New Technology Sends Pulsations Through Art World

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Birmingham, Alabama

1 April 2015

Water No-Color Painting

The DS Art Studio is excited to announce the development of a new digitally-based art form with the deceptively simple title of Water Painting.

Alabama artists Don Stewart and Sue Ellen Brown, working with a team of students from the Industrial Design and Engineering departments at Auburn University, have created a new computerized program that allows artists to ‘paint’ the surface of an enclosed body of water, revealing complex, detailed images in vibrant relief.

Using a proprietary software algorithm to synchronize an array of submerged wave generators and micro-pulsating water jets around the periphery of a swimming pool, the husband and wife team of artists has managed to create a programmable system that transforms the surface of the water into recognizable images.

“This amazing technique comprises nothing less than an entirely new medium of artistic expression,” said illustrator and portraitist Sue Ellen Brown, who headed the project.

“Virtually anything you can paint with a brush can now be reproduced in tiny waves of water.”

Brown explained that it’s easy to make circles appear, just by dropping a pebble into a pool. Multiple pebbles make circles that interact with one another, generating more complex, random shapes. The challenge, according to Brown, was to make sense out of the chaos.

“This is our version of the Mona Lisa,” says artist Don Stewart, Brown’s husband and co-owner of the DS Art Studio in Homewood, Alabama, where the new ‘painting’ process was invented.

Stewart stands poolside at the local YMCA, and touches a series of icons on his iPad. The flat surface of the water thrums to life. Within seconds the enigmatic image of Leonardo’s most famous portrait shimmers into focus. A moment later the scene shifts, morphing into Van Gogh’s Starry Night.

“It’s really just a matter of manipulating interference patterns,” says Stewart, who readily admits his lack of understanding of the math required to create the team’s undulating artworks. “It’s unbelievably complicated,” he says. “But that’s why we have computers, isn't it?”

According to the artists, this latest technological advancement offers all sorts of possibilities within the fine art world and beyond, from decorating competitive venues at collegiate and Olympic events, to customizing private pools with portraits of the owners and their pets.

“Imagine, swimmers mount the podium to receive their medals, and the entire pool vibrates into the shape of that country’s flag. That would be impressive, don't you think?” said Brown.

www.ZooLNArt.com 

The patent-pending process is currently being adapted for home use, so that people can view pre-programmed art, and design original water-works for their bathtubs and garden reflecting pools.

A micro version of the device could even allow baristas to paint detailed foam images on the surface of espresso orders.

“We’re considering making it an app, so that everyone can use their cell phones to water-paint.” Stewart said.

The artists are seeking investors and potential distributors to further develop their concept. “I can't wait to see what kind of a splash this new technology makes in the Shark Tank,” Brown quips.

Contact:

Don Stewart                www.DSArt.com

Sue Ellen Brown         www.ZooLNArt.com

DS Art Studio Gallery

2805 Crescent Ave

Homewood, Alabama 35209

205-802-4700

1-800-372-7864

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Black Hawks Go Hue-y: Artists Add Color to Military

Birmingham artists Don Stewart and Sue Ellen Brown have forged some surprising alliances with the military in recent years. Stewart’s complex historical drawings have drawn attention and much needed funds to the plight of wounded warriors in the US Army, the Air Force, and the Marines.

Now the team has been asked to add color to the Army’s Black Hawk program. 'Operation Rainbow Hawk' will investigate the possibility of adding a new color spectrum to the livery of an attack helicopter squadron at the Army Aviation headquarters in Fort Rucker.

UH-60 Blackhawk - photo courtesy of Mu Yeol Lee

Gone are the matte blacks and olive drabs that have marked battlefield aircraft since the Second World War.

“It’s kind of an experimental approach,” Stewart said, “With emphasis on the more mental aspects. We’ve been asked to develop new superficial design schemes for a number of purposes, from innovative, “visual stealth” camouflage to public relations and morale. Just thinking of the phrase “Black Ops”, for example, brings all sorts of negative emotional connotations that may not be sympatico with the direction and focus of our modern armed forces.”

Of note is the artists’ plan to outfit the helicopters with advanced urethane coatings, that use tromp l’oeil techniques to fool the eyes of passers by.

“So far we have decked out an old UH-60 helicopter, so it’s now virtually indistinguishable from a vintage school bus,” Stewart said. The artist stated that one such aircraft has been situated in the parking lot of the Galleria mall for over a month without anyone being the wiser, other than noting the unusual amount of engine noise at take-off and landing.

Artistic "Bus" treatment -  photo courtesy Greg Gjerdingen

 “It’s all about using the right palette to create the proper mood,” said Brown, a portraitist and illustrator who is just now applying her talents to military subjects. “It’s fun watching the expressions on peoples’ faces – or the lack of it – when they encounter one of our camouflaged vehicles.”

What’s up next for the team?  “The Navy has asked us to help them re-think the whole ‘navy blue’ thing. That ought to keep us busy for a while yet,” Brown said.

Making Movies, Standing Still

Thanks to the magic of do-it-yourself movie-making software, the DS Art studio has begun producing a series of fun little videos, featuring the artwork of DonStewart and Sue Ellen Brown.

Actually, Sue Ellen does all of the heavy lifting on these projects. Don sits nearby bothering her with inane questions and comments, like “That looks too dark,” or “Can you make it scroll backwards?” and “Shouldn't we add another comma there?”

Sue patiently works her digital wizardry, and before long we have another masterpiece to add to the collection. What used to be still, silent drawings and paintings come alive with movement, narration, and mood-moving background music. She even throws in some clever sound effects now and then for good measure.

So grab a friend and a bowl of popcorn, and come take a look: 

DSArtVideos