Test Finished, New Work Planned...

I finally finished my test painting. In the end I realize that this was just a means to an end and it really (in my opinion) doesn't stand up as a finished work. I learned quite a bit on it, and that's what is important.

Means to an End (The Matrix II) 36" x 24", acrylic on paper



Based on what I learned from this piece, the reading I've been doing on immersion (I just finished the book "Virtual Art: From Illusion to Immersion" by Oliver Grau, which was excellent), and my recent trip to Chelsea is resulting in the study (below) for my next painting. This piece I think will end up being close to 108" x 55". The source material is also from the movie The Matrix Reloaded as photographed on my wide-screen TV. The study below is a Photoshop file, where I have completely deconstructed the TV photo into over twenty layers that have been re-colored, and re-ordered to achieve the effects I'm looking for (not finished with this step yet). This will pose as a study that will then be re-interpreted in paint using the same technique as the one above. So, stay tuned as this one evolves, it's likely to take me many, many weeks to complete...

Study I for The Matrix III, 53" x 23", digital print



And just to put it into perspective, here's the source image...