“Flame Flight” - Painting with fractals

I love the dynamic movement available with fractal flames. Scott Draves created an iterated function system class of fractals that was later integrated into Adobe After Effects and translated into Apophysis, a fractal flame editor.

Fractal flames are different from regular iterated function systems in several ways including adding nonlinear function iterations to affine transforms, they use log-density display instead linear or binary displays, and instead of monochrome color or color by density, they possess color by structure because of recursive paths. All this technical hoo-ha leads to the ability to create images that allow for fluid overlaps and applications of dynamic light and color created with what amounts to fractal paint brushes. I find both of these programs a bit restrictive and am searching for ones that allow me more direct control over the flames I create.

"Fractal Flight" by The Astral Cowboy

I have made and used flames in numerous works and am experimenting with painting with them. There are works where I have achieved great accuracy and intricacies via the application of fractal flames, but often the fluidity and flexibility required to work with them feels as if I am creating as one might within stream of consciousness writing. I say required, but I love moving, working, writing, and digitally creating while in the flow.

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