Spent some time refining control of the instrument: a richer parameter space for stroke planning; new colorspace mapping that handles poor camera conditions (over- or underexposure); two new types of limited color palette (inspired by the gorgeous plein air experiments of my friend Susan Hayden). I’ve also exposed a bunch of fluid sim parameters so they can be tweaked on the fly for maximum effect. This is starting to feel almost robust enough to play live on stage. Lots more work to do though…
Monthly Archives: August 2024
Trojan Unicorn 2024!
Okay here’s something fun: this goofball will be speaking at the THU Main Event 2024 in Tróia, Portugal! For those who don’t know it, THU is an annual gathering of artists working in film, games, comics, and more. Or, as the organizers describe it: “a 6-day event designed to be a transformative experience filled with innovation, genuine connections, and a creative mindset. It’s the perfect place to take some time for yourself, reset, and fill your mind with innovation and creativity. THU2024 marks the 10th edition, and it promises to be an epic event with an unbelievable lineup of artists and the ultimate creative reboot!”
I’ll be giving talks about animation, non-photorealistic rendering, and my recent research, and (if all goes as planned) also a live demo of Big Wet Pixels with audience participation!
Big Wet Pixels: Friends and Family
Here are some portraits of friends and family I’ve made over the past few months. I love seeing people through this strange lens. Originally I imagined this system as something that would stand on its own in a gallery, automatically painting whoever stopped by. But there’s something special about the way people react in real time as the machine paints their portrait. There’s a feedback loop between subject, painter, and machine. So now I’m working on making the system more interactive, so people can see what’s going on inside the black box, and I can play the controls like a musical instrument.