The link below has a section in which the writer applies the "stepping-stone rule" of cellular automata to a picture of Sharon Stone (pun intended) a set number of times, resulting in an image that looks impressively like the impressionistic style of art (alliteration also intended), particularly like that of Pissarro.

Therefore, one could set up a booth where the visitor's picture is taken by a digital camera, converted to a CA-compatible format, and then "stepping-stoned" the appropriate number of times to produce an impressionistic "painting" of the visitor. The "painting" would then be printed out onto a canvas (color optional) and placed within a cheap plastic or wood frame for the visitor (pricing also optional).

The background could either be a painted screen behind the visitor or could be composited using the digital imaging software before the CA is applied. Period costumes would be provided for the purists and wacky costumes for the non-purists.

Alternatively, visitors could bring pictures in to be auto-impressionized (though scanning the pictures might decrease the quality of the result somewhat), or pick from a collection of professional photographs to make into "paintings".
-- Jem, Feb 19 2003

Cellular Automata http://www.dartmout...alProject/Hoke.html
The inspiration for this half-baked idea [Jem, Oct 04 2004]

JunkShop http://yin.arts.uci...shopF/Junkshop.html
Home of the filter "Hokusaize" [Jem, Oct 04 2004]

Can we also have auto - abstract expressionism, or is that too easy?
-- snarfyguy, Feb 19 2003


I've seen photo booth style machines that will produce a portrait that appears to be drawn with a pencil.
-- waugsqueke, Feb 19 2003


I thought this was already a feature of a large number of graphics software products.
-- beauxeault, Feb 19 2003


<chomps on croissant> yummy.

[snarfyguy] good idea. now the question is, would the program involved just take random shapes, lines, and colors and splash them on a page; or would it take a photograph and abstract the objects in the image down to shapes and lines? The latter would definitely get a croissant IMHO.

P.S. BION, I found a photo filter that will create an abstract painting "based on the compositions of the master Japanese printmaker Hokusai" [link]
-- Jem, Feb 19 2003


Impressionist filters are common in most graphics programs. Paint Shop Pro is a cheap alternative to Photoshop.
-- waugsqueke, Feb 19 2003


[beauxeault/waugsqueke] Good points. The reality is that aside from the cost issue, it doesn't really matter what program you use to achieve the effect. I just chose the CA because it fits with the idea of Automated Art (and I didn't know that graphics programs had that as a filter, heh heh). In fact, some of these graphics programs can extend the scope of this idea out into other styles of painting (Auto-Fresco!). The essence I'm trying to convey here is that you're providing the public with a chance to put themselves into a famous style of painting without the hassle of dealing with the technical issues. And also the irony in that you can now produce an accurate facsimile of a legendary style of painting using a computer in just seconds <grin>.
-- Jem, Feb 19 2003



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