Jagged Kaleidoscope

I've been working on my fractals, but I've been lackluster in my posts.  I'm remedying that by sharing one I created yesterday.

I continue to discover random and varied formulas within my fractals program - it's definitely a fun learning and discovery process.  I feel like I'm evolving with my fractals.

This one is called Jagged Kaleidoscope.  I love the way the colors fell on this image.  

Jagged Kaleidoscpe/ C. Calhoun 2012.  

Cut and Wave

This reddish design is something created from the use of three or four filters I hadn't tried before.  


It's so fun how just a few tweaks of this and that allow you to create something completely different than other fractals I've created.  I love that - the possibilities are endless.


It took me awhile to settle on a color scheme, but when I did, I really liked the contrast of the reds, greens and blues.  I also like how the filter "cut" the fractal into compartments.

Cut and Wave / C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

I didn't make this image symmetrical, but I definitely like how it seems pretty balanced.  However, there still are oddities that happen in each quadrant, which is what helps to make this image interesting.  
Another one that I'll eventually put in the store.

Raspberry Waves

Sometimes weird words come to me when I'm thinking of titles for fractals I create.  This is one of those.  I have no idea - other than maybe some pinks and whites in this fractal - why I thought of it, but it somehow seemed to fit.

Raspberry Waves / C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

I love trying the different formulas and parameters in my fractals program.  This particular fractal isn't "swirly" like many others that I have, but I still like it because of the "metallic" feel to it.  Somehow, combining an organic name with an almost metallic image makes it seem more down to earth.

Purple Velvet

What I've been working on today is this image.  The first name that came to mind was "Purple Velvet."  I modified it in my fractals program, then further refined it in my imaging software program.  I love the colors - purple, I think, is a common color in lots of my fractals.  I'm not sure it's my favorite color or anything like that, but I love the way it "vibrates" with other colors, I think.
This was originally a "Mandelbrot" fractal.

Purple Velvet / C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

Water Wave Bliss

Oh how fun it is to create more different and varied fractals.  I continually learn more about them, how they work, varying the formulas - I feel like I could call myself a "fractal arts major" - though I've long since graduated college.
In any case, I created this after some experimentation on my part.  The image looks like purple water - at least I thought it did.  I just love the soft texture it seems to embody.  This image definitely is a more unusual one for me:

Water Wave Bliss / C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

Depending on your point of view, this could also look like a pinwheel, a warped flower or any other number of things our imaginations could conjure up.  

Two Different Fans

As I work more and more with fractals, I'm getting braver and wanting to experiment with different and more things.  
I rendered this image today.  I love the purples and lights.  It reminded me of a fan, so it's called, "Fan of the Orient":

Fan of the Orient / C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

I felt like it was a "complete enough" image.  But then I went back.  After much fiddling and diddling, I came up with this:

Fan of the Orient - Light / C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

I like the "flutter" of the second image.  
I need some votes.  Which ones do you, the readers like better?  Let me know in the comments.

Egyptian Lace

Egyptian Lace / C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

I had fun with this one.  I enjoy the range of colors, from the reds all the way to the blues.  It's pretty amazing that one color palette is so interesting over others.  I always try different colors and palettes before settling on one that I like.
After making this, I've gotten some ideas on fun things to add.  I'll be working on that over the next few days.  

Electric Fury

It's been so stormy over here the last few days.  I don't mind it, actually.  Okay, well maybe a little when my basement floor is continually flooded, but heck, it's cement.  It'll dry - in winter!


In any case, when I created this fractal today, I couldn't help but think about last night when lightning struck the electric pole only a few hundred yards away - twice.  Twice I heard this metallic popping sound and I was waiting for the electricity to go out.  


It never did and I went on happily fractalling.  If you've seen my other blog, though, in the middle of all that after the rain, it got really misty and I left my dinner on the stove - cooking on high - so I could run down the road in my PJ's just to get the perfect picture.


Alas, the life of a creative.  


So, when this image finished rendering, I had an "electric" feeling.  ZAP!

Electric Fury / C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

35 Awesome Fractals

I came across Smashing Magazine's site with a highlight of some amazing fractals.  I don't usually do the flame type of fractals - I do like my colors - but these are beautiful.  
This image is just a sampling.

This is "Untitled" by Lynn "Gracie's Mom"

What's so awesome is that it gives me ideas for future fractals.  Seeing stuff like this challenges me to want to do even more with my own fractals.  Talk about incredible imagery and precise manipulation!!  
I admit I'm still a student of fractals.  The day I can't say that, though, is the day I need to move on from this art form.  But I find the possibilities endless, so I don't see that happening anytime soon.  
Like I said, I don't do much with the flame-type fractals, but this might be an avenue for me to explore in the future.  Hmm.

