Part 2: Glitch Workshop
What the heck is glitch art?
Glitch art is the practice of introducing errors into electronic works for aesthetic purposes. Glitches are apt to happen in the wild (on computer screens, TVs, and digital signage), where they're mostly accidental.
Here are a few I’ve encountered and documented in my daily life:
Uhhh is this bad
WSJ? More like WTF
We may think of glitching as a super-modern phenomena, observed (with horror!) when our laptops and tablets refuse to cooperate. But for decades, artists have been applying novel methods to interrupt and reconfigure electronic signals with intention, leading to unexpectedly intriguing visual outputs.
This can come about by toying with the screen itself (think Nam June Paik applying magnets to television sets) or reconfiguring wires that transmit typically discernible signals. (I’m referencing images and video art at the moment, but there are tons of examples of this kind of manipulation in music, as well. Especially re: sampling, sequencing, processing, etc.)
Nam June Paik: The Father of Video Art
A couple of my NJP homages
In more recent years, the advent of smartphones and glitch apps has made it possible for anyone—without tech expertise or pro equipment—to freely experiment and produce glitch art of their own.
And that’s what this resource is all about. :)
Why do I love making glitch art?
1. I’ve always had artistic inclinations, but had difficulty creating something I enjoyed, both in process and execution. My drawing skills are limited; my painting skills, even more so. (Shout-out to my dad, who excels at both!)
Creating via apps opened up a whole new world of self-expression where these limitations don’t stand in the way.
2. I’ve never had the patience to keep a diary or scrapbook, but I am an obsessive archivist and collector. By glitching my own photos, I’m able to create art out of my memories and observations, which breathes new life and meaning into them.
3. Although I’m familiar enough with certain apps and effects to sometimes create something that I envision, more often than not, I have no idea how my work is going to turn out. So the creation process is as exciting as the end result. I love that the activity itself is as enjoyable as what it yields, and that I can still surprise myself, even when playing with well-worn elements.
4. Because the apps live on my phone, my studio can be anywhere! I don’t need to rent or set aside extra space, I don’t need to restock supplies, and there’s no mess or cleanup involved.
5. I am enthralled with the variety of styles I can produce. I can make pieces that evoke ‘80s vaporwave, dreamy pastels, bold geometrics, or psychedelic op-art—often from the very same source image.
6. We’re inundated by digital media—shouldn’t we have a go at making and mixing it, too? After all, in an age of hyper cyber anxiety—when personal data is being culled and exploited on every platform—reclaiming files and devices for purely artistic purposes can function as a radical act of creative autonomy and expression.
7. It looks really dang cool.
Image Sourcing
Before you start playing with apps, you’ll need source material. (Unlike generative art—where you create pieces using code—with glitch, you’ll need to begin with some sort of imagery to manipulate.)
You have nearly unlimited options if you’re making art purely for fun; if you plan to monetize your work, you’ll want to be more careful about what pictures you use so you don’t encroach on copyrights.
My top recommendation is to use your original photos (particularly if they’re free of copyrighted or trademarked materials). They can lead to the most satisfying results, as you may recognize elements retained from your own life, lending a special autobiographical element.
Selfies, and photos of yourself as a kid, your pets, and your ancestors can be especially enjoyable:
You can also create masterful material starting with others’ photos and art, particularly if you are interested in collaging or combining.
Here are a few of my fave open resources for base imagery:
Unsplash
Pixabay
The British Library (I recommend researching additional archives from libraries, museums, historical societies, and government agencies, as many are digitized for creative commons use! And you can then incorporate neat vintage artifacts.)
Archival Magic (fantastic resource by Dustin Renwick with insightful guidelines and suggested collections links)
I’ve also compiled a smattering of my original art images, which you’re welcome to download and glitch as you please:
Dropbox folder
Keep in mind that you don’t need to have anything fancy to start with. Sometimes, the simpler the source, the better the glitch. You’ll be bending and twisting your file into oblivion (potentially), so you might render it completely unrecognizable anyway.
Above all, experiment and embrace errors. It’s all part of the process, and I’ve found that unexpected results are far more interesting than anything I’ve set out to create intentionally.
Collaborating
Another wonderful way to create stunning glitch works is to team up for a collaboration. You can either agree to provide each other with source imagery for the other one to glitch, or you can go back-and-forth in succession, for a fancy, high-tech game of telephone.
This kind of partnership can be particularly fulfilling if you return to the process as you learn and grow, as you’re bound to develop new styles and discoveries along the way.
Here are a few of my favorite visual collaborations:
Ben K. Foley
Ben is a fellow Somervillian who specializes in physical installations that toy with perception and dimension. Using his custom-built infinity box and his mirrored pedestal contraption as the foundation—and my glitch art as the projected media—we developed an immersive kaleidoscopic wonderland and a seemingly 3D planetary orb display.
