Interview With Bluretina
What made you decide on blue as your theme color?
-I don’t have an exact answer to this question because everything feels like a made-up response after hearing it, but I’ll share my feelings and how it all began.
I believe this deep shade of blue was always hidden in my previous work somehow. I find a comforting solace in this particular hue. It all came to me after a devastating earthquake struck my country. Even though I wasn’t a direct victim, witnessing the live footage of people suffering and seeing many friends losing their homes and loved ones deeply affected all of us. I discovered the serenity in this shade of blue when I created my first piece, not knowing how to initially cope with the harsh reality.
This shade of blue also complements the illusion of blurriness I want to explore. I’ve had myopia since childhood, which means I see the world in a blur. I’ve never considered laser correction surgery because I view this as a gift. Even looking at street lights is a unique, neurodivergent experience for me; they explode into fireworks of pixels, much like in my paintings and GIFs. The glitch aesthetics were the perfect way to incorporate this blurry sight effect into my work. By using blue and red, also known as Chromostereopsis, I create a three-dimensional effect that gives my 2D illustrations the depth I desire.
Moreover, blue is an integral part of my life. I have a profound connection with the sea; I was born in it and wish to be laid to rest and die in it. Everything that lives within and around the sea is my friend, sometimes my only one. I will always find solace in the sea, my best friend. Blue is the most natural color for me and is also the color of my eyes, a small yet significant detail. My artist name, ‘bluretina,’ is a fusion of all these elements.
Why do your paintings always have a dreamy quality to them?
-I believe this fascination with low-resolution, blurred pixels in my art stems from the idea that dreams are often composed of such imperfect imagery, at least in my recollection and imagination. Let me try to elaborate on why I feel this way:
I was deeply entrenched in precision art and vector design for many years. My career path led me to work as a graphic designer and art director in digital advertising for over 15 years. Over time, I realized I no longer wanted to create those flawless digital images. After countless commercial projects, it almost became a traumatic experience. When I eventually left my job and embarked on my journey as an independent digital artist, my goal was to craft visuals in a way that mirrored the process of painting on a physical canvas.
I’ve grown to embrace imperfections—broken pixels, low-resolution outcomes, and the joy of experimenting with mistakes and infinite discoveries. These elements have become integral to my art. The initial sketch, the inclusion of personal photographs as memory fragments (which I sometimes embed within my artwork), the process of hand-painting glitch effects pixel by pixel, the incorporation of gritty textures, the profound influence of deep blue, which unites the world in my creations, and the presence of black to symbolize the pixelated, lifeless world. Bright colors like red, orange, and yellow represent the artist who continually revives these ‘dead’ pixels. All of these elements manifest instinctively in my work.
I have an aversion to planning. To reiterate, I dislike determining what to depict before creating. I prefer carving out the narrative as it unfolds on the canvas. I refer to this state as being ‘in the flow.’ Art seems to flow effortlessly through me when I’m in this state of flow. I become a vessel for my subconscious and emotions, allowing them to pass through onto the canvas. Perhaps this is another reason my art resonates with the essence of dreams.
Do you consider a trader to be a hunter?
-Without a doubt, trading is metaphorically the same as hunting, in my perspective. To excel as a trader, one must possess the skills and mind of a seasoned hunter. Just like a hunter needs a keen vision and steady hands, a trader requires these attributes.
Understanding the target, choosing the right spot to set up camp, and identifying the opportune moment to strike are all part of the trader’s craft. Equipped with the proper tools and accompanied by loyal companions with whom they must maintain excellent communication, a trader embarks on their quest.
The trader must be attuned to their instincts and possess the reflexes of a skilled hunter. In my eyes, a trader is akin to a hunter in any universe, including my own.
In “The Hunt for the Rarematter,” the enigmatic, blurry pixels revealed a narrative of a hunter mage and their magical companion—a luminescent jellyfish—each with their unique role. This hunter-mage harnesses their innate magical abilities to control this formidable creature from an unknown realm. It’s akin to a tool for their trade, an interface to navigate uncharted territories. Together, they embark on a quest for rarematter, an elusive substance that might not even exist yet; that’s how scarce it is. This hunter-mage possesses the knowledge to recognize the precise moment when celestial bodies align perfectly, signaling the time to commence their hunt!
In "Blurred Pixels," I employ the metaphor of magic as an exceptionally advanced form of technology, transcending both the future and the past. Magic becomes the arsenal, the wisdom, and the source of power. Our hunter mage harnesses their magical prowess to trade with unparalleled potency and precision.