Art by Teknowizard Randall Klopping

I have no education in art save a couple of summer courses in photography. Growing up with mental illness caused me many problems and I’ve never really been comfortable in a classroom or most social settings. But I love to create! In my younger years it was primarily sketching, painting (acrylic, oil & airbrush). In an accident in 1992 I was crushed by a pickup and car, which left me able to spend less and less time standing or sitting. I thought art was lost to me until computers broke the pentium2 barrier and started exploring digital art. As far as I can remember, I have always sought to represent things in a visual manner. A trait I suspect comes from the Asperger’s syndrome, a form of Autism without the speech impediment. I began expressing myself through art because my brain struggles constantly with words, especially when writing, the patterns escape me. But visual patterns! Now there is something my brain understands and drives me to explore. They say every storm cloud has a silver lining, this is the gift that comes with the curse of my insanity. Art is the one thing that truly puts the turmoil my thoughts are and allows me to be at peace. Much of the inspiration in my work comes from science, particularly in the realms of astronomy and theoretical physics. I have learned over the years that science seems to be a place where those with mental illness often fit in. I believe it is the logic that attracts us to it, the disciplining of the mind to scientific principles and opening it to the possibilities our universe is. I may be trapped in a bed most of the time but through art, I can explore the universe, in all is possible dimensions, that which we know to exist as well as that which is theorized that it may embody. I'm sometimes asked what artists I admire and in the modern day I have many whose work I admire, for example Bob Eggleton, a wonderful fantasy and sci-fi artist. As to the Masters of old, I am familiar with several but would have to say the one with the most influence is Leonardo De Vinci. We share certain traits and it is for his mind that I admire him most. As an artist I follow his inspiration and explore my own path rather than copy him in style, for I believe that to be the truest gift the Masters give us. While in my younger years art was always a hobby for me, now it is the one profession that I can still do stuck in my bed. I have spent many years now adapting to painting digitally and under a bit primative circumstances as all I can afford as a tool is a Logitech Trackman (trackball) rather than what I hope to have someday, a top of the line Wacom which would make working in bed much more productive. The art of Fractal Illusions that I am pioneering gives me a unique advantage as my pieces are already captivating many hearts and inspiring others, often both in art and science. Though often my disabilities make it difficult and stressful for me, my goals are simple in principle. My short term goals are to earn enough money for nessetities, a new mattress & memory foam pad for my bed, have safety handles installed so I can safely shower on a regular basis and to be able to afford to pay someone to clean the heck out of my home (haven't been able to keep up with cleaning for years). My mid range goal is to get established enough as an artist and known for my work so that I have a more steady flow of income so that I may find a home to rent where I can have peace & quiet and thus the best atmosphere in which I can get the most work done efficiently as living in a bario I am often disturbed in my home by rude neighbors and their friends, not to mention having to deal with gangs (though they seem to finally have learned its wiser to avoid me than draw my attention to their activities). My long term goal is the most difficult, some might say impossible but I intend to truly build a life for myself and have the dignity that comes from fully supporting oneself with all my hard work. I am not afraid to tackle the impossible, for even if I don't fully achieve it, reaching for it will help me accomplish more than setting a goal by which I percieve my limits to be. Despite not being able to afford to enter the competitions and exhibitions to build recognition, I work from early in the morning till usually well past midnight most days, 7 days a week, as many days of the year as my condition allows me. You see, I don't believe that we change our stars when times are tough, but rather that it is through our ingenuity, determination and hard work that in fact we weave new stars for ourselves and change our fate. It is the very theme of my Weaving a Star series, stars I have woven artistically to change my fate and to inspire in others hope and strength for a better tomorrow.