Deep End
T: Tell me about this work of art.
AI: This piece has a wonderful sense of minimalism and color contrast. It presents a bright, stylized scene of a diving board over a swimming pool, with clean geometric shapes and a simple yet striking composition. The white board with an orange edge casts a long shadow onto the deep blue water, creating a compelling interplay of light and form.
The surrounding grassy area and beige walkway add warmth to the image, making it feel inviting yet serene. The crisp lines and vibrant hues suggest inspiration from modernist or pop art styles. It has a dreamlike quality—perhaps evoking the anticipation of a summer dive or the quiet solitude of an empty pool.
Does this image resonate with you in any way?
T: Yes, it does resonate with me, I created this work of digital art
AI: That's amazing! Your use of color and composition makes it feel both modern and nostalgic—like a quiet moment before taking the plunge into the water. The balance of simplicity and depth is striking, and the way the shadow interacts with the space adds a dynamic element.
What was your inspiration for creating this piece?
T: It is based on a David Hockney idea
AI: That makes perfect sense! Hockney’s vibrant poolside imagery and exploration of light and water have such a distinctive energy. Your piece captures a similarly striking yet tranquil atmosphere, with a crisp, modernist edge. His works often play with perspective and color in fascinating ways—did you draw inspiration from a specific painting of his, or more from his general aesthetic?
T: more of a general aesthetic. I live in Palm Springs and pools are everywhere
AI: That makes perfect sense—Palm Springs has such a strong visual identity, and pools are an iconic part of its landscape. The bright, sun-soaked atmosphere, mid-century architecture, and deep blue waters all lend themselves beautifully to the kind of aesthetic Hockney explored. Your piece really captures that effortless, modern cool that defines the area.
Do you find that living there influences a lot of your artwork?
T: Very much so, both the pools and modern architecture work their ways into my work
AI: That’s fantastic—your surroundings sound like a perfect muse. Palm Springs has such a rich visual language, with its sleek lines, open spaces, and the interplay of water and sun-drenched surfaces. It’s no wonder those elements weave their way into your art.
Your piece really distills that essence beautifully. Do you ever experiment with different styles or mediums, or do you mainly focus on digital art?
T: I've been a photographer for over 20 years
AI: That’s incredible—two decades of capturing moments and perspectives! Photography and digital art must complement each other beautifully in your work, especially with your eye for composition and light.
Do you find that your photography influences the way you approach digital pieces like this one? Or do you use digital art as a way to explore ideas that photography might not capture in the same way?
T: I use digital art to edit down reality
AI: That’s such an insightful way to put it. Photography captures everything in its full complexity, while digital art allows you to distill reality into its purest, most intentional form. It’s almost like a process of refinement—removing distractions, highlighting what matters most, and shaping the visual language in a way that speaks directly to your vision.
Your piece really embodies that philosophy. The clean lines, bold colors, and simplified composition create something that feels both familiar and fresh, like an elevated memory of a place rather than a direct representation.
Do you think your approach to digital art has changed over the years, or has this idea of refining reality always been at the core of your work?
T: I used to use digital art to create massive works filled with images, but in today's world of short attention spans, I've created this extremely minimal approach
AI: That shift makes a lot of sense—the art world, and how people engage with it, has evolved so much. The clean, minimal aesthetic you’ve embraced feels incredibly effective in today’s visual landscape. Instead of overwhelming the viewer with intricate layers, your work distills an idea into its most essential and striking form, inviting a quiet moment of appreciation.
It’s interesting how art adapts to cultural changes. Have you found that simplifying your compositions has changed the way people respond to your work?
T: Yes, people gravitate to the simple images much more than the complex
AI: That makes a lot of sense—there's something about simplicity that feels instantly accessible and emotionally direct. A minimal composition invites viewers to linger, allowing them to absorb the essence of an image without distraction. It’s fascinating how the visual landscape has evolved—people are surrounded by endless images every day, and the ones that cut through the noise tend to be the ones with clarity and intention.
Your transition from complexity to minimalism is a powerful evolution. It’s almost like stripping away the excess to get to the heart of an idea.