The portrait machine builds up a portrait* of you, or any subject, over a period of time. A couple of tiny cameras record images of you, as you pass in front of the frame, sampling each image for a clue as to tone, hue and facial structure.

Taking that info and applying the paint to the canvas in small brushmarks maybe 1/2in across, it only dabs on a few spots each day, in a sort of rough pontillist style. The effect is a painting more in the style of Soutine than, say, Seurat.

Over the course of a year you see the painting slowly emerge, with features that accidentally incorporate some aspects of other faces it has encountered during that time.

If the progress of the project is bothering you there is always the option to have a clock mechanism fitted, to add to its usefulness.

*Landscape version also available.
-- UnaBubba, Feb 10 2008

Is the *Landscape version for those inclined to repose?
-- Canuck, Feb 10 2008


Absolutely, [Canuck]. It was a touch I couldn't resist.

I hadn't intended it to attempt nudes, [boysparks]. No reason why not, I must admit.
-- UnaBubba, Feb 10 2008


Him, to her: "Honey, why does my nose in this picture look just like the milkman's?"
-- Canuck, Feb 10 2008


Put it down to artistic licence.
-- UnaBubba, Feb 11 2008


We thought this would be a combination of a digital camera, a set of brushes, a pallette of oil paints (or acrylics), and a robotic arm; click on the checkbox for "Mannerist", "Pre-Raphaelite", "Impressionist", or for the mesochistic, "Cubist".......

But this could be good, too ..... [+]
-- 8th of 7, Feb 13 2008



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