What has to happen for fractal art to become mainstream art? A great deal of time, a huge amount of luck, and truly innovative artists creating works that challenge the viewer and push the genre forward. - If you have been successful at selling or displaying many images, but you don't want to say how then at least say why you do not want to share information, even if it's obvious. For my part, there are several reasons: 1) There isn't a magic secret or recipe for success. What works (or doesn't) for me will not necessarily work for others. 2) I didn't have a fractal (or even a digital) artist showing me the way -- I studied how other artists approach selling their work. If I can do the research, so can anyone else who really wants to put the time, effort, and a fair amount of money into it. -- It's kind of like how people want me to share all the techniques I've spent years developing on my own -- so they can make nice images but don't actually have to spend the time learning on their own. The 20th/21st century approach to everything -- "Show me the shortcuts so I don't really have to exert myself, tax my brain, or risk failure." I have no interest in enabling this kind of attitude. 3) It's not that I won't share what I know with others. Again, it's like when folks ask me for help with their images or ask questions about technique -- if I'm asked a specific question, and particularly if it is asked privately, I'm quite willing to share. - I am convinced that the majority of fractal art has a face that only fractal enthusiasts love. Many of us are impressed with technical mastery, but a technical masterpiece might not impress someone who has never tried to create a fractal image. Most fractal images aren't fine art -- just like most paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc. made by folks who have fun playing around in the medium aren't fine art. Just because one owns UF or XD or any of the other fine fractal programs doesn't mean their work is superior -- just like owning a camera or a paintbrush doesn't make one a fine photographer or painter. If one wants to be an artist -- particularly a fractal enthusiast who wants his/her work to be accepted in the mainstream -- one needs to study ART not just fractals. And if one wants to be a successful artist (however one defines success), one needs to learn from successful artists of all mediums. - I can't help but wonder about the images that show up in the calendars Is that what they think that mainstream fractal art is? I don't think calendar publishers feel a great compulsion to educate the public about the finer points of fractal artistry. I don't think they're trying to make any sort of artistic statement whatsoever. They're out to make a buck so they choose images they think will catch the eye of the potential buyer. Janet

Forum: Fractals

Subject: Mainstream fractal art