One researcher takes this finding into account when developing retinal implants that restore vision
— Read on www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/fractal-patterns-nature-and-art-are-aesthetically-pleasing-and-stress-reducing-180962738/
I just realized today it’s been a whole year since I posted in this blog. I am sure you can guess what is mainly to blame. Yes, what with exhibitions and tours canceled, and inspiration flailing for a while, there hasn’t been a lot of activity to report. I created a few fractals early last spring, and was going to post about them right before they were supposed to be shown in April…
I’ve been keeping myself very busy in the meantime, never fear. Just not blogging!
This would have been Welcome Back to Otterville weekend in a normal year. I thought today would be a good time to let you all know I am still here, I do have art available, (see my home page), and if you wish to purchase any (for that extra special gift or any other reason), it can indeed be arranged. Just use the contact page on this website.
I may as well show you a couple of these new fractals, right?
I think these two speak to our wondering ancient minds, our need for sacred rites and for forbidden places.
Sacred Tree. Digital fractal art printed on metal, single print. 24×32″. $550.00. Artist Lianne Todd.
Forbidden Forest. Digital Fractal Art printed on metal, single print. 18×24″. $400.00. Artist Lianne Todd
The opening for this show was on Sunday and it continues until August 18.
OCCI stands for Oxford Creative Connections Inc., and it is a not-for-profit Arts and Culture organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Oxford County through the preservation and advancement of arts and culture.
The Ingersoll Creative Arts Centre is located at
125 Centennial Lane (in Victoria Park)
P.O. Box 384, Ontario
N5C 3V3
(519) 485-4691
Its hours are:
Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 10:30 – 2:00 p.m. & 2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
I have one of my new fractal pieces in the show, Time for Tea. Check it out if you go!
Time for Tea. Digital Fractal Art. Single metal print is 24×32″. Artist Lianne Todd. $595.00
Every once in a while I discover and develop an image that is just uncannily familiar. From the similarity of “Pollinator” to an actual pollinator, to the “Ocean Floor” that isn’t actually an ocean floor, we see how nature follows the patterns dictated by the geometry we know as fractals. However, it is not strictly ‘natural’ things which follow fractal patterns. We can see fractal patterns in things like architecture, art, music, and… fancy china dishes!
I absolutely love this image which I’ve entitled ‘Time for Tea”. To me it seems vaguely reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland and the interior of my Mom’s china cabinet. I recently printed it on metal. Here is what the digital image I created looks like. In the metal print, the white parts are silver, so it does change the look of it a little. It would be perfect in a super modern dining room, I think.
To see the 24×32″ metal print, you’ll have to come out to my gallery, as it is just very difficult to photograph the reflective surface. Lucky for you, the perfect opportunity to do that is right around the corner, during the Oxford Studio Tour, May 4 & 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.!
Time for Tea. Digital Fractal Art. Single metal print is 24×32″. Artist Lianne Todd.
While I haven’t posted here in a while (been busy on my other blog though), I have indeed been making fractals! This is one of a couple of new ones I have recently had printed on metal.
Spring is coming (yay!) and so is the Oxford Studio Tour, a perfect opportunity for you to visit the gallery and check out new work. If you’d like to visit before then, just let me know.
I won’t say too much about this piece, as the title sort of speaks for itself!
Break Out of the Mold. Fractal Digital Art. Single edition print on metal. 18×24″. Artist Lianne Todd. $400.00
September 10 & 11 is the Halls Creek Festival of Creativity in Ingersoll, and I will be participating again!
This festival was good fun last year and I kind of wished I was one of the attendees rather than an exhibitor – lots of learning and creating going on all over the place, and great live music most of the time.
I plan to have some of my fractals there – last year I ONLY brought the fractal metal prints – but I think I will also bring some paintings of fractals this year and some other paintings as well. I also hope to do some painting while I’m there.
Check out the website for details.
Associating fractals with architectural design is not a new thing – I don’t make any claims there. In fact, fractal geometry was used as a basis for the design of places to live long before we had a name for it – especially in Africa. There’s a TED blog about this very thing – just search for fractal architecture and you’ll find it.
