Robot Art – Cool Robot Series – Robot Spray Painting Self Portrait in Shades

{ August 7, 2008 @ 8:58 pm } · { abstract surrealism, art, painting, pop art, pop surrealism, robot, urban art }
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This is the third robot from my recent series.  I call it the Cool Robot Series, but may change the name to Robots in Shades.  But I guess that depends on whether or not future robots have shades on.  I am not sure they will. 

Robot Spray Painting Self Portrait in Shades, Acrylic, 18″x10″

This is such a ridiculous series.  So stupid that I am really loving it.  I am also doing something real neat with these.  After I paint them, I feed the paintings into my painting art robot, Zanelle, so that she can make her own version.

Right now Zanelle is painting a 24″x24″ version of Cool Robot #1 (last blog).  But when that is done I will have her paint this robot.  How cool will that be?  A robot painting a robot painting a robot!?!?!  Awesome.

Pindar

Cool Robots – Two New Robot Paintings Inspired by Nephew’s Challenge

{ August 7, 2008 @ 10:43 am } · { art, painting, urban art }
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As I have mentioned before, my nephew has been giving me ideas for robot paintings recently.  I basically try and paint a robotic version of whatever he tells me to.  The following two paintings are examples of a failure gone good.  The challenge was to paint a Robotic Piano…  I tried twice, and failed twice.  Each of the following paintings started with robotic pianos, then instead, ended up as robotic musicians. 

Cool Robots 1, Acrylic on Wood, 10″x7″

Not sure why I think of the above robots as musicians, but they just look like a blues band to me. 

Cool Robots 2, Acrylic on Wood, 10″x7″

Same with this double portrait.  It looks like one of those portraits of two celebrities hanging out at a club or music event.  So maybe I couldn’t pull off a cool looking Robot Piano, but it is what it is. 

At least these started off as robotic pianos.  I wish I had time lapse pictures of the creative process and how these evolved.  There was a piano in each of these at one point, honest.  Maybe after I die and they are x-raying my paintings, they will discover them…

Pindar

Printmaking or Painting, Two Versions of Mechagodzilla Painted by Zanelle, my Art Robot

{ August 7, 2008 @ 1:58 am } · { art, Godzilla, painting, retro robots, robot, technology }
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Previously, I posted a painting of Mechagodzilla that was painted by my art robot, Zanelle.  I have recently made a second version of it.  This version, pictured below uses a different brush pattern than the first one. 

Instead of painting only in a single direction, like in the first image pictured below, the new Mechagodzilla painting paints countours.  Other differences is that the new one (above) was painted on wood, while the original was painted on a stretched canvas.

The new Mechagodzilla is available for sale in an auction on ebay.  Bidding starts at $200.  The auction ends on August 13, 2008 if you are interested.  The first Mechagodzilla painting has already sold…

Pindar

Multiple Panel Astro Boy Pop Art Painting/Prints by My Robot

{ August 4, 2008 @ 3:16 pm } · { art, painting, pop art, retro robots, robot }
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Peope are always asking me how well my painting art robot can replicate paintings.  I never really go for reproduction, but I love to paint a single image with it over and over again and then tile them.  Below is an 18 panel and 9 panel painting of Astro Boy.

The painting / print above is 30″x16″. 

The image to the right is 16″x16″. I am always painting retro robots and recently unique robots of my own creation.  Check out my ebay store (in the links menu) to see the work that is currently available for purchase. Prices range from $80-$1200.

 

Pindar

Recent Portraits Created With My Painting Art Robot Zanelle

{ August 2, 2008 @ 2:18 pm } · { art, painting, portraits, robot, technology }
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Below are a couple of recent portraits made by my painting art robot Zanelle.  Unlike the typical art robot, she is capable of representational imagery.  She paints with a brush on canvas.  A video of her painting can be seen at www.vanarman.com or in the links tab on this page.  The robot and I paint portraits for $200 a face.  Email me if you are interested in one.

The first painting below is of a couple getting married. 

 Below is a present for a wife.

 And below is a portrait commissioned by a father for his son.

 Pindar

Robo-Walrus Painting by my Art Robot, Zanelle

{ July 31, 2008 @ 5:04 pm } · { painting, pop art }
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Introducing Robo-Walrus!!! (a Zanelle Painting)

Robo-Walrus #2, 12×16 inches, Acrylic on Canvas

My nephew put a poem together that best describes the creature featured in my latest painting.

———————-

I am a creature from the deep ocean
though I have no emotion
built by a criminal mastermind
the only one of my kind

Ray Barlow

———————-

Not sure why I am fascinated by a robotic walrus.  Maybe it is because it is such a ridiculous idea.  Of all the robots one could make, why would one make one of a walrus.  They are so unwieldy.  Anyways, the painting above is available for purchase from me for $300.  There is also another version available for purchase at the Art Whino Gallery in Washington DC (www.artwhino.com).

Like all my paintings, Robo Walrus #2 was painted by Zanelle, my painting art robot.  For more details and to see how she paints, click on the movie link in my links section.

