Hello! lately I’ve been absent, due to a few overlapping projects as a freelancer… sorry about that. I couldn’t complete any new work, but I want to update you on what’s going on and throw some ideas around 😉

The freelancing projects I’m working on are (partially) related to graphics and the like, I’m speaking of 2D animation, 3D animation and some electronics (related to transmitting and recording video wirelessly).

BUT I’m also working on an art-related project with Paolo. We’re creating a pair of “video” installations, one similar to a projeciton mapping on a real icosahedron:

(DISCLAIMER: the following pics and video aren’t nice, they’re purely for documentation purposes; also, you’ll find some light technical babble reading on)

A standard projector will cover half the icosahedron’s shape. It will be placed in a room corner at a friend’s exhibition in November. I’ll use the faces and shape to create some interesting transitions and animations. Some of our previous animations, (mainly from the Spheres series) will be used as elements, as well as new things.

But the second, less defined part is what I have more updates about: Paolo got an old film projector (Super Almo is its name). It was hand-operated and the light came from an old lamp…

We decided to restore and modify it, you can see some pictures here, showing the parts and the modifications. I wanted all changes to be reversible, so I mostly removed and substituted parts. The only “hard” change was done to the manual advancement handle…. you’ll see later why:

So the changes have been made to the lamp, replaced by a crude high intensity LED array. I added along the light path a “reflection cone” to optimize the light flux and reduce dispersion.

The back reflective dish wasn’t useful anymore because the LED are nicely directional, compared to a traditional lamp.

The projector also became A LOT lighter by removing an electric transformer, plus some switches and plugs. Now everything is powered by a refurbished PC power supply.

To the film advancement mechanism then…

Paolo had the idea of “motorizing” it and to somehow paint and draw on a transparent film to show our content… He sourced a (less)old cordless screwdriver, so I worked on a small, simple circuit piloted by a microcontroller (Arduino), constantly moving back and forth the film… enjoy!:

As you can see, “traditional” film isn’t making any sense because of the continuous lighting and speed.

Next we’ll experiment two different things, first to create some ad-hoc content (the painting/drawing I was speaking of, these will evolve along the length of the film roll, to take advantage of the optical effect).

Then I want to use the microcontroller to control the LED lights as a shutter. By turning them on and off pretty fast they should show a sequence of full frames only. This approach will also require (probably) a finer circuit to control the motor (thus film speed).

I will keep you updated on this and other projects, let me know what do you think on the comments! Thank you!

PS one more thing: if you received and answered the survey you should get the small free print, if you haven’t already! Let me know when you get it and what do you think!

update

Update – ongoing project(s) #1 – projections and projectors

A shapeless metal creature that saw us. It’s experimenting, changing, taking on a form, something more similar to us. This serves a sole purpose: it’s trying to communicate… but for now the message it’s still far, far away…

But first, to all my subscribers and patrons that participated to the survey: the “thank you” prints are on their way, your help is very important to me!

Initially I created the 3d figure only. I was thinking about shapes and sculpting, a form similar to what you see… So I illustrated it through digital sculpting. There’s a contrast between planes and curves, smooth joints and angles. I tried to give some harmony to the object, but I didn’t followed a true “rhythm”. During the process I “anthropomorphized” it a bit though, widening the top part and giving it the “Eye” (or “Mouth”).

I liked the work, so I decided to go on and show it. A worn metal look seemed to me the most appropriate, a nice contrast to the shape. In a way a kind of unexpected material.
I worked on it for a bit, because I had a pretty precise idea in mind about that… so I elaborated some pictures to reach the results I was willing to show, in terms of scratches and color. I used them to setup the shader, a technical term for the elements controlling the final “material” displayed by the rendered object.
That’s also the material I would like to use if I’ll ever have the possibility to realize the work in the physical space -that is, by casting it! I was thinking of having it 50cm (20″) tall or more (ideally a 75cm-25″ “home version” and a 2,5m-8′ “outdoor version”).

Finally I rendered an animation with realistic lighting and setup to show the shape and, more important, from a certain point of view, to present the viewer with a pleasant and interesting transformation of shapes, reflections and shadows.

3D Graphics, animation, Digital Art

Digital Sculpture – Mimic 00

A work from the Armenia Photography series, a sunset view of the beautiful Amaghu Valley, where Noravank Monastery sits.

The valley is named after the river Amaghu, in some places it’s narrow, becoming a real canyon. Located in the Vayots Dzor region, is not far from the city of Yeghegdnazor.

The valley’s peculiar features (apart from the fascinating Noravank Monastery) are its cliffs, whose bright red rocks emerge on their sides. The drive to the monastery is nice and pleasant. This particular view comes from the bottom of the valley, before starting the short climb to the religious building.

For this image I used first of all the usual techniques, like HDR, multiple exposures and a small bit of digital painting. Then I started experimenting a bit…

I intensified the light/shadow contrast by using harmonious curves, with a “rhythm” similar to those extrapolated from classic sculpture. Finally I combined the dark and light areas with the existing luminance details, before applying them to the work.

I would say the results aren’t bad. In this particular image I followed the pre-existing land profiles. As a result the influenced areas are fitting nicely without a strong distinction.

