The featured 6′ x 3′ x 2″ mixed media is available in the Shop. For inquiries, please e-mail: sarah.ikerd@studio-shangri-la.com WHAT: This large conceptual mixed media is from 2023, and it’s two large terraced recycled canvases with upcycled textile strips. Other materials include prominent mica, acrylic paints, and water based spray paints and glosses. HOW: MakingContinue reading “Featured Mixed Media Painting: Fabricate::Recreate”
Category Archives: #art
The OCTAVES Music Album Release Update
Artemis Amenti Modern Melt 7.26.24 The most recent OCTAVES Music release is material from 2022-2023. And this album has more of a alternative pop flavor. The narrative is very much of the now with the philosophical flower power theme. The cover art is Studio Shangri-La’s “Flower Fusion Reactor Core.” Artemis Amenti Blue Shift Red ShiftContinue reading “The OCTAVES Music Album Release Update”
”Electric Echoes” Album Release On OCTAVES Music
This 6 movement concert work on OCTAVES Music has been released as a 45 minute album — please see the links below — and is up for nomination for an award. The published score, and libretto, is forthcoming. The impetus to complete the full concert work, and particularly an opera, was given steam by applyingContinue reading “”Electric Echoes” Album Release On OCTAVES Music”
Upcoming On OCTAVES Music: Release of “Electric Echoes” Tech Opera Album
Out Friday May 17th is the finale movement of the Electric Echoes cosmic tech opera, and then May 24th, the full remastered album, a six movement piece for orchestral ensemble and a chorus of character singers: Mvt. 1: The Digital Overture 2: Aria Of The Cosmos 3: Dialogue Of The Stars 4: We Are TheContinue reading “Upcoming On OCTAVES Music: Release of “Electric Echoes” Tech Opera Album”
Colorfield Light Photography
Accompanying recent research and experimentation with light, this is a new series of photographs that look like abstract colorfield paintings, yet they are realistically the behaviors of light, or sunlight shining on reflective or diffractive surfaces. They can be produced in a few different formats, including digital. Here’s the shop link: https://studioshangrila.myshopify.com/collections/colorfield. These are alsoContinue reading “Colorfield Light Photography”
The Abstract Realism Of Nature
The colorful photography seen here looks abstract, yet it’s also realistic. “Light Angel” is sunlight shining on diffraction grating paper to produce beautiful spectral line patterns and accompanies current research; “Magentropy” is an edited close-up of cracking paint. While for many paintings the cracking effect would be considered degradation or breakdown that art restoration attemptsContinue reading “The Abstract Realism Of Nature”
Studio Shangri-La Lab Notes: From Plastic To Water By Photochemistry
To say that the successful and so far safe transformation, or alchemization, from plastic to water is a pleasant surprise is an understatement. I’m excited on different levels – pun intended – to discover that the ideal expected outcome is possible, of safely using UV lights to photocatalyze plastic into water is practical. There areContinue reading “Studio Shangri-La Lab Notes: From Plastic To Water By Photochemistry”
OCTAVES Music Update: Tech Opera, Deep Techno & Alt Pop
Out just yesterday is the 4th movement of the Electric Echoes cosmic tech opera, “We Are The Tech Of The Tech Of The Tech.” The complete opera will be 9 movements. This movement is about one form of life stemming from the next and being interconnected. Each mythological character in this movement embodies a realm,Continue reading “OCTAVES Music Update: Tech Opera, Deep Techno & Alt Pop”
Studio Shangri-La Lab Notes: Monitoring Emissions Pt. 2 + Managing Prototype Design
Recently I completed a course on Agile Project Management, and that has been a great accompaniment to beginning the prototype build for a portable photocatalytic or photodegradation system. One important point before proceeding with the fun testing is that all the components truly fulfill the design and product requirements, and address any issues directly asContinue reading “Studio Shangri-La Lab Notes: Monitoring Emissions Pt. 2 + Managing Prototype Design”
OCTAVES Music Update: Electric Echoes Movement 3 — Dialogue Of The Stars
This next upcoming movement in the serial cosmic tech opera is “Dialogue Of The Stars” featuring a 6 vocal parts or characters and string quintet that includes double bass. In preparing the score for release with the final album, the electronic percussion could substituted with more traditional orchestral instruments. And I enjoy releasing it thisContinue reading “OCTAVES Music Update: Electric Echoes Movement 3 — Dialogue Of The Stars”
Technology + Philosophy: Self-Creation & Recursion
