iPhone, iPad and iPod fingerpainting blog

One of the most exciting mobile digital art festivals took place recently in the historic City of Mostar, Herzegovina when the second Festival of Pocket Art (Džepni fest2) opened Saturday August 13

In the category of painting on mobile devices (Fingerpainting) president of the jury was Miroslav Ambruš Kiš.

The Grand prix award for Fingerpainting went to Cédric Phillipe for his superb “Carrots” Second place went to American author Jonathan Grauel for “Optimal Elevated Observation”. Via a video conference Jonathan told his moving story about accident in which he lost a finger and lost his sense of touch in other 2 fingers, except the little finger. He showed to the audience on the big screen how he paints on his iPhone. Third place was won by fingerpainted.it editor Benjamin Rabe from Germany with his humorous work “Muppets”.

Other awards included:

Short film category jury president was a famous actor from Mostar Slaven Knezović.

Grand Prix “Grow, grow my green Pine” by Mario Rakitić and Ivan Ćavar.

followed by Dominik Bajo with the film “Bicycle,” and Daria Zelenika’s film “The youngest folklore singer in the World”.

Photography President of the Jury Peter Trinajstić from Rijeka (Croatia). Prominent Croatian photographer and filmmaker

The Grand Prix went to Matthew Watkins for the IPhoneography “Hopscotch“.

Three more photography prizes were given 1. Kristina Ćužić (Mostar) – Hand, 2. Franjo Bosnjak (Mostar) – Radobolja, 3. Lana Šator (Mostar) – Quiet street.

Text Messages In the category of text messages president of the jury was Veselin Gatalo, famous poet from Mostar. The winners were: Grand Prix and 1 place Dominik Bajo – MOST, 2. Andrić, A place of peace, 3. Marko Bokšić – Morning.

Abstract Expression A special jury prize for abstract expression went to the artist from Mostar – Anita Tomic.

Organiser of the event and Fingerpainter Roberta Betty Barbarić from Mosta made a presentation about iAMDA (Internatioanal Association of Mobile Digital Artists) and the upcoming conference in Otober in NYC.

Thank you Roberta!!

Joseph Zelenika, Festival’s Director and Chairman of the Croatian Society for Culture and Arts invited all to send their works to competition in all categories of Pocket art FEST next year.

Joey Livingston is an avid fingerpainter who has been around quite a while, but to my own worries had turned a bit silent over the last weeks. Turns out he was busy with one of the most complete and impressing illustration projects done on the iPad that I’ve seen so far.

(I met Joey in a small café at the back of our minds for a little interview.)

Joey, you just relaunched your own website, Commotion Creative, completely illustrated on the iPad. What was your job in it?

I was the illustrator with the iPad. Actually, it was my task to oversee the whole project. I did all the illustration work, designed the look and feel of the site, and did much of the writing. Continue reading

Artist Mia Robinson is extending “touch” beyond our devices and taking it into the lives of abused women through “A Healing Touch: Digital offering of Peace to Women Survivors“. The international mobile digital art exhibition features works by 25 fingerpainters, all created to inspire hope and healing in women survivors (and victims) of violence, abuse and oppression. The show and fundraiser for Ocean Ana Rising Inc, a non-profit organization empowering women through the arts, runs from August 20th through September 4th, 2010 and includes a private opening reception (August 20th, 6:30-8:00pm) and Outreach workshop, “When Left to Your Own Devices” where Mia will be teaching 15 teenaged girls how to paint on iPads and iPhones.

To raise awareness about the global issue of violence against women and the upcoming exhibition, Mia will be blogging and tweeting facts and statistics daily on her website. You can follow her on twitter.

To purchase tickets to the opening reception or to find out how you can support and/or participate (there is a private flickr group for additional artists who’d like to contribute eir own offerings–the group will be featured as a slideshow during the exhibition), visit www.mrobart.com/ahealingtouch.

Related show

• Artist: many
• Date: Saturday, August 21st 2010 - Sunday, August 22nd 2010
• Time: 6:30pm
• City: many in Washington DC
• Venue: L’Eclat De Verre Versailles Gallery and Frame Shop (Georgetown)
• Address: 3336 M Street NW
• Venue phone: 202.333.6840
• Country: United States
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• Notes: “A Healing Touch: Digital Offerings of Piece to Women Survivors” is a show dedicated to women all over the world who have overcome violently abusive or oppressive situations, within the home and/or within their communities. The show features an international community of artists and is curated by Mia Robinson in partnership with Ocean Ana Rising, Inc. The exhibition includes an online exhibition, a private opening reception, and an educational mobile digital art workshop for young girls (ages 12-16) within the DC Metro Community.
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Very interesting working concept, the RingBow. Reminds me a bit of wacoms touch-strips – only wrapped around your finger.

“Basically, because touch-screens can only sense one type of input – touch – they lack designated keys such as the right-mouse-click, a “home” button, key shortcuts (e.g. Ctrl + C), etc. For that reason we have noticed that working with touch-screens can be much more efficient, fluent and fun if one is able to access such advanced commands without having to even lift one’s hands off the touch surface.”

…says Saar Shai of Ringbow. Here’s a video show the device in action:

Even though it might seem a bit akward at first glimpse, I like the idea of wearable interfaces. The additional movement of the thumb to change size, transparency, rotation, etc. might actually be more natural than using a fancy stylus. The RingBow is still in concept stage, more info on their site.

(via the new Taptrix Blog)

“On the train to work every day, Emily from Taiwan has been using Brushes to paint the strange adventures of her cats.”

I especially like the self-reference on the cover.

Another great video by John Bavaro showing him painting a portrait on the iPhone, using Brushes.

Kyle Lambert fingerpaints the Toy Story Poster.

The Duchess, originally uploaded by Matthew Watkins.

A little while ago Performita, suggested that i try the app Meritum Paint Pro on my iphone. I took to it immediately. I love the organic nature of it’s painting engine. You can choose from three brushes, or better, styles of painting: Normal, Neon or Sci-Fi. You don’t really control them, so much as guide them through a series of happy accidents.

I have been lucky enough to try the ipad version of the app in Beta, and i can tell you that it’s a whole new ball game. The larger screen combined with the more powerful CPU means more detail and more fun.

My son and i calculated that it could take simultaneous input from 10 fingers at once, just in case you ever need it.

The user interface of Meritum Paint is a little unusual but adds to the mysterious nature of the creations you will make on it. Randomness is buit-in.

Choose a color palette, brush width, the force and tilt that you would like to be exerted, and start painting. It’s kind of magical.

Although i love the app i do not consider myself a Meritum Paint purist. I like to import my Meritum work into Brushes and elaborate it. My favorite brush is “Sci-Fi”, which allows you to noodle Gigerish tubes that intertwine and can apear to be pipes, tentacles or feathers.

I am not finished experimenting with this app and I am looking forward to seeing where Krunoslav Till and the Meritum Soft development team take it. Thanks Perf!

Poster by Performita

Avid fingerpainter Roberta Barbaric aka. Performita, of Mostar, Herzegovina calls out for mobile artists all over the world to submit a piece for the second Pocket Art Fest² taking place August 5./6. 2010 at the local university. Amongst short movies, photography, sms poetry and talent videos, fingerpainting has its own spotlight during the fest.

The rules:

• must be painted on a touch screen mobile phone (no iPad)
• only one work can be submitted
• you need to state which phone and apps used, and of course your personal info

Submissions are open till July 30th 2010, best get in contact with Performita fast.