Intro to Metadata for Artists

Sep 9, 2023

Unlocking the Power of Metadata: A Comprehensive Guide for Artists

Welcome to the first article in our series focused on understanding metadata in the art world. Whether you’re new to digital art or a seasoned professional, this series aims to demystify the essential elements that can make or break your art career in the digital age. Keep an eye out for future articles that will delve deeper into this fascinating topic.

Unlocking Metadata for Artists

Metadata is a term that artists, especially in the digital realm, should not overlook. Whether you’re a digital artist, a musician, or a traditional painter, understanding metadata can significantly impact how your art is received, accessed, and even protected.

What is Metadata?

Metadata is essentially “data about data.” It’s generated either automatically or manually when a digital file, be it an artwork or a music track, is created, modified, or deleted. Basic metadata attributes include details such as the author, date of creation, and file size.

Mastering Metadata: How Artists Can Boost Visibility and Protect Their Work

There are primarily three kinds of metadata:

  1. Descriptive Metadata: Helps with indexing and discovery.
  2. Administrative Metadata: Includes information like copyright details.
  3. Structural Metadata: Indicates how different data elements relate to each other.

Navigating Metadata

  • SEO Importance
  • Data Organization
  • Copyright Protection
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Community and Networking

Conclusion & Next Article

Metadata is not just a techie term; it’s a tool that can propel your art career to new heights. With the digital world becoming more integrated each day, understanding and leveraging metadata is no longer optional but essential for every artist. Stay tuned for our next article, where we’ll explore the various platforms where artists can effectively USE metadata to their advantage.

Batch Resize Images in Photoshop: A Step-by-Step Guide

Aug 26, 2023

Batch resizing images in Photoshop is a time-saving trick that every digital artist, photographer, and design enthusiast should know. Whether you have a batch of photos from your latest photoshoot or a collection of digital art pieces, resizing them all at once can save you a lot of time. Here’s how to do it:

Creating a Resize Action

Before running a batch, you’ll need to create an action for resizing. Here’s how:

  1. Open Photoshop and Load a Sample Image: Open Photoshop and load any image that you can use as a sample for your action.
  2. Navigate to the Actions Panel: Go to Window > Actions to display the Actions panel.
  3. Create a New Action: Click on the New Action icon at the bottom of the Actions panel. Name your action something descriptive, like “Batch Resize.”
  4. Start Recording: Once you’ve named your action, hit the Record button. Photoshop will now record the steps you take.
  5. Resize Your Image: Navigate to Image > Image Size in the top menu. Input your desired dimensions, making sure to keep the “Constrain Proportions” box checked to maintain the aspect ratio of the image.
  6. (Optional) Save the Image: If you want your action to also save the resized image automatically, go to File > Save As and pick your preferred format.
  7. Stop Recording: After you’ve done all the steps, go back to the Actions panel and click the Stop button to finish recording your action.

Running a Batch Job

Now that your action is set up, you can use it to resize a batch of images.

  1. Open Batch Menu: Navigate to File > Automate > Batch in Photoshop.
  2. Set the Source Folder: Select the folder that contains the images you wish to resize.
  3. Choose the Action: In the “Action” dropdown, select the resizing action you created earlier.
  4. Set the Destination Folder: Choose where you want the resized images to be saved.
  5. File Naming: Customize how you want the new files to be named, if desired.
  6. Execute the Batch: Once all settings are in place, click “OK.” Photoshop will automatically resize all the images in your source folder according to the action you created.

And there you have it—a quick and easy way to batch resize images in Photoshop. This guide serves as a great reminder for future projects and a helpful resource for anyone looking to save time in their digital workflow.

Journey to Rita: Art, Ancestry, and Adventures in Colorado’s Mountains

Aug 5, 2023

The universe often communicates through subtle signs and grand gestures alike.

A recent grand gesture came in the form of whispers about a new sculpture being crafted in Colorado’s mountains. Curiosity piqued, I learned that this sculpture, named Rita the Rock Planter, was the work of the talented Danish artist, Thomas Dambo. Nestled in Victor, Colorado, Rita stands as an artful beacon and has quickly become a hiking destination, joining the ranks of the popular Breckenridge troll, also created by Dambo.

As a fellow artist and a descendent of Scandanivan heritage, I felt an innate connection to this creation. Trolls, after all, are woven deeply into the tapestry of Norwegian folklore. With this ancestral link, my encounter with Rita took on a profound significance.

Hearing that Dambo would address the community, I seized the opportunity to attend. There, Dambo shared an enlightening tidbit. He said, “Trolls know stones have no legs, so it’s rude to remove one stone from a family of stones. Rita likes to reconnect them and plant them with their family.” This insight enriched my understanding of Rita’s purpose. Additionally, Rita’s creation is a chapter in Dambo’s broader “Way of the Bird King” project. In this ambitious endeavor, he journeys from Vermont to Washington, constructing ten trolls and thousands of birdhouses in between. At this point, he has manifested an impressive 119 sculptures and birdhouses with just six more to complete the series.

Motivated by these revelations and a delightful breakfast sandwich from Wendy’s (a personal favorite over McDonald’s), I embarked on a 0.4-mile hike to meet Rita in person. Even with my knee challenges and my partner Tim’s battle with cancer, we marched on. The morning of August 5, 2023, symbolized more than just a hike; it was a testament to living fully and embracing each moment.

Rita’s wooden grandeur compelled me to capture her essence through my lens. One particular snapshot inspired ‘Rita in Bloom’, a vibrant digital painting that’s now available through JolieArtPrints.

This entire odyssey affirmed my belief art is a narrative. It’s a conduit that channels memories, experiences, and an artist’s journey into relatable tales. Rita, with her sustainable wooden framework, isn’t just an art piece. She’s a story, a lesson, and an inspiration.

And as seasons transform, I aim to chronicle Rita’s evolution, solidifying our bond and celebrating life’s rich tapestry. Each visit underscores my commitment to personal growth and appreciation for art’s role in community-building.

As I journey forward, I anticipate the tales my art will narrate and the many more trails Tim and I will tread upon in our beloved Colorado.

[Visit Gold Camp District Impact Group]

[Purchase a ‘Rita in Bloom’ Print]

Art & AI: A Intersection of Art & Artificial Intelligence

Jan 11, 2022

Introduction to the Idea of Art and AI

The most prominent application of AI in the field of art is in the use of algorithms and are often called “generative adversarial networks” or “GANs.”

A typical AI image algorithm is a type of deep neural network trained with pairs of images and corresponding ground truth data, which are used to produce new images similar to some degree to the original pair. The first network creates an image and then the second network tells it whether or not the image looks real. The goal of this second neural network is to teach the first AI into thinking its creations look like reality. If they do, then we say they, the neural networks, have reached a “generative adversarial equilibrium,” and we can call them generative models because they have learned how to generate realistic images. This algorithm has been used for creating paintings some people may find quite believable.

Interesting fact, the first machine to produce an abstract painting was created by Harold Cohen in 1956 that was able to generate an entire painting based on a single line drawn by its human handler. In 2018, Microsoft researchers developed an AI-learning algorithm that allowed a computer to produce pieces of original art based on what it sees from other paintings – one example is “The Turning Road” which consisted of a scene from the 1997 animated film Princess Mononoke.

Art has been evolving all the time and will continue to do so as AI continues to evolve with it.

What is the Future of Artificial Intelligence in the Arts?

Artists are the first group of people that AI tries to imitate. Whether it’s a painting or a poem, AI tries to create something similar and sometimes better than the original.  Machines can be a source of inspiration for artists. Artists use the data from the machine to create art. The more data that artists have, the more their work will change.

In 1989, Japanese artist Akira Satō used a computer-aided design (CAD) package to draw a turtle, an airplane, and an elephant. In 1990, he made ‘Elephant Dumps’. In this work, he draws on both wood and paper with a computer program called Corel Draw which creates illustrations from the outline of shapes drawn with a mouse or tablet.

In 1991, Hiroshi Kawasaki created ‘Morphological Paths: Circles and Square’, in which he uses CAD software to generate geometric shapes and then cuts them out of plywood using electric saws and drills.

For decades, computer art has been the focus of many kinds of research. Every year there are more and more exhibitors in the field of computer art.

The future of artificial intelligence is unfolding with every passing day. The use of AI in art is not new, but it will likely shape the arts industry in years to come.

Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Artists

Artists are always in search of tools to help them create more expressive pieces of art. Artificial intelligence is one such tool that can help artists. AI is being used in various applications for art, with some even leveraging machine learning to create original artwork. The more data that artists have, the more their work will change.

For decades, computer art has been the focus of many types of research. Every year there are more and more exhibitors in the field of computer art. The main issue with using artificial intelligence to generate art is the lack of human touch or intervention by an artist.

Artists are using AI (artificial intelligence) to generate their own unique content, rather than relying on traditional methods like copying other artists or drawing from memory. This new technique can be applied to any type of artwork, whether it’s painting, music, or sculpture.

Purchase a Canvas Print
Purchase a Canvas Print

This original piece of artwork is based on the vintage photo taken by Fred Hartsook of Ruth St. Denis in Black and Gold Nautch in 1916. 

Content Creators

Nov 7, 2021

Metaverse: Content Creators = Artists

As for me, I’m an artist telling a story through the images I create using a computer as my tool.

The Enchanted Forest is a series telling the story of the woodland creatures and a merry band of forest fairies and Norwegian gnomes. I just created my first character, her name is Ms. Sugar Plum, the most famous deer in all the forest, she introduced herself to me yesterday.

It’s a great story how we met, she startled me, sneaking up on me from behind when I was sitting in front of the garage. I often have these moments and don’t have a camera but fortunately, it was in my pocket and I was able to capture the moment of her looking down at me.

I almost have her portrait finished so you’ll meet her soon.

Thanks for your attention and I hope you follow along as I introduce you to more places and characters in the Enchanted Forest.

This article gives you an idea of my viewpoint with respect to “digital art”. I recently gave myself permission to call my creations art and it’s empowered me to imagine the possibilities. I thank each and everyone’s comments and feedback.

Computers Do Not Make Art, People Do

“This column explains why today’s technologies do not create art; they are tools for artists. This is not a fringe viewpoint; it reflects a mainstream understanding of both art and computer science. There is a long tradition of computer-driven procedural art, and all of it is ultimately made by people, even when they use software branded as AI. It is possible this could change someday, that our software gets so good that we assign it authorship of its own works. As I will explain, I believe this is unlikely.”