Something different

I thought today I would sit down and write something in my journal other than the usual 'there's a new Depthcore pack out, go look' type entry. First of all I must thank all those who have been visiting my page, leaving comments, giving :+favs:, sending me notes etc. It honestly
makes it all so much more worthwhile when I have your kind words/constructive criticisms to read after having finished a piece. I know in the past I have tried to reply to everybody but at the moment I am finding myself fairly busy and prefer to spend my free time making new graphics
rather than replying to comments on old ones. Which brings me on to...

...me being busy. I also realise that for months now I have basically only been submitting stuff that you could see on Depthcore anyway. I am not a fast worker, and only really being able to work on weekends at the moment means I feel fairly pressured to get stuff ready for the next DC pack let alone for here as well. Coupled with the fact that my computer is made out of lego and I often spend 5 minutes just waiting for photoshop to save an image or run a simple filter means my output is limited.

In addition to all that I am (sort of) trying to get to grips with Illustrator at the moment. I only recently realised the power of this program and the extra freedom it would give me. However the fact that it is even more processor intensive than photoshop and it has a confusing interface (for a ps user anyway) are making it an extremely tricky program to get to grips with.

For the last few months I have been striving for the new and interesting... I hate repeating myself, and although I don't mind doing a short series of similarly themed pictures I would hate to get stuck in a stylistic rut. Sometimes I feel it makes it more difficult to gain fans, as people who enjoyed one set of my work may be confused or repelled by what I carry on to do. It would take a lot more than this to stop me trying to do stuff that is truly original. I am not sure I am there yet, and oddly feel that my most original stuff lies in my past (Peculiar, Hazy, Anomaly). I also feel rather depressed by the number of people who are content to continue with existing styles in
abstract/illustration rather than innovate. The number of people who shout Depthcore down for trying to evolve rather than sticking with the 3D trendwhore style that defined the early packs. There are numerous art groups who all seem to be trying to fill the gap that DC left in this
respect, they all seem to be stuck repeating themselves endlessly, trying to please the eye rather than the brain. I can't explain it really, it just seems some people produce work by starting off in a 3D program, export to Photoshop and add 'brushing' before slapping on the same old techy 2D and giving it a silly pseudo-scientific name. I know it's a good step in learning how to use graphics programs, but some of the artists who do this are actually very technically skilled... they just either lack imagination or the will to try something new. They should probably remember than some innovator did originally try something new, and came up with the style that they are endlessly repeating. Maybe if one of them did the same we would have something new to stare at?

On a positive note, I see the future of abstract as much brighter than it was a few years ago. I also see, or would like to see, a return of 3D abstract but in a completely different form. 3D programs have a vast amount of power, and yet most abstract users seem to be content with
just producing randomised objects and turning them into art through Photoshop post-processing. To me this is like using Photoshop and just running the clouds filter again and again until you see a pretty picture. One day I think people will take the time to properly model, texture, light and arrange shapes in 3D programs and produce some stunning abstracts. I have seen pieces that are getting there, the promo artwork for Maya 6 being a good example, but because of the work involved it is still very rare. This is something I also see in my future, I know it will take me years to learn a 3D program properly but the reward will be practical removal of the limits of what I can and can not do in graphics.

At the moment I am content with 2D, I am already trying to arrange some collaborations with artists outside of the usual abstract circles. I see no limits as to what shapes or media can be used, and I think more movement within the different art groups (3d, 2d, traditional, photo,
etc) could produce something which none of us have seen before.

Oops, seems this just turned into a stream of conciousness type entry. I just typed this straight off so apologies for the lack of structure and any parts that might not make sense. I think I will be able to afford a new computer before the end of this year. I don't like producing graphics being a frustrating process, but at the moment that's what it is. A slave to my RAM I am. Hopefully my new computer will allow me to be more adventurous... unless having a shitty pc actually helps me hmmm. I'll have to think about that one :}

*Bah some weird formatting issues going on here... ah well.

Oh and a few extras I've had lying around on my HD for a while: