Abstractart - Blog Posts

Here is another painting of a fu-dog statue from a different perspective near Sensoji Temple. These puppers are hard to miss on your virtuous travel to Asakusa and provide protection against evil spirits and unhinged in-laws. Safe travels. 🐕 . . . . . #painter #artistsoninstagram #art #artist #oilpainting #acrylicpainting #artwork #tokyo #asakusa #temple #japan #painting #color #delphianopencall @delphiangallery #abstractart (at Sensoji Temple, Asakusa) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtuWXsuBr6U/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wdad1sfaooer

Detail shots of the new racing themed paintings at Insight. . . . . . #art #sacramento #gallery #racing #painting #artist #artwork #painter #oilpainting #abstractart #delphianopencall @delphiangallery #artistsoninstagram (at Insight Coffee Roasters) https://www.instagram.com/p/BthuKv9hbM2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cp2xeiuzg8c5

Circuit. 10 x 8 inches. 2018. This piece is part of the Vroom Vroom show at @insightcoffee Southside Park location in Sacramento, CA. The show will be up from January 19 - March 23, 2019. To see more works from this show, click on my website link in bio. For pricing, please email or DM. . . . . . #painter #gallery #painting #artist #oilpainting #oil #acrylicpainting #artistsoninstagram #artwork #racing #landscape #formula1 #race #pattern #color #abstractart #abstract #contemporaryart #sacramento https://www.instagram.com/p/BtJbeaAhb0F/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=udujobpic5xo

WIP . . . . . #paintings #paint #art #artist #artwork #landscape #wip #acrylicpainting #gallery #abstractart #workinprogress https://www.instagram.com/p/BoYFnlvlxrU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qbvtx5zr3ocq

The more I look for answers, the more I’m left with questions. . . . . . #painting #art #artwork #artist #tokyo #oilpainting #artistsoninstagram #tonyhuynh #gallery #acrylicpainting #japan #creative #contemporaryart #drawing #artworks #paint #oilpainter #fineart #abstractart #abstractpainting #draw #artgallery #contemporary #paintings #seafood #fish #fishmarket #fishsticks (at Tsukiji Fish Market（築地魚河岸）)

About a year ago now is when Josh McCausland and I first wrapped production of the Color of a Mirror soundtrack, and sent it off for pressing! (The above photo is an abstract shot of the first test pressing sleeve.)

After the post the other day about the Full Moon Bundle (containing the limited vinyl release) I wanted to take a moment of special mention for this soundtrack and what it means to me.

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One of my biggest loves (and frustrations) of a show or video game is the music. When it’s done right, it’s one of those things that gives you chills, and you can’t wait to return to that universe, can’t wait to hear that title card music at the start of the next episode. (Like launching the original Mass Effect and hearing that menu music.) On the flip side, it can derail the whole experience for me… or at least make it far less memorable, because music often sets the scene for me.

This extends to when I’m writing, as well. Depending on the mood or the emotion, I’ll find different songs that fit that character or scene. And then lots of times, I’ll have that selection on repeat for a few days. Haha.

So being able to collaborate with a composer on the sound of this dark cyberpunk universe I’d been writing for a handful of years, trying to pull on all those ambient/sci-fi/industrial influences but also create something that felt new, something that could be listened to while you’re reading or on its own… it was really an amazing experience, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we came up with!

It all started with just two images that I sent to Josh; I said, “This is the vibe.” (He hadn’t read the book at that point, and I was thinking he was just going to make a single promo song for me.) When he came back to me with about ten different options, making it super difficult to choose, I knew the project had to be a full album. Iterating back and forth with him and seeing his process, taking some of those initial hooks and tying them together… so much fun!

The title track “Color of a Mirror” was one of those original concepts that I just couldn’t get enough of. The sound for the rest of the album was really born there, I think.

All in all, it’s such an honor to see my vision of this novel through someone else’s skill and expertise in an entirely different discipline. Such a pleasure, and I cannot wait to work on Vol. 2 together!

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Check out the soundtrack on Bandcamp to give Josh some love:

(Also available on major streaming platforms.)

And if you want to check out the book as well, head over to my website.

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Thanks for reading!

-Daniel

Still one of my favorite images of the surface of the moon. The contrast, the austerity… it speaks so strongly to my minimalist self.

This image features on the custom endsheets of the COLOR OF A MIRROR limited edition hardcover, providing a really cool shift from the black of the cover to the white of the pages.

Only 100 hardcover copies printed. Find it here:

colorofamirror.net

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Image credit: NASA & Project Apollo Archive

Custom Edits/Formatting: Me/ArtificeLux

Physical 3D artwork for Kickstarter rewards. Made entirely of paper. And glue.

(The little corner dots were late additions and really brought this design together.)

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Check out colorofamirror.net to buy the book that was funded by these amazing backers!

COLOR OF A MIRROR

Back when the book was just press sheets.

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One thing I’m super excited about with this book is that instead of chapter titles, I created abstract ideograms that reflect the stage of the story/characters in that chapter. Hopefully as you’re reading, you feel how the chapter pairs with the image.

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Again, if you’re looking for something a little bit different or out of the ordinary this Black Friday/Cyber(punk) Monday weekend, the book is out now, and you can support independent publishing by ordering direct from my site!

colorofamirror.net

IT’S GONNA BE A REAL THING!

What a month. Ups and downs and everything in between. But yes, you read that right. The Kickstarter for my cyberpunk novel and dark ambient soundtrack is FULLY FUNDED!

I can’t wait to get the final stages of this project underway in the next months, and for everyone to get the chance to read this book!

For anyone who may still want to join in, there are still 30 hours left! And if you back now, it’s a sure thing—you’re getting this novel! And at the same time, supporting an independent publishing and music project that doesn’t fit in the normal bounds.

Check out the link below, and who knows, maybe if enough people jump on board, we’ll unlock the first of those stretch goals!

Prose + Soundtrack + Art = Color of a Mirror

^ this is what this project is all about ^

The newest in my motion design previews, incorporating one of my favorite descriptions in the book, a Vangelis-level soundtrack moment from Josh McCausland (song titled “The Taste Was Blue”), and some brutalist artwork (also by me)… multiple disciplines coming together into a single experience.

If this multi-sensory approach intrigues you or if you just want to support an independent publishing venture that strives to upend the norm and the status quo, I’d be thrilled if you’d check out the Kickstarter project link below.

Ends the day after Cyberpu… I mean, Cyber Monday.

Kickstarter

Color of a Mirror: Dark Science Fiction Novel and Soundtrack

A cerebral, slow-burn narrative about mental instability and the lies we tell ourselves, coupled with a cinematic dark ambient score.

Final Week!

The Kickstarter is winding down, and I’m full of gratitude for those who’ve backed my vision for this independent dark science fiction project. Of currently-active Fiction Publishing projects on Kickstarter, “Color of a Mirror” is the 9th most-funded. In the world. That’s absolutely incredible to me!

Why, then, is the project not yet funded?

Well, largely because I’m not content with producing a hardcover or softcover book as cheaply as possible. I want this book to be a work of art in and of itself, to feel like it came from a big-name publisher, despite me being just one person. I want to work with a printer that strives for that same type of quality in the options they offer, that gives me the ability to customize this book in a way that makes it sing.

Beyond that, however, I’m also trying to do a limited pressing of a vinyl for the soundtrack. All my metrics for how big a run to do of these various items to make them cost-effective, cross-referenced with a feasible amount of money to raise, has landed me on the $15,000 mark.

(I’m encouraged that there’s currently a novella project from an established, published author that had a goal of $10,000, making me feel like my higher goal was not so far off.)

This may be a bit of a ramble, but I hope it’s an honest look at how I’m thinking about this project, and what I’m trying to achieve.

There’s still time to back! No matter the tier you choose, every little bit helps. It’s going to take a mega-surge this final week to get to fully-funded, but I whole-heartedly believe we can get there.

Ends the day after Cyber Monday, in celebration of the cyberpunk story that it is.

Now, let’s go get higher on that most-funded list!

-Dan/ArtificeLux

Kickstarter

Color of a Mirror: Dark Science Fiction Novel and Soundtrack

A cerebral, slow-burn narrative about mental instability and the lies we tell ourselves, coupled with a cinematic dark ambient score.

Back with another look at the soundtrack! This time featuring “Closer to the Dead” (as always, by ultra-talented Josh McCausland)!

The video on this one is a little different than those that have come before… still abstract, but really hinting at certain elements of the book as well. Secrets abound…

There’s still time to back the Kickstarter for the exclusive vinyl release of the soundtrack, and the deluxe-hardcover novel, all with designs by me. There are other rewards (including digital copies and softcover) as well, so hopefully a little something for everyone!

It’s gonna take a big push this final week to get it over the line, but I’m holding out hope it can happen. Every little bit helps, so if you’re interested, I’d be thrilled for you to check out the link below:

“File Already Exists… Overwrite?” is the title of this newest song. Josh McCausland really channeled the Vangelis/Blade Runner vibes on this one, taking it much darker and brooding. And of course, some brutalist artwork of mine to match.

The Kickstarter seems kinda stalled at the moment, but all is not lost! We’ve made great progress so far, and I’m trying to spread the word and gain exposure, so we’ll see how the rest of the month plays out.

If you want to check out the project, the link is below:

A first look at the soundtrack element of this project! So excited to have Josh McCausland’s massive talent creating the moody sounds of this dark sci-fi universe!

