The Gornajur Jarjar machine

10 tools to become a digital arts professional.

As an artist dedicated to generative art, I know how important it is to have access to the right technological tools to develop different techniques and formats. So I thought I’d make a list of useful programs to create digital works, to help other artists to venture into NFTs and jump into new markets for their works.

Several of them are free; and most will find the possibilities these toys bring us irresistible.

Adobe (the great champion): It is a very popular and versatile suite of image editing tools used for retouching photos, creating illustrations, doing graphic design, creating digital paintings and even editing movies. The level of difficulty is intermediate as it requires some experience to handle all its functions. But it allows you to move files from one application to another and do just about every type of editing imaginable. Unfortunately it is expensive, but they give 30 days of free subscription.

2. Blender is free and open source software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and graphics creation. Blender’s difficulty level can be high, since advanced knowledge of 3D modeling and animation is required to take advantage of all its features.

3. Procreate: It is a digital drawing tool for iPad that has become very popular among illustrators. It can be used to create digital drawings and paintings, and its interface is intuitive and easy to use. The difficulty level of this tool is low, and its cost is a one-time payment of 16 US.

4. Unity: It is a video game engine that allows you to create experiences of virtual reality, augmented reality and interactive games. Its use is free for personal projects; but its level of difficulty is high because it requires advanced knowledge in programming and game development to interact with the software.

5. ZBrush: It is a digital sculpting tool for creating 3D characters and models. I have no idea how to use it. But what I do know, is how expensive their subscription is; which starts at 40 us per month.

6. Rhino: It is a 3D modeling software used mainly in architecture, industrial design, and jewelry design. It is expensive; around $1,000 per license, but it delivers what it promises.

7. Processing(my great love!!) is a graphical programming tool that is used to create generative and interactive art. Processing is free and open source, and can be used to create animations, graphics, installations, and VR projects. The difficulty level of Processing is intermediate-high, since basic programming knowledge is required to start using it.

Tribute to Joseph Mallord William Turner #3

8. Max/MSP is a visual programming language for creating music and interactive sound art. It is very sophisticated but not excessively expensive, the monthly subscription starts at $10 us and if you want the permanent license, it costs around $400 US

9. Spark AR Studio: It is an augmented reality filter creation platform for Instagram and Facebook. Its use is free and its zero difficulty.

10. Houdini: It is an animation software that allows the creation of images, games and special effects. It’s very impressive, but also a bit expensive: the subscription can be around $200.

I hope this list of software will be helpful to artists and designers looking to create digital works and turn them into NFTs, and encourage them to explore and experiment with these tools.

Color as protagonist in the work of JMW Turner: what would happen if it were eliminated?

I have been working for a few weeks around the work of the British painter JMW Turner hoping to learn a little about his technique and especially about the importance he gave to light and color in his paintings.

Turner is known for being the great master of light; his technique of loose brushstrokes and translucent layers created a very dramatic sense of movement and shine. But it was his palettes of bright and highly saturated colors that conveyed his famous atmospheres.

In fact, his way of using color was so effective that he managed to create a specific emotional atmosphere; evoking specific sensations and feelings for each of his creations.

In conclusion, light and color in Turner’s work were not only aesthetic elements, but tools that generated the emotional impact he sought in the viewer and created an impressive sense of realism.

But what would happen if the colors were removed from Turner’s work? … What would be the impact on the expressive and dramatic force of his work? Can the added value of an element within the pictorial composition be measured?

Motivated by the question, I spent the weekend writing a processing sketch that washed out the colors of one of his works and allowed me to evaluate the result … and although the use of light remains impressive, without the contrast and variation of colors, the final effect is much less powerful; almost insipid.

And it is that colors in his work are the great protagonist of the composition … The soloist of that magnificent orchestra that he directed with mastery and intensity. Without such colors, his works would not have caught anyone’s attention, as the other elements of the composition are mediocre (or disappointing) to say the least (Turner, forgive my words, for God’s sake!) …

The result ended up pinned in my collection … with opera music and a great applause at the end … To make it clear who was leading the baton in this concert …

Why I love Turner and how he inspired my work?

I have been working for a few weeks around the work of J.M.W. Turner and the time has come to explain why. Turner is one of my favorite artists of all time. He has always inspired me with his ability to depict nature with such beauty and emotion; In particular, I am fascinated by the handling of light and atmospheric effects in his work, and I believe that contemporary artists could learn a lot from him.