Spiral Glob

This one is a little different for me.  I don't usually use the "kaleidoscope" function that much in my designs because I feel like they get too "programmed" or something.  However, I liked Spiral Glob.  It took a few tries to get it just the way I wanted it, but the purple, green and black all seem to play like something out of a merry-go-round.  


Not entirely sure on that one, but here it is:

"Spiral Glob" - (c) Cyndi Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

This also reminds me - a little bit - of a mutant ladybug.  I mean, couldn't you see slapping it on something and looking at the spots.  Ha!  
I definitely love it when I create an image that conjures up all sorts of visions for me.  This one definitely does!

Fractal Inspiration

I decided to write an article about my journey of fractals so far.  But, goodness, it's an otherworldly journey.  
Fractals and My Digital Art

I have included lots of new pictures in that article.  The following image isn't in the article, though.  It's another one that I'm not sure if it's quite finished or not.  I like the colors, but then I don't like them:

This is "Chaotic Splash" / C. Calhoun 2012.

Chaotic splash because I thought it looked a little like water dropping into fire or something like that.  I like how the red contrasts with the blue and yellow.  
But there's something that I want to do...but I'm not sure exactly what it is.  Hmm.  I've have to play with this one.  I won't consider it finished, yet.  

Ice Age

Here's one I recently created.  I think I'm partial to fractals with shades of gray and other subtle colors.  I don't know why, but I've created a number of gray fractals, not all of which I've shared here, but I'll share more for sure.  

Ice Age - (c) C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

I'm not sure why I thought of "Ice Age" when I finished this.  I suppose it was all the "cold" colors or maybe they look like little island glaciers.  Earlier in my fractal career, I created several other gray-colored fractals.  I'm definitely intrigued.  

Enigma

Here's a work in progress.  It may be finished; I'm not sure.  I'll have to stare at it awhile longer to determine if it sits well.  
Sometimes I get that "zing" when I finish something and I know it's finished.  Other times, for some reason, I have to let an image sit and see if it's still appealing to me.  
This is one of those images.  It's called Enigma. Let's see if I still like it tomorrow.

Enigma - (c) C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

Symbolic Fissure - Finished

I knew when I posted yesterday that my new fractal, Symbolic Fissure wasn't complete.  I tweaked it in a photo application.  
After playing with layers and filters, I finally came up with something that I really like:

Symbolic Fissure ~ C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

I played with some things that I normally don't do.  However, the end result is a halo-effect on the overall image.  Cool.

Symbolic Fissure

Here's one I'm working on - it's not complete, yet.  I started it late last night and I'm not satisfied with it.  However, I like the color scheme.  I might edit it in Photoshop and play around with it some more.
I had an askew image and then I hit the "symmetry" filter in my computer program.  It made it into a bilateral image.  That's actually part of why I don't like it, yet: it's sorely symmetrical.  
My goal is to work on it today to come up with a striking image that isn't so...worked up.  Ha!

It's my work in progress...I call it "Symbolic Fissure".
(c) C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

The name for this just popped into my head.  I'm not sure I'll keep it, but it's a working title.  

Roundhouse Peace Fractal

I just love an image that allows me to feel the love and experience some peace.  I completed the Roundhouse Peace fractal last evening and all day today, I've been putting the image onto products at my Zazzle store.  
I actually created a preliminary image like this, but I didn't like the stark symmetry.  I modified it in GIMP and added some "depth" to it.  When I finished it, I really liked the image.  

Roundhouse Peace Wall Clock by CCLiteratureGirl
View other Roundhouse Wall Clocks

Indeed, I might have to order this clock for myself!  :)

Black and White

This was one of my earliest fractals.  I only have a couple of items in my Zazzle store with this image on them because I hadn't yet figured out size and resolutions when it came to putting them on websites.
I find the starkness of the black and white striking, but also the greys.  I love the shades of grey. It almost seems like some microscopic neuron cell or something - at least to me.

Black and White Fractal ~ (c) C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

Hippy Rainbow Fractal

I found this "Hippy Fractal Pattern" on Zazzle's website.  I was mesmerized and I had to share.  It's beautiful.

Hippy Rainbow Fractal Pattern Poster Photographic Print by hippygiftshop
More Rainbow Photography

Zazzle Store!

I have over 100 products with the fractals I've created at my online store, powered through Zazzle.

I'm still building this store, but it has all my fractals on different products.  

Jeweled Islands

"Jeweled Islands" - (c) C. Calhoun 2012.  All rights reserved.

When I finished this fractal, the first thing I was thought was, "Jeweled Islands".  All my fractals are 2-D - not 3D - and this is one I completed with just a few tweaks of my Mandelbrot equation (Mandelbrot is a type of formula for a fractal).  I tweaked the colors and didn't use any filters.  I just liked the image as-is.  
Jeweled Islands...they make me think about something in the Caribbean.