is stunning. The ends justify the means as far as I'm concerned. I enjoy the visuals for what they are; they're not harmed or any less beautiful because you used Photoshop.

Intergalactic Stacey said...

Hi Wontar. Yes, someone was complaining. I guess that with the creation of some type of art I am opening myself up to critics. :)

I'm not going to let it bring me down, though. As the song says, "It's only castles burning."

I won't let it stop me from using Photoshop in the future. I've had plans to learn more about this amazing piece of software that right now I know so little about, but what I do know you have helped me with, and I still greatly appreciate that!

Intergalactic Stacey said...

Hi Dave, nice to meet you. Welcome. :)

I don't really know what the big deal is. All artists have their own medium, and clearly Photoshop is a tool of many trades. My dad is a photographer and uses it to make some astounding collages! I can't imagine another photographer coming around to tell him that he's not really an artist because he uses Photoshop.

Thank you for the compliment. I'm glad you have enjoyed the fractals. One of the many things I like about life is that the Universe gave me an ability to bring enjoyment to other people. If it can make them happy for a moment or two, or even longer, I feel I've accomplished one of my life's purposes.

Thanks again for the visit. I'll be sure to stop by your blog and check out your illustrations.

Dzeni said...

Stacey, your art is great! I can tell that you basically don't use photoshop and am surprised that this person thought that you did. Guess he is not exactly an expert. Add to that the fact that using photoshop to enhance / change / play with fractals is a legitimate strategy, I don't think you should give this guy's opinion too much weight.

Basically you're the artist, you choose the medium. If you do photoshop it, and post it to a fractal type forum, its probably a good idea to mention that it has been "enhanced" - just so that others don't go nuts trying to replicate your effect in Apo or something when there is an easier way :)

Keep your work coming, cause you have some dedicated fans out here in cyberspace.

beadbabe49 said...

Whether you're an artist or not, there will always be some sour souled folks who will find something to criticize. If it's not your work, it will be your looks, or your car or how you raise your children, etcetera.
To give them even a second of your attention is a total waste of time.

runnerfrog said...

Criticizing others basing on a personal choice was the greatest mistake, AFAIK. In my case I choose not to beautify the output of human-based genetic algorithms, just because, to my taste, retouching with math will let a gen-algo restrained is its expression, which is the point of getting them pure; but still is not comprehensible to me why fractal math cannot be fairly retouched with image-filters math (other kind of fractal algos). Surely I don't know enough about fracts and flames. I guess sometimes a person, by ignorance, starts a discussion over an issue with not much particular debatable content, (or even complains!, wow!) .

Your art rocks to my taste, no matter of the technique applied.
I thought the blog was abandoned for some time. Great to know it is not!
Cheers.

Intergalactic Stacey said...

Thank you for your thoughts and input, Dzeni! I appreciate you coming to visit again even after I haven't made anything in more than a month. You're a true friend. :)

I will definitely continue to identify the fractals that I have used Photoshop on, because I don't wish for anyone to go mad trying to figure out just what I did with a certain fractal!

Intergalactic Stacey said...

That's right, BeadBabe. There are many more positive things to focus on and be thankful for! Life continues to show me that I have been blessed. Thank you for reminding me. :)

Intergalactic Stacey said...

Hi Runnerfrog! Great to have you here. It sounds to me like you know what you're talking about. :)

I know it seems like I've abandoned the blog, but I haven't! I guess I could say I've had fractalist's block. I go through dry periods every now and then where I simply have temporarily lost my creative inspiration, but I can feel it coming back. When it does come back full-strength, watch out, because I'll be overwhelming the blog again with new posts! When the waves come, I just surf them until they settle down again. :)

Thanks again for stopping by and for your comments.

J.K. Bowman said...

Stumbled in via Neatorama and loved every minute of it! - Thanks!

Intergalactic Stacey said...

Hi J.K.! Welcome aboard and thanks for the visit. :)

Giovanni C. said...

It's an example of electric envy... :)

Intergalactic Stacey said...

Hi Giovanni,

You may be right. He must have an odd way of showing it. :)

goatman said...

What is a "genetic algorithm"?
My first thought was another human, and of course you wouldn't want to embellish that . . . or would you?

Please don't let the alledged guidance of others influence your art. Fractals are, to me, a fluid creation; whatever you change, or however you alter parameters to create a change only contributes to the original basis of creation. If the parameters never changed, evolution would never progress.
Just a thought. Welcome back.

TotalChaos said...

I'm late, I'm late to the party.
I use PSP for some of my work also. I see nothing wrong with it. You and most of the others doing fractals are are far ahead of what I do, but I see nothing wrong with using different programs together. I have used Fractal Explorer and Apophysis together to put two different styles of fractals in one. It is up to the artist, what medium or combination of mediums will be used. The artist sees, in something, that which he or she only can see, most of the time. If others see that, wonderful. If they don't see it, accept it at face value, take it for what it is and don't, cut the artist.
Ooops, sorry for the rant.

Intergalactic Stacey said...

Hi Goatman, it's great to be back after more than a month's absense. I don't know how long my present flow of creative energy will last, but I'm going to harness it while I can.

Runnerdog has some neat art on his site. I don't quite understand what it is either, but he creates some modern art based on computer algorithms, it looks like. They're all great, but I especially ilke his "Phantom of the Opera" piece.

It's neat how consciousness chooses to express itself, and since the advent of computers, it's grown more modernized. Who knows what's in store for the world of art in the next 20 or so years!

You're right about the progression of parameters. If it weren't for progress, we'd be extinct like the neanderthals, who over a period of 100,000 years did not evolve! Change is necessary. I don't think we should be afraid of it. :)

Intergalactic Stacey said...

Hi TotalChaos,

Do not worry. You can't be late to this party, because here, the party never ends! :)

It seems you have embraced change in the world of art. This guy that I mentioned was bad enough, but there are even those who refuse to accept fractals as an art form! I guess they're still stuck on the idea that for anything to be considered art, one must have paint brush in hand.

If we had been stuck on any one idea, we wouldn't have flight, computers, advances in medicine and technology. Basically, we'd still be cavemen!

It's great to see you. I hope you've been doing well the past month or so. Happy Monday!

Stargazer said...

I agree with everything everyone wrote. I use Photoshop on my fractals sometimes to get 'a look' that I want. Actually, I'm learning more and more about PS, and I think that's a good thing.

Your fractals are fantastic; keep doing what you're doing. You're a true artist.

Intergalactic Stacey said...

Thanks for your input, Deb. Great to see you again, too. It's nice to know that even when I disappear from the Internet for a month or so, everyone else sticks around and maintains their blogs.

Hey, Photoshop is OK by me! I'm not going to let one opinion stop me from experimenting with it. I haven't had enough time to play with Photoshop lately, but trust me, soon I will!

Keep up the great work on your fractal designs. This is the modern form of art to be exploring right now!

Oliviah said...

I agree with everyone on this. People want to split hairs about what is art and wish to make an art of that. Bah! I use whatever I need to to get the results I want, to express the emotion that I am feeling and that gives me satisfaction in my heart. A sort of peace that cannot ever come from some other person's opinion of whether I should or should not use a filter or any such nonsense. Your work is beautiful and it has caught some attention. Sometimes, perhaps..criticism could be perceived as a form of flattery? ;)