First of all, I think it’s important to highlight Turner’s ability to create depth and space in his works. His seascapes encompass vast areas of the ocean in just a few centimeters. To achieve that you need to have a very clear idea of the relationships between objects in space. (and that, not even the AI are doing it right)

He used light and shadow masterfully. Sometimes, to give the impression that his landscapes extended far beyond the space of the painting. In others: the light seems to emanate from within the painting, creating a three-dimensional effect that makes you feel immersed in the scene. (This effect is particularly evident in works like “The Fire in the House of Lords and Commons” and “The Grand Canal of Venice.”)

Furthermore, Turner was a master at creating emotional atmospheres in his landscapes. He used color and light to evoke a variety of emotions, from calm and serenity to tension and drama. In works like “The Snowstorm: Hannibal and His Army Crossing the Alps” and “Rain, Steam, and Speed: The Great Western Railway,” light and shadow combine to create a sense of movement and speed, giving the work a sense of energy and dynamism.

This is the aspect of Turner’s work that most seduces me; his ability to create atmospheric effects. In many of his works, the atmosphere is so tangible that it seems almost palpable. In “The Fire in the House of Lords and Commons”, for example, the light from the fire seems to create a kind of mist that covers the entire landscape, while in “The Grand Canal in Venice” the light filters through of the mist to create an atmosphere of mystery and serenity.

I think one of the most important things that contemporary artists can learn from Turner is his ability to create emotional atmospheres through the use of light and colour. Turner’s work shows that realistic representation is not always the most exciting and that playing with light and color creates powerful emotional effects, which can make the viewer feel more connected to the work.

Another important lesson from Turner is technical innovation. I know that now it seems from the time of the caves; but Turner was a pioneer in his day. He experimented with applying multiple layers of paint to create his light and color effects (Sfumatos). So after all and despite the great temporal distance, we share the same spirit…

Finally, Turner helps us understand the importance of observing and studying nature. He spent years taking detailed notes and drawing sketches on his travels around the world. This dedication and commitment to observation allowed him to capture the essence of nature in his work in a way that is almost magical.

In short, I LOVE Turner. His legacy continues to be a source of inspiration for contemporary artists. His technical skill, his detailed observation and his ability to capture the essence of nature; has left an indelible mark on art history, and keeps me inspired.

¿How artists can use blockchain technology?

Blockchain technology has become one of the most disruptive innovations of the last decade; and although it is known mainly for being the engine behind cryptocurrencies, its application is not limited to that area. Artists can also take advantage of this technology and in this post we will explain how.

But what is blockchain technology?

It is a technology that allows the transfer of data in a secure and decentralized way. A shared digital ledger containing a series of blocks, each one with information about a specific transaction. Each block is linked to the previous block by a cryptographic algorithm, which guarantees the immutability and security of the recorded data.

How artists can use blockchain technology?

There are probably dozens of applications for this technology, but we can highlight the following:

Protect copyright

Blockchain technology allows artists to protect their copyrights and establish ownership of their artwork. By registering their works in the chain, they can prove that they are the rightful owner of the work and collect royalties for its transfer and use.

2. Establish the authenticity of the work

The blockchain can also be used to establish the authenticity of the work; since an immutable record is created that can be verified at any time. This helps prevent counterfeiting and the sale of fake art, as long as the initial registration is real and legitimate.

3. Creation of digital works of art on the chain

Blockchain technology also allows artists to create and sell unique digital works. Creators can create non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that represent a work and can buy, sell or trade these tokens, providing a new revenue stream for artists.

4. Crowdfunding

This technology can also be used for crowdfunding of art projects. Artists can create tokens that represent a piece of ownership of the project and offer them to investors on the blockchain. This provides an alternative form of financing and allows investors to gain a tangible stake in the project.

5. Authenticity record

Blockchain technology can be used for the registration of authenticity of works of art. Since the chain can record all the information we want, such as the date of creation, the technique used, the current location of the object and the transfers since it was created…etc. This allows collectors and scholars to verify the authenticity of the work and obtain detailed information about it.

6. Share artwork

Artists can use the blockchain to share their artwork with other artists or buyers and allowing them to use it to create new artwork. This encourages collaboration and creativity among artists; and gives the collector a freedom impossible to obtain with traditional art forms

7. Royalty management

It can also be used for royalty management (beyond determining who owns those rights). It makes it easy for artists to control who has access to their work and how it is used, helping them gain the information that will enable them to claim appropriate compensation for the use of their works.

8. Traceability of physical objects

There are also companies that are working on the development of blockchain technologies that allow the traceability of physical works of art, from their creation to their sale and delivery to the final buyer. These technologies can include smart tags to track the history of the artwork, which can help prevent counterfeiting and theft.

9. Art transactions

Finally, and this is the best known function; Blockchain technology can be used to execute art buying and selling transactions securely and transparently allowing artists to gain a whole new channel for selling their works.

Royalties: the eternal fight against human greed

The discussion about the payment of royalties to artists has always been a controversial topic in the art industry. Royalties are payments made to artists each time their work is used or sold, whether in physical or digital format. They are very common in movies, music, software and even in literature. But in plastic or visual arts it has been almost impossible to implement; despite being the oldest artistic expression explored by man.

Many artists argue that they are not receiving fair compensation for the use of their works. The lack of transparency in contracts and sales transactions prevents them from accessing detailed information about how they are being used or how much money their works are generating. Which makes it difficult for them to track royalties and make sure they are fairly compensated.

Besides, or at least until the advent of Blockchain technology; there was a lack of adequate infrastructure that would allow artists to track the royalties payed. Copyright offices are in most cases inefficient and just add more red tape to the process.

To address these issues, an automated royalty system was developed using blockchain tech to track artwork sales and pay the corresponding royalties. But this system is being circumvented by flippers in P2P transactions outside the marketplaces, or even on sites like Blur that allow multi-chain NFT transactions. Currently, there are wrapped NFTs that, by wrapping the asset under a different code , make it difficult to track the transactions made with them.

Finally the same artists have waived their right to receive royalties. Some for marketing, others to attract collectors (the wrong ones, I would say) and others for adherence to the CC0 philosophy that has contributed so much to building communities on the web… and that has been taken advantage of so many times by greedy investors in the past.

Fortunately, the marketplaces have aligned themselves in favor of the artists. Pronouncing unequivocally in favor of paying royalties. Only time will tell if this will be enough.

Algorithmic art… what is it and why could it be important in the future?

Algorithmic art is an art form that uses programming to create images, sounds, animations, and other works of art from mathematical equations. Although it dates back to the 1960s, when artists began experimenting with the computer as a creative tool, today it has gained popularity thanks to the availability of tools and software for its creation.

Leading exponents of algorithmic art include Vera Molnar and Harold Cohen, who began working with computers in the 1960s; there is also Ken Rinaldo, who created an interactive art installation called “Autopoiesis” in 1988; which later became a benchmark for the movement in the 90s.

There are several tools to create this type of art, among them my favorite: Processing, which is very easy to use and learn. But also accessible are: OpenFrameworks, Max/MSP, Pure Data and Blender (other of my favourites; although far more complicated than Processing). They are open source and free; and with them you can create generative and algorithmic works of art in different formats, from images to animations or music.

In the future, algorithmic art is expected to continue to evolve and have a greater impact on the art world and culture in general. Artificial intelligence and virtual reality could play an important role in the development of this art, by facilitating the creation of even more complex and sophisticated works and generating new and innovative interaction protocols with the viewer.

Arte e inteligencia artificial: ¿una colaboración creativa o una mordaza para los artistas?

Today at the request of my friend @Shaldrian, I am going to write this post IN SPANISH… To send a big hug to my compatriots in Latin America… Please use the translator…

Como artista, el uso de la inteligencia artificial en el arte es un tema complejo y controvertido que me es imposible ignorar. Por un lado, la tecnología de IA me permite experimentar con nuevas formas de creación; espectaculares, novedosas y hasta me atrevería a decir, irresistibles. Por otro lado, me preocupan los aspectos relacionados con la autenticidad y la originalidad del arte generado por la IA, así como el impacto de esta tecnología en mi creatividad como artista.

Una de mis principales preocupaciones es la cuestión de la autenticidad del arte generado por la IA. Muchas veces me pregunto si el arte IA es verdaderamente creativo, o si simplemente estoy siguiendo reglas y algoritmos programados (lo cual me parece una mordaza). Aun no tengo una respuesta para esto, pero hace unos minutos (investigando sobre este asunto) vi un video en el canal de YouTube Comenta YT en el que mostraban que las patentes que solicitaron farmacéuticas, startups y escritores que han usado IA fueron denegadas, ya que la oficina de patentes solo admite creaciones hechas por seres 100% humanos. No sé qué significa esto para el arte digital, pero me parece posible un futuro lleno de demandas y procedimientos legales alrededor de estas obras de arte.

Además, también me preocupa el impacto de la IA en mi creatividad como artista. Me pregunto si esta tecnología está restringiendo mi imaginación al banco de imágenes del que se alimenta, o si está expandiendo mis habilidades a un terreno totalmente nuevo como lo hizo en su momento la fotografía.

Finalmente, es importante cuestionarse cómo serán valoradas estas obras de arte en el futuro. ¿Cómo se determinará el valor de una obra de arte generada por la IA? ¿Cómo se atribuirá el crédito a los artistas humanos y a la tecnología que participaron en su creación?”