Cosmic Dust

Impact

Interstellar Behemoth Overhead

Gathering of the Gods

Chapter 3 response

Matthew Ranker
I found this chapter informational and it opened my eyes to the multifaceted themes of digital art. I thought it was awesome that this chapter discussed, telepresence, database aesthetics, mapping, data visualization, activism, tactical media, gamming, social networks, virtual worlds and hypermedia environments. It was almost enough to make my head spin. This chapter really opened my mind up to all the possible routes I can take with my art. There are so many possibilities to express individualism in the digital world. With all these potential directions in mind I plan to move forward in a direction that is unique to me. I plan to incorporate as many digital aspects as I can to move onward with my own ideals of beauty and expression.
To be honest I think this chapter could have had a lot more examples of the areas discussed. I felt that I got a good grasp of what was being discussed. But I felt like there could have been more models, pictures and demonstrative examples to convey how to harness the digital world to improve ones own work. I also felt that the book could have gone more in depth with their definitions. This would have increased my understanding of the digital themes brought up in this chapter.
Another critique I have on this chapter is centered on the lack of artists shown. I believe more examples of artists and their work would have deepened my understanding. I wish I could have seen more artists that work within these realms of digital art. There could have been many more artists represented in this particular chapter. I feel like I would have looked up more artists to gain a more developed understanding of how I would like to create my own work on a computer. Besides that I feel like this was the more informational chapter I have come across yet in the book.

Chapter 2 Response

Matthew ranker
I thought it was interesting how chapter 2 defines digital art. The book says that digital art uses the digital platform from production to presentation. I think this definition is a good way to explain digital art, but I believe there are some loopholes in that definition. A lot of digital art starts with an individual creating something without a computer. Some artists draw or paint and scan their images into a computer and from there they create the digital aesthetic.
It was also interesting that the book explained how technology is constantly evolving and progressing. This really changed my view on the digital art realm. Now I view this medium as quite possibly the quintessential future of art as we know it, and in a way it already has become that. Computers are only becoming more and more advanced, and after reading chapter 2 I believe that the art has to progress in a parallel fashion.

The Sphere

More Process

I wanted this piece to convey the dark qualities of the two source images.  "Slave ship" by J.M.W. Turner already had an eerie appearance before i did anything to it.  After I applied the filter to the image it became much more digital looking and the colors took on a camouflage-like look.  The filter I applied to my second source image (the 3 witches) completely distorted their faces giving a more digital appeal to the overall image.  What i really liked about this filter was its similarity to "Sphere" (one of my favorite Sci-Fi B movies).  The movie Sphere has a giant golden sphere that looks like it is constantly rippling.  There sphere itself unleashes peoples worst fears, so I enjoyed the surreal quality and resemblance it brought to this piece.  

Ghosts of Dawn

Project 3

I manipulated these to images to produce my final product.  To give these images a more digital appeal I applied filters.  additionally i changed the hue and saturation of the black and white picture.  I also reworked the contrast and brightness to fit the background painting of J. M. W. Turner.