Cajsa's Choices: Bamboo Barnes Turns Second Life Screenshots Into Brilliant Abstract Art

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Bamboo Barnes is one of the few Second Life artists who posts her raw Second Life photos alongside the final picture she publishes to Flickr. It is a good thing, because otherwise, how could you believe it came from Second Life? Her art is visually and colorfully assertive, though when talking to her, she approaches her work with such humility that when I asked for her favorite piece of work, it never occurred to her I meant her own.

That kind of self-effacing humility may be a result of the bipolar disorder that has narrowed her world over the last several years. Other than a life-long friend of more than 25 years, most of her support and connection now comes through Second Life, mostly from her SL partner, whom she describes as endlessly patient. Art has become a lifeline for Barnes, one avenue in which she feels a part of a community.

Barnes also does digital art outside of Second Life, works such as this expressionist "Gondole". She is scrupulous about differentiating her work by the groups she shares them in so browsers of her stream will easily identify those works from Second Life and her other digital art.

My conversation with Barnes below!

How would you describe your aesthetic?

The most important element of art is emotion, without that it is not art for me.

Fears, sadness, pains, hopes, desperations... I would rather go with them than post card-type pictures or fashion shots that are happy-happy-sexy-hot. 

What ideas do you want to express in your work?

I want to present the problem and expose personal emotions.

Where do you find inspiration?

Inspiration comes from the Image itself or from music. Usually I don’t have ideas when I start working on Photoshop, when it is good/ok, the picture starts talking to me.

What artists do you admire?

I admire many artists in Second Life. My list includes Haveit Neox, Livio Korobase, Cherry Manga, Rebeca Bashly, Theda Tammas, Bryn Oh, Sina Souza, Harbor Galaxy, and Giovanna Cerise.

What is one of your favorite pictures (with some component in SL)?

My favorite of my own, hmm… “World Upside Down”. The original build is by Haveit Neox for an installation at LEA that included multiple excellent artists. It was called "The Raft" in summer of 2014.

What can you tell us about your process?

I take my photo into Photoshop then take as much time as it needs. When it is not good, it takes more time, sometimes hours, days, even weeks. I do not compromise.

How much of your work is done in SL and how much is done with post-processing?

Now I have little a bit over 2150 images on my Flickr, over 90% of them are SL images and nearly 100% of them are post-processed.

Without giving away secrets, what can you tell us about how you approach creating your art?

I listen to good music. I use filters. My best advice is try not make it just beautiful, lovely, or cute. It will end up a cliche. It is boring.

Tell us a little about you SL life? What brought you, keeps you, entertains you....

In 2006, I watched a TV program about SL. Furry avies were talking about their SL life as they are partners, have a home in-world, etc. I thought, “What the hell??” So I made my account after a while.

Until I started capturing images (seriously) in=world which was June 2012, I was just wandering around some blues bars and shops as everyone does. I met a few very nice people but most of them have left SL already. Since I found SL photography, it became my obsession. I started like everybody else with the avi shots but very soon I found much more interesting subjects such as well-built landscapes and many art installations that made my jaw drop. Now it is the only reason I am still keeping my account. SL 3D installation art is SL to me.

How has SL changed your real life? How has it changed your art?

I had very little experience of art before I started. I can say my art began in SL and now it is expanding to RL images, which is more enjoyable than I expected, I bought a camera even. I am always looking for the way to better my creations. There are a crazy number of excellent real life artists who are my inspiration at the moment, “to be better”.

Although I never imagined it before SL, now I edit photos, use Photoshop, have exhibitions myself, and meet those excellent talented artists inworld. Wow, still cannot believe it mysel

My work has been changing. Da Vinci said, “Art is never finished just abandoned” isn’t that so?

Where can we see it in-world and on the web?

• The Galleries:  maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Georgiana/228/97/1012
• Vision of beauty:  maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Whinlatter/150/21/71
• Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/bamboobarnes/

Cajsa Lilliehook joined Second Life in 2007 and has been enjoying the art of SL ever since. Disliking the common practice of critiquing poor photos, she decided to highlight good ones and explain why they work in hopes of inspiring with praise instead of criticism. Follow Cajsa on Flickr, on Twitter or on her blog.

Comments

[daringabroad]

Beautiful.

[Coffeetable]

The artwork is amazing. love it!!!

[Samuel]

Such an overwhelming piece or creation. Love it!