Human technology is a branch in the giant bifurcation (tree) of creation, bifurcation being a pattern of morphogenesis and let’s be fair, emerging from plant and animal evolutionary technology. Escher’s famous drawing illustrates how creation emanates from the hands, and the “strange loop” as Douglas Hofstadter put it in GEB, between creator and creation. “DrawingContinue reading “Technology + Philosophy: Self-Creation & Recursion”
Studio Multimedia Update + New Gallery Store
First of all, here’s the new gallery store, with a group of new pieces – including “Palm Husk Silhouettes” seen above – in the “Tropic Modern” collection: STUDIO SHANGRI-LA ON SHOPIFY This is in addition to linked partner stores on the Shop page. The store is also synced with my Instagram where there will beContinue reading “Studio Multimedia Update + New Gallery Store”
Featured Artwork: “Gnosis” A 48 Print Charcoal Series
GNOSIS I on Amazon GNOSIS II — Paradise Found ”Gnosis” is a large 18”x24” charcoal series from 2018. It’s a channeled work, that occured in and around meditation- the first time in life I engaged in it *at length* and in earnest. The production of Gnosis I was quite feverish, whereas the next volume(s) muchContinue reading “Featured Artwork: “Gnosis” A 48 Print Charcoal Series”
Light + Perception: Photons, Phosphenes & Dreams
How we see or perceive with the senses affects how we describe and categorize things, and the significance and purposes we assign to them. Even the most “data driven” type of person views through a unique lens of life experiences and within a set of shifting emotional states. And there’s great beauty in that, givenContinue reading “Light + Perception: Photons, Phosphenes & Dreams”
Studio Shangri-La Art & Music Update
FIrst up in the art department, here are a few new nature portraits, thanks to the tropical South Beach Miami flora. They are all three silhouettes for a dramatic modern effect, and available on TurningArt and Saatchi Art in multiple formats. Next is a throwback to 2018, a series of fifty original 18”x24” charcoal drawings calledContinue reading “Studio Shangri-La Art & Music Update”
Featured Artwork: “Fabricate::Recreate” 7’x3’ Mixed Media
”Fabricate::Recreate” is a large mixed media on deep canvas that incorporates recycled fabrics and is covered in layers with acrylics, mica and water based spray paint. It took me a few months to complete. The theme is the ongoing process of personal and cosmic transformation or fabrication of “prima materia,” the primordial starting material. ItContinue reading “Featured Artwork: “Fabricate::Recreate” 7’x3’ Mixed Media”
Artist’s Log: Epic Visions With AI
First, I am still very much enjoying making physical artwork. The entrance of AI is definitely a compelling presence that I’ve used as a rendering tool lately. For an oil painting that I’m doing, which is a new challenge for me, the AI program helped to determine the layout for the subject matter. The renderingsContinue reading “Artist’s Log: Epic Visions With AI”
“Translations” Mixed Media: Electromagnetic Signatures Of The Soul
”Translations” is a recently completed ink, acrylic and plastic mixed media and part of my recent ‘Electro Skulls’ three series, consisting of “Drip” and “Electrocardiogram.” This is foremost dedicated to the electromagnetic spectrum and its interpretations from math, science, spirituality — hence all the symbols, with particular attention to those from physics and electromagnetism, andContinue reading ““Translations” Mixed Media: Electromagnetic Signatures Of The Soul”
Art, AI & Ethics: The Making Of “All Souls”
“All Souls” is my first earnest oil painting, and a 4’x3’ at that. It’s in a realistic style, although the scene is surreal: As you can see from the Wombo Dream.AI demo, the subject is a white mouse, unfortunately often bred as a test subject. Its innocence here is highlighted by the rainbow bridge inContinue reading “Art, AI & Ethics: The Making Of “All Souls””
Art + Science: “Electrocardiogram” & “Infinite Metamorphosis”
“Electrocardiogram” is 4’x3’ painting based on the skull as a symbol of life. The structure of bone is built on a hexagonal crystalline apatite structure. And the hexagonal or carbon ring you can see at the center of “Infinite Metamorphosis.” The hexagon is a fundamental shape of life’s chemistry. The fall leaves are the transitionContinue reading “Art + Science: “Electrocardiogram” & “Infinite Metamorphosis””
Studio Multimedia Update: Art & Music, Podcast
The latest output from the studio includes a few “hi-tech” botanicals that transition into fall with the color scheme. The florals have proven popular and are always fun to make. (Art is watermarked here.) Unlike a lot of the music cover art lately, I do not use AI for photography, and certainly not for theContinue reading “Studio Multimedia Update: Art & Music, Podcast”