Weird, weird art.
I have absolutely no idea what I was thinking as this mandala was created, nor why on Earth I chose these colours.
As it’s digital art, I could use digital tools to re-colour the image, but I’ve decided to leave it as is.
I know I wanted to do something that used similar techniques to the digital abstract paintings I’ve been exploring lately.
Similar. Perhaps. But definitely not the same kind of thing.
It’s like something out of a weird nightmare, or some bizarre, manufactured virus.
I think I can safely say my artistic mind is out of sorts today!
Fantasy Genesis
I think it may have had something to do with a book I briefly scanned yesterday. It’s called “Fantasy Genesis – A creative game for fantasy artists.” by Chuck Lukacs.
This is the introduction to the book:
Welcome fantasy geneticists! Here is a practice place of the imagination, a place where infinitely diverse forms and patterns will create concepts in infinite combinations, which you will bring to light with pencil and paper. One of the most important jobs we have as artists is to create inventive new ways of watching and documenting this beautifully diverse planet that allows us to live on it. We’re expected to see the world—from our cultures, habitats and technologies to the vast diversity of wildlife and plant life to the pores in our skin—in a slightly different light. Like scientists, we’re expected to experiment with new ways of expression, new sounds, new interpretations of old ideas, new solutions to old problems and new inspirations for images and change.
Fantasy Genesis – Chuck Lukacs
It caught my attention. As did the use of dice and tables for combinations of features appealed to me.
Not that I’m a fantasy artist. But it has sections to do with plants and landscapes and machinery and buildings. Things I am interested in. Creatures and characters not so much. I admire people who can draw such things, and create amazing artworks. However they really don’t have much interest for me artistically, apart from pattern, shape and texture.
I thought it may be a way for me to extend my drawing and imagination, as well as making more use of a sketchbook. I also thought that once I get my head around this kind of thing, I could create my own lists, incorporating patterns and favourite kinds of motifs to use too. I’ll see about that.
I know that my signature style of art is ‘entangled’ with some cute and whimsical elements from time to time and mandalas. I like working with abstract patterns and colours too. But exploring other genres, ideas, styles can only develop and add to my artistic skills and visual vocabulary. Even if I discover that some things are not for me, they will lead me down artistic avenues I may never have traversed.
So, one of my tasks today is to take time to properly read this book and work out how I can make the ‘game’ work for me!
Angela Porter 