Pindar

New Robotic Head Installed on Zanelle, a Painting Art Robot

{ July 30, 2008 @ 1:48 am } · { development, general, painting, robot, technology }
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In a post long ago I promised to show a history of robotic heads used by my painting art robot, Zanelle.  Here it finally is.  Below are pictures of the first three robotic heads that were used to hold a brush and apply brush strokes to canvas.  None of these are being used any longer.  They have been replaced by my fourth and fifth robotic head, the fifth one is pictured even further below.

The first head was absurd (top).  A hand wrapped electro magnet that worked so poorly I had to have counter weights on the opposite side of the brush.  But it made cool strokes.  Unfortunately it only lasted a couple of weeks before I replaced it.

The second head was awesome (middle).  Completely hand made primarily with wood, this robotic head painted for over a year without failure.  I just retired it today and replaced it with a new head.  Its only problem was that it would overheat and loose electromagnetic strength the longer it was in operation.

The third head was acceptable (bottom). It worked O.K., but didn’t have the style of the second.  Also, it would jam occasionally.  That is why when the fourth robotic head was constructed, I replacedis one with it instead of the second.

The fourth robotic head (unpictured), looks very similar to the fifth robotic head which is pictured below.  It was designed and fabricated by Jacobus McKenzie.  It does a majority of my paintings these days.

The fifth robotic head (above), was just installed on one of my painting robots.  It too was designed and fabricated by Jacobus McKenzie.  I worked with him to make a couple of improvements over the fourth one.  I do not know how well it works yet as it is currently in the middle of a test run.

Will keep you updated…

Pindar

Audience Produces Paintings with an Interactive Art Robot

{ July 26, 2008 @ 1:33 pm } · { art, interactive, painting, robot, technology }
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Multiple audience members created paintings with my art robot, Zanelle, at the opening of the FLIK Interactive Art Exhibition last night (July 26, 2008).  A video of how she paints with a brush on canvas can be seen at www.vanarman.com, or in the link bar on this blog.

At times there was a line of several people waiting to give the robot a shot.  At first people were shy but once samples of audience work started piling up on the robot, everyone seemed to want to make a painting with it.  Below is some of my favorite audience produced work.

 

I particularly like the walrus.  It was painted by someone who told me they could not draw very well.  I told her not to worry about that and loaded a picture of a walrus into the art application that is used to control my robot.  She then traced the walrus and came out with what I consider a dramatic piece.

Some people traced while others free-handed.  Below is a painting of a robot called “CC6”.  It was designed by a 7 year old who made 3 or 4 practice robots before finally arriving at his final design.

 The second night of the opening will begin tonight at 6:00 PM (July 26, 2008).  Come by the Washington D.C. National Harbor to try your hand at painting with an art robot.

Pindar

Interactive Painting Art Robot on Exhibit at FLIK Interactive – Come Make a Painting With It

{ July 25, 2008 @ 3:46 am } · { art, general, interactive, painting, robot }
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My painting art robot, Zanelle, is now interactive.  If you are unfamiliar with Zanelle, she is a robot that paints on just about any flat surface with a brush and artists grade paints.  You can see a video of her painting in my links tab or at www.vanarman.com.   There are several samples of our art work at this link as well.

Anyways, I had it out and ready for interactive use in a pre-opening at the FLIK Interactive Art exhibition (@ Art Whino in Washington D.C.’s National Harbor).  Also on display were three of my works with Zanelle…

Using either a mouse or drawing pad, people were able to use Zanelle to make their own paintings.  I have the drawing interface set up at a child’s art table.  I intended it for children, but as can be seen, adults and even entire families were using Zanelle to paint.

I did not know what to expect, but I thought what people chose to paint was pretty cool.  I will post some samples as more are made.  But people typically had a go-to image that they knew they could draw well, and they then simply tried making that image, except with the robot.  Some examples: one made an R2-D2, another a pumpkin, and several just scribbled.

Near the end of the night, both the children in this family made paintings.  One was a design that looked like several stars and the other was a house.  I wish I had taken pictures so I could show them here…

Pindar

Zanelle, My Painting Robot, and I Interviewed for International Television Show

{ July 21, 2008 @ 8:19 pm } · { art, general, painting, portraits, robot, technology }
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I just finished with an interview about my art robot for an international television show.  It was an interesting experience.  I have done interviews before, but rarely do the interviewers seem to get what I am doing.  These guys really did. 

Anyways one of the things that they asked me to do before the interview is demonstrate how my robot paints portraits.  They suggested an image of Einstein.  Below is one of three samples I made for the feature.  It is 12×16 on stretched canvas…

I will post the other two portraits later.  They are of the same image with different brushstrokes.  Below are some pictures of the production and crew in my studio.  My studio has never been cleaner…

Anyways, I will post details and a link to the feature once I get it from the producers.  You never know how you will be portrayed in media until you see the actual story, and it is always interesting to see what people think about you. 

Pindar

 

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