I’d like to do more experiments in this direction, probably with other kind of images, more abstract, where the contrast can be stronger.

–

As (almost) all my works, this is available as a print on large canvas (limited) or cotton paper (signed). If interested you can take a look at the shop. If it’s not available yet you can contact me directly.

Here are some free works for download as wallpapers and some animations to watch.

If you like this or other of my works, please consider supporting me on Patreon with 1$/month. You will receive exclusive works and participate to the creative process!

Thank you!

Digital Art, Photography

Armenia Photography & Art – Amaghu Valley

A relaxing, bucolic image from Northern Italy.

I layered some effects and toned some areas to give a paint-like feel to the pic… It should convey calmness when put on your office screens, now that the holidays are gone! (At least here in Italy!) 😉

Also a forthcoming change could be perceived now that, after some work, the top of the trees look naked, with no leaves left…

The image is available in hi-res to my Patreon supporters pledging from $3, resolutions are the same as free wallpapers (4:3, 3:2, 16:9).

Thanks!

Digital Art, Photography, wallpaper

Italy Photography Wallpaper – Italian Bucolic 00

MatericLook: PouringLights_00 by Francesco Perratone, Armenia Photography and art

This is a shot from Geghard Monastery in Armenia. This is the dome, seen from inside one of the churches constituting the complex.

The place is really nice and fascinating. The spear that wounded Christ was allegedly brought here by apsotle Thaddeus (currently stored in Echmiadzin). I will publish some works form the outside too 😉

The sculpted details geometry is complex and beautiful, I maniipulated the image a lot because I wanted to bring in some colors and give everything a painted and surreal look.

The light, coming from the top, is like a colored fluid, pouring in, bringing a vibrant life to the structure below. This is an aspect I wanted to highlight. So I worked on making the shadows more uniform and on giving the corners a “liquid” look. I kept the top area overexposed and saturated, but I gave it a watercolor and stained look. Also some of the lower decorations now look like drops by themselves!

As all my works, this is available as a limited print on canvas or cotton paper, if interested you can contact me.

Here are some free works for download as wallpapers and some animations to watch.

If you like this or other of my works, please consider supporting me on Patreon with 1$/month, you will receive exclusive works and you will be able to participate to the creative process!

Thank you!

Digital Art, Photography

Armenia Photography – PouringLights_00

MatericLook: Noravank Cupola 0 Wallpaper by Francesco Perratone, Armenia Photography Urbex and art

From Noravank Monastery in Armenia. This, unwatermarked and in high resolution, will be available to my $3 patrons as August wallpaper.

Resolutions available are the same listed for free wallpapers (4:3, 16:9, 3:2).

More images to come, showing the monastery surroundings!

Photography, wallpaper

Armenia Photography – Noravank Monastery

MatericLook: Watched 0 by Francesco Perratone, Armenia Photography Urbex and art

Hello everyone, back from my trip to Armenia, here’s a first related work.

A large abandoned soviet-era building in Jermuk, with a nice sculpture on the facade. It caught my attention, so I took a few steps inside.

At first it didn’t seem particularly interesting. Almost empty, with a relatively modern structure… but after reaching the middle of the ground floor the view is just great!

On both sides there are these very interesting statues, with series of 6 very large heads. A few of them have some lipstick or mustaches added by some “joking thug”.

The impression is definitely surreal. The grandeur of the building and the imposing visages offer a stark contrast from the crumbling stairs and flaking paint. The temperature adds to the feeling: it dropped at least 10 degrees upon entering the building. The cold suggests being inside a giant refrigerator fighting to freeze time, surrounded by a very warm sun, overheating everything else.

THE BUILDING

From the few information I was able to gather, it seems the building was indeed built during the soviet era by USSR government. The faces inside represent Armenian heroes and fighters for freedom.

If anyone can provide more info regarding the building and/or the faces, I’ll be happy to include them. The construction is currently undergoing some kind of renovation, as there are some construciotn materials outside, so it will probably not last long in the current state.

THE WORK

Also here I want to stay on the edge between a picture and a drawing/painting. I made the flaking paint very visible, but the colors brilliant and saturated, to remind the life that was once here.

I focused on the faces and the geometric structure behind, making them stand out a bit. Also wanted to keep the darkest areas not completely black, but suggesting that something’s there.

I then experimented something: In these dark areas I created a look somewhat similar to stains and saturated watercolors, to further the distance from a photographic look. I also used some black fading strokes to highlight details, on both the faces and the structure. You can better appreciate those touches in the details shown below (half of the final work resolution):

MatericLook: Watched 0 -detail0 by Francesco Perratone, Armenia Photography Urbex and art

MatericLook: Watched 0 -detail1 by Francesco Perratone, Armenia Photography Urbex and art

If you like this or other of my works, please consider supporting me on Patreon with 1$/month. By doing so you’ll be able to participate to the creative process and suggest the kind of works you like the most! Thank you

Digital Art, Photography, urbex

Armenia Photography & Urbex – Watched 0

MatericLook

Art, Photography, Urbex and Visuals by Francesco Perratone and DoPe

Tag Archives: materic look