Next · March 10, 2010 · 0 comment(s)

Next

Over the last several years it has become a bit worrisome to me that perhaps technology is taking more that it is giving. This thought, has led me down a path in-between technology and the more humanistic things that we find in our history. The work on my thesis project approached this topic by using the computer to create work and art which has a classical and spiritual feeling. I feel that this work was a success (images found here: http://store.johndilworth.com).

On the other side of things, I also find myself enamored by technology, by its image, complexity, and industrial nature that seems to move ahead without regard for the past. In all of this, I have recently found a few interesting forms and ideas that are moving my work in new and perhaps surprising directions, where technology is juxtaposed with classical elements.

The next project has involved the development of a new typeface, Cloaked Humanity, in a few variations, and the typesetting of the bible in that font. There’s something funny, interesting, and hopefully powerful in a book that contains all the content of the original, but can’t be read because the humanity is “Cloaked.”

I’ll be making some updates here as I embark on this project.

(If you are reading this on a feed reader or other site, make sure that you view it on the site for full effect)

Advice for Artists · March 08, 2010 · 0 comment(s)

Advice for Artists (or for anyone who loves what they do)

“Ultimately, the passage of time is far more important than strategizing for success. Make art, get it out there, do what you have to do so that as many people see your art as possible, prove that you’re a going concern, that you’re in this for the duration, you’re committed, you’re not going to give up, and that nothing will stop you. Sooner or later, others will begin believing in you just like you believe in yourself, and that’s when good things start happening.”

From Strategies to Advance your Career…Maybe

The Power of Inaction - Salt Lake City Ignite Presentation · February 27, 2010 · 2 comment(s)

The Power of Inaction – My Salt Lake City Ignite Presentation

I’ve just finished up my presentation for the upcoming Salt Lake City Ignite Event. Ignite is part of Oreilly’s Global Ignite Week –  speakers from all over the world will share a short 5 minute presentation including 15 slides on the topic of their choice.

My presentation, the Power of Inaction, is about an idea that I’ve had for a few years now based on the principle of inaction found in Chinese Philosophy. I decided to hand illustrate all 20 slides in the presentation, a task which turned out to be way more work than i had originally anticipated. In the end, I’ve got some fun drawings, including an impressive mullet, Chuck Norris, and more. I’ll post the full presentation and drawings after the event.

Ignite SLC will be held this coming Thursday, March 4th, 2010 from 6 – 10 pm. The event will be held in the State Room. The event is free, but there’s only room for 300 people (it is anticipated to fill up), so if you want to go, you should plan on arriving early.

I’m looking forward to the other presentations, and am expecting to have a lot of fun.

Hopefully I’ll see you there to cheer me on.

The Store is Open · February 17, 2010 · 0 comment(s)

The Store is Open

Over the past year, I’ve been working slowly but surely on completing a site to showcase and sell my artwork. The store is now up and running, and prints are waiting anxiously to be on the wall of your home. Please take a moment to read about the site, or head on over and view the work.

The store is available at: http://store.johndilworth.com

The work that is published in the store is all original work completed by me over the past few years. Now that the store is finished, I look forward to creating lots of new work instead of investing my time in computer web site programming.

Here are some highlights of the store, and some features that I hope will help people to get a better feel for the quality and originality of my work.

The store features thumbnail views of artwork collections. I’ve started by featuring the cosmic knot series and my geometric poster series

Deep Zoom

The store includes a “deep zoom” feature which allows you to get a close up look at the artwork at nearly full resolution. An important aspect of the artwork is how much detail goes into each work. Layers and layers of line are built up to create each image and pattern.

Image zooming is powered by Openzoom an open source technology that allows large high resolution images to be viewed in a way that doesn’t monopolize your computer’s bandwidth.

Multiple Sizes

Each print is available in multiple sizes. It was important when developing the prints and the site to make the artwork available in different sizes. I wanted to make sure that anyone who was interested in the work would be able to purchase something within their price range, or something that is the right size for their home or office.

There’s a print size and price for everyone

On Sale for a Limited Time

As a special for friends and readers of this web site – all unframed prints will be on sale for 50% off until the end of the February (2/31/2010). Use the promotional code “COSMIC” at checkout.

Hand Bound Sketchbooks · February 01, 2010 · 5 comment(s)

Hand Bound Sketchbooks

For the past few years, I’ve decided to do away with the Moleskin, and have started making my own sketchbooks. I’ve found that the handmade books become even more personal. I enjoy having them with me, I like decorating them—not just the pages, but the books themselves.

The books gain even more character as I carry them around, write worthless meeting notes and todo lists, and fill blank pages with doodles or art ideas. I get attached personally, and have a hard time giving them up, but also look forward to making new books when the pages are filled.

Here’s a few examples of some of my favorites:

The Golden Ratio motif cover accompanied a presentation and workshop on harmony and proportion last year.

The Sri Yantra was one of my favorite books. I used a soft hand made paper cover. The book included pockets and a hidden binding.

Metatron’s cube – and the scripture reference from Enoch are materials soon to be converted into poster designs. This book was also one of my favorites due to the doodle potential, and combination with geometric and organic shapes.

As October nears, I always get the desire to draw skulls – I love the symbolism of both death and life that accompanies the skull. This was a bit awkward carrying this one around at work, as I’m sure most viewed it and thought that I was some loser 30-something still into death metal and skull drawings on his notebook (which is ok, because it is partially true).

“Cloaked Humanity” is the latest sketchbook, decorated with a custom techno typeface, and an anti-technology quote by Neil Postman.

In the future, and if others are interested, I’ll post more about how I make these books and what I’ve found works best for me.

Cloaked Humanity · January 31, 2010 · 1 comment(s)

Cloaked Humanity

For whatever reason, tonight I ended up staying up till 2:30 AM doing nothing particularly important.

Inspired by a few letterforms I saw on a newspaper cover by Mark Manders and Marije Langelaar, I ended up making a typeface that I don’t need, a poster with a great quote from Neil Postman, and a few sketchbooks to go along with the theme.

“Cloaked Humanity” seemed like the perfect name for a typeface that looked so digital. The quote by Neil Postman is one of my favorites from his book “Technopoly”

“There is no escaping from ourselves, the human dilemma is as it has always been and we solve nothing fundamental by cloaking ourselves in technological glory.”

Here’s a photo of the sketchbook cover to go along with the poster art.