Both debuted at GlitchKraft at Emerson Contemporary in September 2019, and we more recently collaborated on a giant video piece for Art on the Marquee at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, April–June 2020. Lots more to come for this partnership, now officially dubbed bent/haus!
Alex Kittle
Alex is another exemplary Somerville artist. She focuses on drawing portraits of celebrated and lesser-known women in the arts, with a particular emphasis on musicians and filmmakers. We created a full room of collaborative pieces—with her linework portraits and my glitch backgrounds—for GlitchKraft at Emerson Contemporary in September 2019.
Outside of our collaborations, Alex’s pop-culture portraits are available in every form, from pinback buttons to large-scale prints. Ask her about custom commissions, too!
stickipictures
Lukas Therien is a street artist in Worcester, MA. We bonded back in my street art sticker days. For our collab, we melded his red-and-blue 3D style with my cat art for video installations (and a sticker sheet, of course) for GlitchKraft at Emerson Contemporary in September 2019.
David Bojay
David is a talented-beyond-his-years art student in Texas. We connected on Instagram over a love of bold and colorful digital art, and have been collaborating for several years. Typically, he starts with his own pieces, which I then glitch, but occasionally we flip the script.
Our latest pieces—pictured here in the first and third rows—debuted at Dear So-and-So: A Pen Pals Art Show at the Distillery Gallery in November 2019.
Convergence
Looking for a community to glitch with?
I recently joined Convergence, a new glitch art collective. The members all followed each other on Instagram (if we weren’t doing so already), conversed over Discord, and shared images via Google Drive that we could then glitch individually (with others glitching again, if they so chose). Our favorite results were posted on the Instagram page for all to see. (My selections below are from a collab with @sgt_slaughtermelon.)
Check it out and ask about joining in, too! I’ve also listed many more communities and resources at the very bottom of this page.
App Overview
Now that you have some material to start with—and people to potentially collaborate with (if that’s your jam)—it’s time to get to the apps!
I incorporate dozens of apps in my work (some to more success than others), so I’m starting with a curated sampling of my favorites for you to try. Some are free, while others are lower-cost; a couple are pricier. Only go with what you’re comfortable with and don’t fret if you can’t afford one you really like; you can still make extremely cool glitches, even with just a single app at your disposal.
Keep in mind that you can also generate extremely cool results when you use different apps in succession. If you’re not satisfied with your initial output, keep going! There’s always potential in your work; sometimes you just need to dig a little deeper to find the gems.
App Instructions
Somewhat confusingly, each app has its own layout and way to create. Some have handy tutorials and helpfully labeled buttons, while others are more intuitive and just entail sliding your finger around until you hit an effect you gel to. Meanwhile, some have neither...but if you click around, you’re sure to learn your way.
All of the apps I selected below have a very low bar to entry, so the screenshots should give you a solid preview of what each can do. For each, you first load up your desired image, then click on different presets or effects buttons (either up top or down below—the app will make it obvious), and either use your finger to determine the amount of the effect, a slider, or both. With some, you can also pinch in and out to expand the design or shrink it. Others still have different “modes” or variations within an effect or filter, providing you with even more opportunities to make your piece unique.
To save, you’ll click a check mark, a button marked “save,” a box with a downward-facing arrow, or a hard disk icon. Or sometimes something else! Each app is just a teeny bit different, but once you poke around a bit, you’ll likely get the hang of it.
I primarily work in iOS, but have recently begun experimenting with an Android tablet, so I can explore apps on that platform, as well. I’ll reference Android apps where possible (especially as iOS counterparts), though I can’t always answer questions about them. I’ll do my best to assist if I can.
App Demos
Classic Glitch
Pixel sorting. Moshing. Databending. Scanning. These are all traditional glitch techniques that typically require deep technical know-how. Luckily for you (and me), they’re accessible as heck with these classic glitch apps—each with a smorgasbord of effects, filters, and alteration possibilities.
Twist, bend, distort, spin, and render to your heart’s content with these trippily essential tools, which draw out the potential of your original image’s color and form to create intriguing new masterpieces, from vintage VHS effects to futuristic 3D landscapes.
Pro Tip: Save frequently as you glitch. Many apps don’t have an undo function, and many effects are difficult (if not impossible) to replicate. If you save your work as you go, you’ll have a record handy of every resulting image that appealed to you, which you can always sift through later to whittle down to your favorites. (Plus, images you create that you don’t love right away can always be used as base elements for future glitches—endless potential!)