I, however, like to make fractals using no intent, then capture images according to what my imagination lets me see. The fantastic universes I am able to explore have their own landscapes and their own architecture, and the “creatures” that some of the flame fractals reveal are alien yet familiar. I like placing them in the alien worlds and imagining what might be unfolding.
For the Square Foot Show at the Westland Gallery in London, Ontario, I created two pieces of fractal art, each a 12×12″ metal print, with a hint at alien architecture in common. Keep in mind these photographs are of the metal prints themselves. As usual, they are tough to portray in photography because of the reflective surface, and you really need to see them in person – preferably in good light. For one reason or another these both ended up on the bottom row of the wall at the gallery – not ideal when they look their best with light bouncing into your eyes! However, there is literally more wonderful art per square foot in that gallery right now than there is for many galleries all year. This is a great show, and the opening night was packed with people. You could barely move around. It also happened to be pretty hot and humid that day – so many of us ended up just outside the door fanning ourselves. The ice cold drinks were going fast!
The show is on until August 12. Go check it out if you can.
Occupant. Digital Fractal Art printed on metal, single edition print. $195. Artist Lianne Todd
Beacon. Digital Fractal Art printed on metal, single edition print. $195. Artist Lianne Todd
I think I have mentioned before how I see many fractals as somewhat archetypal in nature. We have, in our decorative past, incorporated many motifs that turn out to be quite common in fractal geometry. The swirls and whorls, the spirals and branches, the radiating patterns… it is like we knew about fractals before we knew about fractals. But of course we did, didn’t we? Because fractals are the shapes of nature, and we are a part of nature ourselves, and surrounded by it. We noticed the regular and irregular natural patterns around us and we appreciated them. We began to find them beautiful. Then we began to associate them with ideas, and some of them became symbolic.
This particular fractal is one of those ones that seems to be archetypal. Of course the cross shape, as a symbol, is much more ancient than the Christian religion. This is more complicated than a simple cross, though. What other associations does your mind bring to this image?
Symbol. Digital fractal art on metal. Single edition print. 16×16″. Artist Lianne Todd. Private Collection.
I hope you’ll come out to my studio this coming weekend during the Oxford Studio Tour to see this piece and more.
A while back I found out one of my fractal pieces had sold from the Art Gallery of Lambeth. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for representing me and for selling this piece. I didn’t find out which one it was, until recently, and then I was not surprised, as many people at various exhibits have told me it is their favourite.
I was going to find the image on this site and change the caption to say it was sold… and then realized I have never posted it here! I’ve used the image to advertise some of my shows, but have never quite written the blog post I wanted to write about it.
While “archetypal” comes to mind (and is wrong) to describe this image, I confess I’m at a loss otherwise. And maybe that is why it took me this long to write about it. There is just something about it that speaks to people, and while I feel it too, I can’t describe it. Who needs words when it comes to visual art anyway, right? But I would love to hear your ideas.
My original title for this was “The Birth of Wind”, but then it just became “Wind”. I don’t even have an explanation for that!
All I really have to say is, while this image is also one of my favourites and will stay with me for a long time, I am glad someone else is now able to enjoy it on a daily basis. If you are the buyer, thank you and please let me know as I haven’t been told who you are.
Wind. Digital Fractal Art on metal, single edition print. 20×20″. Lianne Todd. SOLD. Private Collection.
I have the detailed information for the show I told you about a while ago, and I also want to tell you about another show, so please scroll down!
This is a free event, and there will be refreshments served. The Elm Hurst is a lovely place to dine, and the food is really good, but don’t feel obligated to stay for dinner if you can’t. The gallery is in the hallway between the lobby and the restaurant.
On July 19 I will also be participating in a one-day outdoor show at the Quai du Vin Estate Winery, called Off the Wall!…and Off the Vine. The winery is near Sparta, ON. My tent will be in the area called “El Prado”. At this show I will mainly be exhibiting my more traditional watercolours, which you may see more of at my other site, liannetodd.wordpress.com. I will have some new winery-themed pieces. Here are the details:
FractaLiArt 