What is Dynamic Patternism?

Dynamic patternism is a digital painting technique developed by Robin Hostick that expresses the “aliveness” and interconnectedness of the natural world. The technique is done by hand using a tablet and stylus over dozens of hours to complete a single work. Each shape in a dynamic patternism painting is carefully created to blend with adjacent shapes according to a set of adaptive rules. Nothing about the technique is automated or programmed - it relies on the basic artistry of thinking, observing, and letting the hand and eye develop each shape and color until it feels right.

Each composition begins as an original oil painting or photograph created by the artist. The image is imported to the tablet and transformed using the dynamic patternism technique. Colors and shapes emerge from the original image, evolving and blending in ways that are striking and pleasing to the eye. Some observers describe the technique as having psychedelic qualities, others talk about becoming lost in the soothing shapes and patterns, or feeling the work is alive with movement. This reveals the artist’s intention - to bring to life the richness and sensory dynamism of human experience in nature.

As works of digital art, dynamic patternism paintings only exist in photons (images on a computer screen) and binary code until they are made material by modern printing technology. Robin Hostick developed this technique for print media, to be framed and enjoyed full-size in real life, as a modern homage to traditional landscape painting.