Featured Chat with Tom Wilcox by `Tachy-on on deviantART

The chat

haltenny: Hi Tom and welcome! How long have you been active in the arts?

tomwilcox: Since grade school. I loved to draw and paint. I had an aunt who was an excellent artist. She was in a wheelchair her entire life. I stayed with her several weeks on her farm in the summer each year and she taught me many things.

hayulol: Many fractal artists find inspiration in the Fibonacci spiral (Golden Ratio, Phi, etc), how do you feel about it?

tomwilcox: Most of my images are not spirals so i am not sure this would apply directly. I usually work on a gut level, and many of my images are quite different than most. With Apophysis, I manipulate the triangles a lot.

guagapunyaimel: Hello Tom, how did you see the future of fractal art? :)

tomwilcox: I first began creating fractals in DOS in Fractint. I was hooked immediately, but the computers back then were painfully slow in creating fractals. It seems that in the last 5 years fractals are getting a lot of attention. We know however, how amazing they are. With me it is a passion.

lindelokse: Thanks for being here, Tom. What is the feature of fractals that mostly fascinates you, or that you mostly care of when creating your artworks?

tomwilcox: I love the complexity of fractals and the infinite aspect of them. To me they are spiritual. I have always compared creating fractals with what it must felt like for Louis and Clark exploring America. Creating fractals is truly a journey of exploration.

milleniumsentry: Hi Tom. Thanks for coming by today. I was wondering if you have explored other types of mathematical imagery?

tomwilcox: Not so much mathematical but 3D for sure. I design products in 3D using a CAD program, Solidworks. And of course, I have used Bryce 5 3D. Solidworks requires a lot of mathematics. I started out hand drawing on the drawing board, and shifted to the computer later in my career.

n8iveattitude1: Hi Tom! Do the images other people are making influence what you want to make?

tomwilcox: Absolutely! For the first 6 - 7 years on DA I never used the parameters of other people for Apophysis. Once I started using Mandelbulb 3D, I began creating images from the parameters of others. I am always drawn to images with an artistic flair so it is mainly those images that I love to see. There are so many great fractals out there. The fractal gallery has really emerged.

TheMasterNeko: What inspired you to start making art?

tomwilcox: First my Aunt, then the computer. without the computer i think my life would be entirely different.

Wi6791lly: Do you believe in sharing parameters for learning purposes Why or Why Not?

tomwilcox: For learning purposes yes, but if I had my way it would be done far less frequently. I know i am sounding like hypocrite because i create from parameters in Mandlebulb 3D, but to me it somewhat like creating half a painting and having someone else finish it. Would Monet have done that? I think not.

TaraRoys: Howdy Tom! You sell your prints and fractal art books. What advice do you have for fractal artists who want to make a living doing fractal art?

tomwilcox: First, be prepared to self promote. Shamelessly. It is not easy being an artist and survive on that income. I do attend out door art fairs and sell Apophysis and Mandelbulb 3D prints about equal. I must say, the reaction has been very positive. I am now launching into a new aspect of my art images on jewelry. I do not know if i can send a small image from here but i could do that to show you what I am talking about.

TaraRoys: Do you support yourself through fractal sales?

tomwilcox: No, but I am getting closer. As most of you know, I am 67 yrs old and collect Social Security so what i need is only additional income to enhance that.

guagapunyaimel: Have you ever met other fractalists in real life?

tomwilcox: Occasionally I meet a fractal artist here or there at art fairs. done

haltenny: Any other hobbies you'd like to tell us about?

tomwilcox: I create my flatware which is on the front of my DA page and I love writing poetry, maybe as much as creating fractals. Invention and product design are two other passions of mine. I have close to 20 US patents on various things including a reciprocating motor I am currently designing as a vehicle motor.

lindelokse: How much did deviantART (especially fractal community) influence you in these years?

tomwilcox: Huge. DA has been extremely good to me over the years. I love DA, too because it motivates me to do my best. It is an awesome site. I am often humbled by the attention they have given me. Often times I do not feel i deserve it, but I know from an effort stand point, I spend a lot of time with my art.

milleniumsentry: TomWilcox: When you hit a creative barrier, what outlets do you seek for inspiration?

tomwilcox: Frankly what works best for me is just walking away from it all for maybe a week or even a month. It seems to re-fire my creative juices. I do the same thing with my product design. I am a very intense person so I get burnt out quickly.

n8iveattitude1: TomWilcox: how long does it usually take you to create an image?

tomwilcox: It can be anywhere from 1/2 hr to 3 days. Really. Sometimes everything comes together quickly. sometimes not. I have spent up to 2 days just selecting the correct color gradient.

rce-ordinary: I really like your fractal series like "Ring of Chaos", "Circlistic" and at least "Spin Cycle". Do you want to start make another fractal series? Thanks before :)

tomwilcox: For sure, actually I have created other short series. Where Angels Fear to Tread is one of my personal favorites. In fact, the first in the series is one of my all time personal favorites.

guagapunyaimel: TomWilcox: What does your art means to you? :)

tomwilcox: My personal feeling is that art should create something emotional in the viewer. So for me as an artist it must do the same. Some people say they create art for themselves, I however, create my art for others.

haltenny: Do you feel like any aspects of your real life job has helped you in your art Tom?

tomwilcox: There is no doubt about that. It is all about aesthetics. It really does not matter if you are designing a product, creating a graphic, or creating a fractal.

tachy-on: Thank you SO MUCH Tom for taking the time tonight to be with us and answer the community's questions. I know they really appreciate it. :heart:

tomwilcox: Thanks so much for having me tonight. I probably was not your most interesting interviewee, but it was fun. Thanks to everyone for participating.

Note: this transcript was edited for clarity.