Digital Abstraction - pt 2

Here are some of my recent works in Digital Abstraction. Click image to view larger version.

Digital Abstraction is not a new art form I have just created the name to classify art completely generated in non-physical form and space. Artwork that has never existed as a completed work in any form other than digital and which is abstract in its representation of the subject matter.

The genesis of Digital Abstraction came from an analysis of modernity and the concept that all of our most important information, in every medium, is currently stored and transmitted as pieces of digital information. To address the ever widening gap between our persons and our personal information I developed the concept of Digital Abstraction.

If you are interested in using my work for commercial or non-commercial purposes contact me dan@mascarimedia.com
cc some rights reserved



Sunspots



cosine massacre




Rasta wing

What is Digital Abstraction?

Blackwing - Dan Mascari - 2009

Abstraction is open to interpretation. The better question: What is art? There are numerous books devoted to this topic but none professes to have the answer. Every art critic and historian will tell you that this period, or that technique exemplifies the best of art. And they will all be right, at least in their own minds, within their own personal definition of what art is. Are the missing arms of Michelangelo's David more or less mysterious than Mona Lisa's smile or the Latrine as Art. Today art is interpretation and reinterpretation. Every great rock song has already been written, the parts are just being rearranged and the lyrics changed.

Any attempt at understanding art today will lead one to try and create their personal art by showing that they are connected to the world through this or that social network. Life today is performance art. Check out what I am doing on this site...Look at my bands photos here...Buy my t-shirt here. Our own lives have to some extent become a visual art where photos and videos chronograph the progression of our existence, and a written art through the use of blogs and social networks. All made possible through the digitization of our lives and communication developments enabled by the internet.

Any true catalog of the progression of art will lead one to believe that the next movement in art cannot be possible. Postmodernism has killed the possibility of a next step because it has chewed up and spit out all the previous possible combinations of content. Where do you progress from a thought that art can be a blatant rip-off and/or nonsense. In a time where the most famous art outsider and vandal (Banksy) has also become the prized collectible for our most influential media darlings (Brangelina) can you really say that there is any authenticity to contemporary art. I love Banksy so I will stop giving him crap for his fanbase and trendlike influence. What about Marla Olmstead, the little 4 year old who sells her "abstract art" for thousands. Not to discount the emotional authenticity of her work but what does the recognition of her work say about art as more of a fashion manipulated by marketing and positioning?

At the other end of the spectrum, hyperrealism has extended far beyond the early paintings of Chuck Close, 3-d graphics have evolved to a point that you really cannot tell if that is a person on your screen. Increases in digital realism will only be incremental over the next ten years. A possible next step is to take the tools of digital image manipulation and create a new type of art where we abstract reality through completely digital means. No sampling, completely original digital material creating abstract compositions: DIGITAL ABSTRACTION.

Blending Modes in Photoshop

One of my students asked me for a list of how the blending modes each function in Photoshop. I found a pretty good one (with visual examples):

http://www.freetimefoto.com/photoshop_blending_mode#vivid_light

I typically use the drop down selctor at the top of the layers palate in Photoshop to scroll through blending modes. The most often used blending modes (for me personally) are multiply, screen, overlay, color and luminosity. Multiply can really be usefull in creating realisitc shadows and lighing effects.

My least often used blending modes are dissolve, color dodge and color burn. The effect that each of these usually create is very harsh and intense.

Just like any other tool in Photoshop, blending modes should be seen as a means to accomplish your vision. Expecting to find the magic plug in, filter, or special effect that will make your work great is not really possible and is not what a real designer or artist does. First, solidify your vision, by researching your subject. Once you have a deep understanding of the problem attack the design issues using the resources and tools at your disposal. Without clarity of vision even the most special of effects fail to satisfy.

DESIGN RESOURCE
Here is a link to the Graphic Design Dictionary a resource for designers looking for clarification on a term. The list is certainly not complete but has most of the core terms defined.
http://www.graphicdesigndictionary.com/