johndilworth.com

Thousands came before you

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:32:00 -0700

Thousands came before you

I’m getting close to finalizing the concept and artwork for a new poster design.
The design matches the “Life Will Never Become Monotonous” print, with geometric lines and connections, along with a beautiful quote by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnemese Monk, writer and activist.

If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.

Stay tuned for more details, and close-up images. I’m still working out the details and geometry of the family tree.

September Fires

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:45:00 -0700

September Fires

I updated the fire & smoke map, shows why I’m living in a haze of smoke today.

Fire & Drought

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 22:18:00 -0700

Fire, Smoke & Drought

This map displays the fires burning on August 14, 2012, and the smoke covering the United States as captured by satellite imagery. Map created by John Dilworth using TileMill by MapBox

This summer has been one of the hottest and driest summers in history – the air quality in Utah has been particularly bad. A haze of smoke has been covering the valley for the past month and just lingering there. New fires all around the west are popping every day, and the smoke just seems to linger.

A few questions are at the top of my mind: Where are these fires causing all the smoke? and who else is affected by this smoke cloud?

Turns out, it’s pretty interesting. Seems like everything in the west is on fire this year, and that smoke cloud is covering a large percentage of the United States.

Mapping the fires

I found some data on a federal web site that displays the current fires – they also had GIS data for each day of the year, and GIS maps of smoke detected through satellite imagery.
Pretty interesting to me that there’s that much technology into this – we have satellites orbiting the earth, taking pictures of the land, and computers processing the imagery to identify fires from one day to the next (Lots more info here: http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us).

Fun to see the smoke and fire layers together, one is able to see how the smoke initiates at the source. Also easy to see how my home (Utah) is covered in the smoke cloud.

Because of this intense effort, there’s lots of data floating out there that can be used to create some visualizations. Most visualizations and maps on government sites are pretty poor, they use dated technology, and mapping software designed pretty much for scientific analysis, needless to say, most of it looks bad, and takes a genius to interpret. I wanted to take a stab at using this data to create an image that was aesthetically pleasing, and communicated what was going on, and where this smoke was coming from.

By exporting the data, and setting it up in “MapBox:http://www.mapbox.com”’s TileMill application, I was able to give the data some character, and make the map a bit more interesting.

Visualizing the Drought

Drought map of the United States, based on data from US Drought Monitor.

Along with the constant fires, this year has also been one for record drought. Using some of the same techniques, I wanted to create an even more visual representation of the drought. Using data from Drought Monitor, another government funding web site, I put together a drought map that would provide a quick visualization without having to read a key or other information typically associated with these kinds of infographics. This time I was able to use some of TileMill’s image compositing features and patterns.

Map is created by overlapping textured layers at different opacities. The areas with the most drought are fully opaque, covering the underlying vegetation texture.

Symmetry Sketching 2

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 21:59:00 -0700

Symmetry Sketching 2

I received a comment on the site today the reminded me about the work on the knots that I’ve done, and I figured it’s been a while since I’ve created any new ones. I decided I’d spend a few hours and kick out some new work. In these, I’m experimenting with color and light – wondering what they might look like if they were a stained glass window.

The Mountain

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:20:00 -0700

It’s been 2 years since I last stood on the peak of the Grand Teton. As time passes, my thoughts return to its rocky cliffs and trails more frequently.

All the sensations are there, my heart rate increases, a slight feeling of vertigo sets in, adrenaline starts to flow, and I’m breathing a little deeper.
I feel intense and mixed feelings of joy, fear, exhaustion, and accomplishment.

I’m just lying in my bed, but the mountain keeps calling.

Sketches from Venice 2002

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:58:00 -0700

Sketches from Venice 2002

While cleaning out the home office for a re-do, I found some sketches in an old book made during a trip to Italy in 2002. I almost threw away the book, but decided to flip through it before I did.
It seems to me that a sketch journal holds more memories, value, and detail about places and things than photos do.

View from our apartment in Venice.

A color sketch of one of the docked gondolas

Another solitary gondola

The boat dock near the entrance to the apartment where we spent the week.

I think it’s about time for another trip to Italy.

More Chaos - Salt Lake Ignite 2011

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:09:00 -0700

More Chaos – Salt Lake Ignite 2011

I’m working through my slide deck for Salt Lake Ignite #8. I did this a few years ago, and it was great fun being able to share some ideas.

This year’s theme for me is “More Chaos” – everyone is always trying to organize and make everything more efficient. I’d just like to propose that what we all really need is a bit more chaos.
Come see the show, you’ll love the variety of presentations, have a good time, and get to see me talk about stupid crap on stage.

The details

Ignite Salt Lake
Wed, August 31st
Doors open at 7

The Stateroom (A 21+ venue)
638 S. State St. SLC, UT
Admission is FREE

Boxes

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 23:47:00 -0700

Boxes

Walnut and maple box – this one uses a golden spiral as the basis for the design.

Maple box with walnut inlay. Exactly opposite to box first box in every way.

Walnut box with maple inlay tree design.

I’ve been working on several of these over the past few months as part of a new project. I’ll be releasing more details in the coming months.

O.K. Periodicals 6/The Boring Issue

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:47:00 -0700

O.K. Periodicals 6/The Boring Issue

Several months ago I was contacted by Joost van der Steen of O.K. PARKING, a graphic design studio based in Arnhem, the Netherlands. I was asked if I’d be interested in contributing artwork for their upcoming issue of O.K. Periodicals – The Boring Issue. I’m excited and honored to have my poster Life Will Never Become Monotonous featured in the edition.

A full flip-through of the magazine is available below:

O.K. Periodicals 6 / BORING Issue from O.K. Parking on Vimeo.

O.K. Periodicals is described on their web site (www.ok-periodicals.com) as “…pleasantly disruptive, and always curious. Each issue explores a different theme to show inspiring work by established and upcoming creative talent.”

The Inventors

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:03:00 -0800

The Inventors

The Inventors is a series of illustrations that I started a few years back to celebrate the world’s greatest inventors and their “children”. The series also presents a warning about the unwieldy effects that technology can have when it is taken to the extremes, adopted, exploited, and morphed by corporate or political greed. It is interesting to me that all of these great inventors saw their inventions grow in the public eye, and expressed disappointment with how their technology ended up being used. Today, we can easily look back and see the incredible benefits and changes that these inventions have brought to society. We can also look back and see some unknown side effects, where the technology has reared its monstrous head.

“Alex, your telephone is a menace.”

The next time you sit down for dinner and the phone rings, get up and throw it out the window. You’ll feel much better about yourself, and you’ll soon realize that 90% of those annoyances were not necessary for you existence.

If you insist on keeping the thing, you must do everything in your power to disconnect it from evil. I’ve heard there’s a way to remove your name from the devil’s list, but I’ve never figured out how to do it.

If you carry one of these monsters around in your pocket, you may soon find yourself enslaved to the device, it now roams free, unchained and waiting for the chance to control you. After you’ve read this, spend a moment and think about how you can defeat the monster. It never stops thinking about how it can defeat you.

“Tommy, would you please turn out the lights?”

It used to be that when it got dark, people would go to bed. When it got light in the morning, people would wake up. That seems pretty natural, and a normal thing to do. If you are anything like me, I can’t remember the last time I went to bed with the sun.

There’s no question the light bulb is an amazing invention, it has changed the world in many ways, both for good and for bad. If you question the bad, take a drive far away from city lights on a clear night, look up towards the heavens and you’ll see what this clever little monster has taken away.

There are probably people living in cities who have never seen the stars in their full glory. To live life disconnected from the night-time heavens would be a travesty of humanity.

“Philo, turn off that damn tv!”

You only have to imagine for a moment, millions of people gathered around a projection device to begin to comprehend this little monsters influence. Images and video of every type and quality constantly occupy the minds of millions.

The television is easily defeated. Modern technology has made it possible to defeat the television by the simple press of a button. I encourage you to defeat yours today. I know you have one, and chances are it is on right this moment.

We need not question the positive aspects which the television has brought us, but it can do no harm to question the negative.

The Lover's Knot

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:26:00 -0800

The Lover’s Knot

As many of you know, I have an ongoing fascination with knots, and the symbolism found in the form of the knot. Since it is Valentines Day, it seemed appropriate to post a little history about the symbolism of the knot, and how it relates to human relationships that we are celebrating today.

The knot has been used symbolically to represent human relationships in nearly every culture around the world. The simple idea of the bonding nature of knots—they are most often tied to bind something together—makes them a beautiful symbol to represent the bonding nature of love. It is common today to speak of “Tying the Knot” to refer to marriage or bonding in a relationship.

John Brand acknowledged the tradition in his book “Observations on the popular antiquities of Great Britan.”

A knot among the ancient northern nations seems to have been the symbol of love, faith and friendship, pointing to the indissoluble tie of affection and duty. Thus the ancient Runic inscriptions, as we gather from Hicke’s Thesaurus, are in the form of a knot. Hence among the northern English and Scots, who still retain, in a great measure, the language and manners of the ancient Danes, that curious kind of knot, mutual present between lover and his mistress, which, being considered as the emblem of plighted fidelity, is therefore called a true-love knot: a name which is not derived as one would naturally suppose it to be, from the words “true” and “love”, but formed from the Danish verb "Trulofa, fidem do, I plight my troth, or faith. Thus we read in the Islandic Gospel, the following passage in the first chapter of St. Matthew, which confirms, beyond a doubt, the sense here given—til einrar Meyer er trulofad var einum Manne &c.; i.e to a virgin espoused, that is, who was promised or had engaged herself to a man &c. Hence, evidently, the bride favors or the top-knots at marriages, which have been considered as emblems of the ties to duty and affection between the bride and her spouse have been derived (pp. 108-109)

The symbol of the knot has been used in other contexts—from knots tied in clothing and rings, to intricate drawings printed on cards or engraved in stone—all with the common symbolism of expressing love in a relationship.

A Valentine’s Day gift decoration from 1641 taken from Witt’s Recreation.

A particularly interesting Valentine’s Day tradition during the mid 17th century involved the gifting of expensive presents to loved ones. These gifts were often decorated elaborate, hand painted knots. These knots were single stranded (endless), and had endless lines of words expressing sentiments of love.

Today, it might be difficult to find a “lover’s knot” to decorate the gift to your lover, but you can always take the opportunity to symbolically “tighten the knot.”

It Starts with a Sketch

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 23:26:00 -0800

It Starts With a Sketch

After completing the Cosmic Knot project, I had big hopes to continue surfing the creative wave, and hoped that I’d be able to create another series of work to add to the previous set. It’s incredibly difficult to develop a theme, story, and produce complex artwork pieces, especially in one’s spare time. Over the past couple years, I’ve been toying with different ideas, producing a few new works, and trying to muster up some creative energy to dive into the next series.

When I was working on the previous series, I stumbled across an old book by Elihu Vedder called “Doubt and Other Things.” This book contained a beautiful series of poet thoughts and images – many of which struck a chord with me and my current feelings and view on life. This book serves as the primary inspiration for my next series of images. The images might be interpretations of the old, or whole new ideas based on the topic or thoughts of the originals. Who knows where it will take me.

To get started, I’ve found a small creative wave, and have started sketching out ideas for the series. Sketching starts the idea working in the mind – as I work out even these rough images, I’m starting to see how they will turn out in my mind.

It all starts with a sketch.

The Subtle Difference Between Doing it Right and Doing it Wrong

Sat, 29 Jan 2011 01:18:00 -0800

The Subtle Difference Between Doing it Right and Doing it Wrong

About a month ago, I read a blog post which described the “proper” way to tie your shoes. If your shoelaces come untied frequently, and if they don’t lie straight horizontally on your shoes, there’s a good chance that you are tying your shoes wrong also. While you are probably doing it wrong too, this post isn’t about how to tie your shoelaces (others have described that much better than I can). This post is about the subtle difference between doing it right and doing it wrong.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve re-tied my loose shoelaces multiple times throughout the day, only to have them loosen again. I learned double knots, and even went to extremes favoring slip-ons, or alternative fasteners to avoid the inevitable loosening of my wrongly tied knot. The thing is, I didn’t realize that I was doing anything wrong—I just assumed that it was normal for laces to come undone. It was rarely critical or life threatening, and the solution to loosening was relatively simple – I’d just tie them again. It didn’t take much time, just a few seconds and I was good to go for a few more hours. I had nothing to compare my situation to, and it was never that important – so for 30+ years I just keep doing it the same way as the first time that I learned.

Today, however, I can identify an incorrectly tied shoe, and I now know the proper method to tie my own shoes. It was a simple change, and involved only one simple corrective maneuver.

I can’t help but feel now that there are lots of simple things, and probably even more complicated things that I am probably doing the wrong way. If this is the case, and I can improve many areas of my life by making simple adjustments, I ought to be looking out for those subtle differences. After all, if I’ve been messing up something as simple as tying my shoes for over 30 years, there’s definitely other things, maybe even life critical things, that I need to learn to do differently.

Seagulls and Typetrails

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 23:07:00 -0800

Seagulls and Typetrails

A few more seagull and contrail images, this time with letters making up the shapes for the clouds. This could end up as an ongoing series. We’ll have to see where it takes me, hopefully not too far, because I’ve got lots of work to do.

Seagulls and Contrails

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:16:00 -0800

Seagulls and Contrails

A while ago I was working on a random image generator, and created an application to generate random compositions. My first test were these compositions of seagulls and contrails. It seemed like a perfect subject to celebrate “looking up”. It’s a rare occasion that you don’t see a contrail in the sky, and where I live, near the Great Salt Lake, there’s always a seagull cruising around somewhere also.

The images also give me a chance to test out a few new features on the site. I’ve made some minor updates, and created a more flexible page layout model that will let me get more creative with each post.