Alan Singer

Statement

Over the past ten years I have studied the use of mathematical forms in visual art, and employ many of those forms in my own art. I found software that is free on the Web, such as 3D-Xplormath, K3D-Surf, and Cinderella and others to be very useful in the creation of forms which I compose with and create "scenes". The use of mathematical visualization is a new area that artists can discover and use to great effect. My favorite area of exploration is one function of the software that allows me, the user to define the terms to create implicit surfaces from algebraic equations. The average viewer may not know it but almost everything in my compositions come from this ability to use math to describe form and compose with it, this is very powerful and new territory for the artist to consider.

Artworks

Each one of the elements in this artwork was created by me as a visualization of an algebraic formula. I compose the elements in Photoshop once they are rendered by my software, to this I add a layer of watercolor to enhance the color relationships and to strengthen the 3D effect. I output this onto a flexible film, and transfer the image onto moist watercolor paper under the pressure of an etching press. My inspiration comes from my travels in the western U.S. and also from my knowledge of art history.

Patterns are fascinating and I like to play this off of a landscape bathed in light. I am also playing with cylinders and transforming every form into something expressive and seemingly solid ( even solid glass ). Mathematics and measurement are the basis for most patterns and this one is full of stars and light. All of my artworks are one-of-a-kind, each one is a unique hand pulled monoprint made using the latest technology that I can afford.

I employed a software called Knotplot to help me render a chrome knot on top of which I placed a grid pattern or checkerboard. The setting is made of individual elements rendered with the use of 3D-Xplormath, a program that allows me to define the parameters for implicit surfaces. All of the elements are created separately, and then composed using Photoshop, and a program called Strata. The inspiration for this work comes from my travels in western U.S. and through my dreams and knowledge of art history.