I’ve known Jimmie for several years now. He’s an incredibly talented UltraFractal artist living in Sweden. He’s got a great personality, a love of metal textures, and a very funny and energetic son. Jimmie kicks off the very first interview here at my blog. Enjoy getting to know him a little better as well as his beautiful artwork.

 

Basic Background

How did you first discover fractals?
I discovered fractal sometime in the middle of the 80’s. It was an article in a computer mag. And I was totally addicted from first sight.

What attracted you to fractal art?
I think the way you can get lost in a fractal attracted me.

Was there a particular artist or style that you were first captivated by?
Paul DeCelle and Jock Cooper was one of the first artist I stumbled upon when searching for fractals on the web.

When did you first start making fractal art?
About 5 years ago

What was your first fractal program?
It was Chaoscope.

Was it hard to use?
I didn’t think so then. But now when I see my old images with it I can really see my poor knowledge. Now I know much more about how to get a good render and better settings.

Did you have someone to help you or mentor you when you first started making images?
No, I didn’t have a mentor.

What are your personal artistic goals?
I have none. It’s just a hobby.

Fractal Art

Give me your perspective on what fractal art is. How does it make you feel?
Depends on what fractal I look at. Badly rendered fractals makes me sad. I fractal for me does not have to be advanced. It’s better to look at a simple one with great colors and rendered good. And I really like fractal with a lot of depth and details.

What direction do you see fractal art taking in the next 5 years?
I think we will see much more of those 3d fractals like those made with Mandelbulb3d.

Do you think fractals will become more mainstream in art?
I hope it will but I think it won’t. Too few people are doing it. But who knows. Miracles has happened before. LOL

Creative Process

What is the purpose of you creating fractal art?
It’s only a hobby for me. Something to relax to.

What drives you to create more artwork?
Just the fun of making it.

Do you have a source of inspiration? If yes, what is it?
I have sources everywhere. From TV, nature, commercials, stores. I ind ideas everywhere I go.

I’ve seen some of your fractals like the Monopoly and chess boards. Please share your motivation behind creating these as well as your thoughts and feelings as you were making these intricate pieces.
I love to work within the limitations of a fractal program. I could make this monopoly game purely in Photoshop. But that would just take away the challenge for me. And when it comes to challenges like this, I’m the most stubborn person you can find. I just can’t give up. And I like to create thing that looks like they are real. But using a 3d program would be cheating for me. Like a painter using a camera instead.

 

How do you approach creating fractals?
Sometimes I just explore formulas and see what happens. Sometimes I have an idea when I start. But then most of the fractal is already done in my head. I just need to assemble it. And sometimes I come up with a challenge to give myself. Like making things with the same formula and coloring on all layers in UF. Or I just pick a random formula or a really ugly one. And then I don’t give up until I got something presentable.

 

It sounds like some of these processes are very time consuming! How much time do you put into developing a fractal image?
It can take 2-10 hours. Sometimes days. When I run into a wall I save the work and continue another time.

Do you aim to create emotion in your artwork?
Oh no. I just do.

Do you have favorite formula? Why?
I often use a traditional Julia or any Barnsley related formula. Mostly because they give great details.

 

Program? Why?
I mostly use Ultra Fractal. I like it because I can control most of the fractl with it. I also use Sterlingware and InkBlot Kaos. They are fun because their limitations offers a big challenge. But on those fractal I do a lot of postwork in Photshop. I also use Apophysis sometimes. But for me it works too slow. My mind works fast when I make fractals. And Apo can feel like chewing-gum in a clockwork then.

 

Name the one formula/variation you can’t live without.
Julias and Barnsleys.

 

Tell us about your favorite personal fractal piece. Break it down. What thoughts went into the making of it. Did you accomplish what you set out to do? How long did it take to make? How do you feel about the completed work?
I think it must be ‘Complex Illumination’. I like fractals with metallic look. I stumbled upon some good settings in the formula I used to get that. It didn’t take so long to make. A couple of hours maybe. I was very pleased with the outcome of it. I got the metallic look I went for and details. http://www.redbubble.com/people/jimpan1973/works/7143287-complex-illumination

 

What is your least favorite fractal piece? Why?
I don’t have any, I think. I don’t like some of my first attempts, though. But that doesn’t really count I think.

 

Gradients & Color Selection

How do you choose gradients?
I mostly start working with greyscale gradient. There I can more easily see shadows and highlights.
And I also like to use gradients with a metallic touch.

 

Do you make custom gradients, or stick with standard?
I make new gradients for each layer I make.

 

Do you have a favorite color combination?
I have. Brown and blue tones.

 

What’s the one color you can’t stand to see in fractals?
Purple and green together.

 

Final Thoughts

So concludes our interview with Jimmie Josefsson. You can discover more of his artwork at his deviantArt account.

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