This song is entitled “Sensory Deprivation” and will feature on the Color of a Mirror original soundtrack, as part of my multi-disciplinary novel/soundtrack/design experience.

(Motion graphics and design by me.)

If you like what you see and hear, there’s only 10 days left in the Kickstarter! Check out the link below, and thanks for looking!

New Excerpt! And a character we haven’t yet seen in this series of sneak peeks!

Definitely a good look at the tone and writing style of the book.

Like what you see? Check out the Kickstarter, running through Nov. 29 to get in on this independently-published book and ambient soundtrack!

Building some strong momentum over the last few days, and we’re now one-sixth of the way there! So many thank yous to everyone who’s already joined!

Let’s keep it going! Join the independent publishing party, and show your support for non-traditional science fiction storytelling experiences! Check out the link below:

A brief excerpt of the main character in my upcoming novel COLOR OF A MIRROR.

Now on Kickstarter. Check it out below!

Kickstarter

Color of a Mirror: Dark Science Fiction Novel and Soundtrack

A cerebral, slow-burn narrative about mental instability and the lies we tell ourselves, coupled with a cinematic dark ambient score.

-N7 Day 2022-

As mentioned yesterday, here’s my new minimalist Mass Effect title card!

I’m a big fan of title sequences (and main menus in games) as the choice of art and music really sets the tone for the whole experience from that initial moment. This is one of the many things Mass Effect does so successfully, and I love playing with these moments as it allows me to do fanart of a favorite series, while still hanging out in my typography/graphic design happy place.

For this year, I wanted to explore a more alien design, maybe a strange new world we could visit in a new Mass Effect. I love doing minimal, restricted color palettes with different textures providing the details and variations. This idea was born from the classic N7 red for the text, which then spread to the planetary surface in the background.

And then these mysterious obsidian orbs hovering over these impact craters. Or maybe scorch marks... One of my favorite things in ME1 was discovering those weird ruins on random worlds, often with the single chrome sphere hovering over the surface. I wanted these orbs to hearken back to those moments, but also be different.

That’s all I’ve got. Thanks as always to Bioware for creating these games, and I look forward to new adventures in the future!

For now, though, I should go.

Interested in spicing up your phone or computer with some new art? Well, backing my Kickstarter at any of the listed tiers will also unlock a download of high-quality, digital wallpapers as a special thank you!

A collection of bright neons, dark shadows, typography, brutalism, and minimalist designs, it’ll be a fun pack celebrating some of the different promo images I’ve made for the campaign.

Check it out at the link below:

Kickstarter

Color of a Mirror: Dark Science Fiction Novel and Soundtrack

A cerebral, slow-burn narrative about mental instability and the lies we tell ourselves, coupled with a cinematic dark ambient score.

Some stills from the minimalist intro/title reveal video I created for the Kickstarter.

Had a lot of fun learning about After Effects while working on this, and I hope to make more abstract art videos like this in the future!

Within the first 48 hours, the project was already past 5% funded, which I’m super pleased with! Still a ways to go, but it’s a great start.

(If you wanna check out the full video complete with 75 seconds of the epic soundtrack, follow this link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/artificelux/color-of-a-mirror-dark-science-fiction-novel-and-soundtrack )

IT’S ALIVE!

(Still feeling the spooky Halloween vibes apparently.)

But for real though, this book I’ve been working on for years and the soundtrack that goes along with it are finally available on Kickstarter. I couldn’t be more excited... also terrified. But also excited. Haha.

I always tried to take part in NaNoWriMo back in the day, and always stalled out after a few days. (Now I understand that that ultra-concentrated format just doesn’t mesh with my process.) Maybe this year, though, I can turn that around and do a NaNoPubMo.

If you’re interested, here’s the link:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/artificelux/color-of-a-mirror-dark-science-fiction-novel-and-soundtrack

Come experience my dark future version of the moon!

Just a short excerpt teaser, trying not to give anything away from one of my favorite parts of the book.

(Also. The Kickstarter pre-campaign page is active. You can save the page or get notified when the campaign goes live on Nov. 01!)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/artificelux/color-of-a-mirror-dark-science-fiction-novel-and-soundtrack

It feels more and more real at each step of the way, and I’m so excited for people to finally get to join me in this dark future.

•Never Normal•

Another small peek at the first chapter. Plus a new abstract design.

•Duality•

Dark Alleys. Bright Shadows.

•3RTL•

Ominous. Omen-ous. Portents of things to come.

•2BRTL•

Mixing up more digital concrete, this time paired with a pop of 80s color blocking.

A story about the lies we tell ourselves, exploring the crossroads of psychosis, guilt, religion, and technology.

Would be listed on Netflix as:

“Slow-Burn. Cerebral. Dark.”

Initializing... chap1.exe

(this blog has lain dormant for quite some time, but I have been quietly working on new stuff. maybe someone out there is interested in where this all leads.)

Under the Grind