Meet the Fractal Community #18
Hello and welcome to a new edition of Meet the Fractal Community, a forthnightly series of interviews that highlights a member of our community. The series will go back and focus on fractal artists.
Today, let's have a closer look to JanRobbe.
Hello JanRobbe! How are you today?
Okay I guess. Thanks for asking.Can you please introduce yourself to the community?
Hi, I'm Jan Robbe, fractal apprentice and sounddesign enthusiast. I produce fractal prints and derivatives as FRAMEofMIND. I'm very much focusing on lighting design a lot these days.How did you discover fractal art?
I came across art by lindelokse and even though I had some 3D modelling experience, it would've been impossible to recreate something like it without using some kind of algorithm. So I contacted her with my clueless questions, followed her advice (which included seeking out the DA fractal community) and kept investigating Apophysis until I understood what was going on. "Generative art" had always been fascinating to me, so that helped in deciding to take the time needed to figure out fractal design. I couldn't have gotten through the learning curve at the rate I was going if it weren't for the countless DA fractal tutorials.
I noticed from your gallery you use Chaotica a lot. What are its main qualities in your opinion? What would you change about it?
The rendering quality and speed of it are great. Being able to render things this big and fast creates interesting possibilities for print-related - or even commercial design stuff like cover art or sophisticated background animations. The animation function makes it a bit more convenient to try out different parameters without actually destroying your original settings. It becomes a bit like hunting for the perfect still, but also increases the chances of producing "happy accidents". Something else: Chaotica does not have a limit to the number of transforms like Apo's maximum of 100. For the Shipibo fractal I needed 529 transforms. Designing in Apo is easier and quicker (duplicate transform? scrolling the gradient?), but Chaotica takes the prize for pretty much limitless performance. I do miss being able to work in a 3D environment. There are ways to somewhat simulate perspective, but volumetric shapes and patterns, maybe even light and shadows, would take things to yet another level.Aside from fractal art, do you have any other passion?
I've been producing electronic music for a long time (released a first vinyl in 2002, started the Entity netlabel in 2003). It's my first passion and for me it's all about experimenting with sound. I try to come up with new structures, styles, and sounds, I'm not interested in listening to music that doesn't bring anything new to the table... the only way left to go is forward.Designing fractals is much like tweaking a synthesizer. The only difference is the output is visual, everything else about the process overlaps.
Do you have any deviant you'd like to recommend to the community and why?
I like Ramon Pasternak's style because it is authentic and he keeps on searching for new methods to express himself visually. ChaosFissure's style is also fascinating with all the movement going on. Of course there are the "grand masters" (eg. zy0rg, tatasz, Xyrus-02, lindelokse, C-91, etc.) who consistently produce awesome imagery, but I can't say how jealous I really am of pillemaster's mastery of the tile.
Thank you for your time! Any last advice or word you'd like to share?
Never stop experimenting. Find your niche(s) and cling on it like zen magnets. Falling flat on your face enough times is part of the process and will make you realize faster when it's time to move on.
frameofmind.be
Best!
Be sure to visit JanRobbe's profile and gallery!
Have fun and keep fractaling!
Previous issues:
frameofmind.be
Best!
Be sure to visit JanRobbe's profile and gallery! 
Have fun and keep fractaling! 
Previous issues:
