week 6 of 2023
Poline is a color palette generator based on polar coordinates. The written portion is quite entertaining with terms like “esoteric knowledge” and “mystical witchcraft” and “arcane arts of color”. Works pretty well as a color palette generator too.
Zara Picken creates cool paper-cutout illustrations. They are actually digital vector illustrations but still look completely like layered pieces of paper. Very cool style.
A side project of hers called the Modern Illustration Archive lets you explore illustration and graphic design through the decades from 1940s through 1970s. Can also explore specific formats like beer coasters and playing cards. Not a ton of images but still fun to wander through.
The Manifold Garden video game came out a few years ago but it flew under the radar. I picked up a copy for sale on Epic for a couple of bucks. It is an amazing interactive experience where you rotate in space, turning walls into floors and windows into holes in the floor. My sense of spatial understanding is pretty good but this thing is turning me sideways on a regular basis. It has been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a game this much.
David Romero has been creating photorealistic renderings of unbuilt Frank Lloyd Wright designs. Great attention to detail. Some of these designs feel like they could also exist in Manifold Garden. I guess that means the garden was partially inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. Then again, many designers have been inspired by Wright’s work over the years. David Romero has also been rendering some of Wright’s unbuilt skyscrapers.
Speaking of 3D experiences, Adobe has a new interactive website out called Taking Shape that highlights the powers of Adobe Substance. It has been a year or so since Adobe bought the Substance Suite and they are really leaning heavily into 3D. Great visual examples, interviews, and process shots of what is possible with the tools.
I can see this site winning people over. We are actually considering migrating from Autodesk Maya to Adobe Substance 3D where I teach visual design. My 3D students thought it was cool, although they are studying to do this stuff professionally so they are a bit biased.
random creativity quote with no explanation…
We tend to think of the artist’s work as the output. The real work of the artist is a way of being in the world.
— Rick Rubin