Author: Elisabeth Cabanas

Reading 1 – week 2 – Eyeo2012 – Casey Reas

My eyes were awakened to the ways in which art and technology collide when I watched Casey Reas’s presentation at Eyeo2012. The way that Reas discusses randomness in digital art is very innovative and fascinating.

It occurred to me that, because humans are accustomed to following rules and procedures, computers are able to produce patterns and randomness in ways that humans simply cannot. This entire concept gets me thinking about how our society is set up; everything is really rigid and organized.

Reas’s words, “Make your own reality, your own world,” truly resonated with me. We all need to hear that, in my opinion, especially in this day and age. Reas suggests that in order to break up the monotony and repetition of life, we need unpredictability.

I consider myself a very rigid person and in recent years I’ve found out that some randomness and flow in life is necessary and it makes you live happier and less worried.

Moreover, this reading made me reflect on this question: do gods create order out of chaos? It is, after all, a large topic that connects to the idea of having a balance between order and randomness in all that we do, not just in art.

Assigment 1 – Self-portrait – Eli’s Aquatic Dreamscape

CONCEPT:

I find myself retreating into my thoughts as the first week of school comes to an end, returning to my cherished summer home in Cadaqués, a charming community hidden away on Spain’s coast. “Eli’s Aquatic Dreamscape,” this piece of art, is more than simply a self-portrait; it’s a glimpse into my calm world, where the water is a constant companion that reflects my calmest desires.

My refuge has always been Cadaqués, with its picturesque streets and peaceful Mediterranean. Here, the world above seems to fade away as I plunge into the glistening clean waters, making time seem to stop.

As we sail alongside friends during the golden sunsets, the sea serves as a brilliant backdrop for our companionship as we tell stories and laugh together. And then there’s windsurfing, an exhilarating dance with the wind and waves that embodies both my spirit of adventure and the wild beauty of the village.

“Eli’s Aquatic Dreamscape” is a painting that pays homage to these times and embodies my passion for the ocean and Cadaqués. This piece serves as a reminder of my favorite place amidst the chaos of academic life and is evidence of the serenity that Cadaqués instills in me. It serves as a reminder that there is peace waiting in the embrace of the water, no matter how hectic life becomes.

 

 

  // Hair
  fill(102, 51, 0); // Brown hair color
  arc(200, 155, 200, 100, radians(150), radians(30)); // arch hair
  
  // hair length
  fill(102, 51, 0); // brown hair 
  noStroke();
  rect(110, 160, 40, 150); // left rectangle hair 
  rect(250, 160, 40, 150); // right rectangle hair 

  // Eyes
  fill(255); // White part of the eyes
  ellipse(170, 190, 30, 20); // Left eye
  ellipse(230, 190, 30, 20); // Right eye

  fill(77, 38, 0); // Brown color for the iris
  circle(170, 190, 10); // Left iris
  circle(230, 190, 10); // Right iris

  // Tshirt
  fill('lightgreen'); 
  arc(200, 600, 300, 650, PI, 0, OPEN); // shoulders

  // Mouth
  fill('pink'); // 
  arc(200, 240, 30, 10, 0, PI, CHORD); // smile arch
  
}

Memes from my group of friends. 

 

IMPROVEMENTS:

Future developments could benefit from concentrating on the textural elements in order to more accurately convey the dynamic character of water.

Making hair in my artwork was especially difficult for me. I tried using an arch at first, but I could not figure it out. I finally decided on an arch and two descending rectangles. Incorporating marine life or sports like windsurfing or diving would give my work a more vivid and personal touch, emphasizing my strong bond with the sea and my memories of Cadaqués. This way, the artwork could become more meaningful and realistic.