Glitché (iOS)—see more on Instagram
Glitch Lab (Android)—explore more examples on Instagram
Vaporgram (Android)
Also recommended:
Glitch Wizard (iOS)—more showcased on Instagram
Glitch Art Studio (iOS)
Decim8 (iOS)
Dazed Lens (iOS)—cool examples on Instagram
Dazed Lens (Android)—cool examples on Instagram
Glitch! (Android)—lots more on Instagram
Chroma Lab (Android)—see more neat examples on Instagram
Mosaic Art Lab (Android)
Glitchee (Android)
Photomosh (browser-based and very user-friendly!)—updates and examples on Twitter
ImageGlitcher (also browser-based)
VaporCam (iOS)
Spectralizer (iOS)
SCN (iOS)
GLTCH (iOS)
Pixels0rtr (iOS)
PhotoSynthesize (iOS)
1967 (iOS)
NEONCAM (iOS)
VVFY (iOS)
MolyCam (iOS)
QuickShot (iOS)
Filterloop (iOS)
TRIPPY (iOS)
Arcade Aesthetic
Go old school with these Nintendo-tastic apps, which transform your photos and videos into Super Mario–worthy masterpieces. Play with pixels, emulate ancient computer systems, and dig deep into dithering (digital patterns that reproduce shadow and gradient—examples ahead).
Pro Tip 1: In addition to processing video clips (as well as photos), Retrospecs also features an animation feature, so you can create videos or GIFs of still images, too.
Pro Tip 2: Retrospecs creator John Parker is super receptive to questions and feedback. You can reach him via Twitter or by email at support @ 8bitartwork.co.uk. Check out his gallery and tips, as well!
Retrospecs (iOS)—lots more cool examples on Instagram
8Bit Photo Lab (Android)—check out more great examples on Instagram
Also recommended:
Famicam64 (iOS)
Kaleidoscopic
Discover wondrous details contained in your imagery—from the tip of a table to a corner of a collar—and blast them out to psychedelic effect. These kaleidoscopic apps make it a cinch to create dazzling patterns and mandalas using selected pieces of your photos and glitch art.
Pro Tip 1: Be sure to zoom in and out by pinching the screen to reduce and enlarge the visible area, as well as spin the image around with your fingers to showcase new kaleidoscopic angles of the same base image.
Pro Tip 2: While you’re experimenting, use your phone’s screen recording to capture an engaging, ever-changing video extravaganza—handy for the kaleidoscope apps that only have a still photo capture feature.
Kaleidomatic (iOS)
Kaleider (Android)
Also recommended:
KaleidaCam (iOS)
KaleidoLens (iOS)
Adobe Capture (iOS)
Adobe Capture (Android)
Mirror Lab (Android)—see more cool examples on Instagram
Hybrids + Collages
What’s better than one picture? Two! Or…many more than two!
FotoDa gathers multiple images from your phone’s camera roll (or specific images, or specific albums—you can define several different parameters; see notated screenshots below) and combines them in various glitchy configurations.
To create a new hybrid, simply click on any upper part of the screen that isn’t an icon. To save, click the box with the downward-facing arrow. The spiral icon pulls up different albums that you can combine. The set of 4 boxes icon lets you select specific images to combine. And the gear cog icon enables you to select an image that you can “pin” aka will be present in all of your combinations (until you “clear” or un-pin it).
At the moment, FotoDa is iOS only, but word on the street is that a desktop version is in the works! I’ll update when I know more. :)
Pro Tip 1: FotoDa is the magical engine behind my collaborations with Alex Kittle, as well as the above pictured NAILS series, where I take photos of ‘80s nail salon decals, then use FotoDa to layer them with my glitch works. If you like to draw or work with existing illustrations, this is an excellent technique to add more color, randomness, and dimension to your linework.
Pro Tip 2: Save every image that is remotely of interest with FotoDa. You can always delete it later, but because the combinations are automatically generated behind the scenes, if you don’t save it when you see it, you’ll likely never see it again!
Pro Tip 3: FotoDa automatically crops to be full-screen on your device. So if you’re working with vertical images, you will have some cut off. If you’re using a horizontal image (as in the example below), a lot will be chopped off. You can add white space and resave images at a larger size if you want to ensure the full image is included in your mash-ups.
Pro Tip 4: FotoDa creator Zevan Rosser kindly makes himself accessible on Instagram. Reach out directly if you have questions or requests!
FotoDa (iOS)
Miscellaneous Notes
1. This resource only covers a sampling of apps and approaches—there are so many more, and I encourage you to keep digging. Just keep in mind that some are primarily for video (which is awesome—but a lesson for another day), while others are bloated with many ads. So I can’t vouch for every single one being suitable for you or your needs.
If you have questions or want tips, I’m happy to advise further if I am familiar with the app or technique in question (slogansfornothing at gmail dot com).
That said, here are some suggested video apps to kick things off:
Groovo (iOS)
EFEKT (iOS)
Hyperspektiv (iOS)
VFX (iOS)
Videoleap (iOS)
Pixaloop (iOS)
Animatix (iOS)
Soratama Lens (iOS)
KaleidoLens (iOS)
90s (iOS)
FilmoraGo (iOS)
Glitchshop (iOS)
Neongraf (iOS)
MoonShadow (iOS)
GlitchFX (iOS)
Glitchy (iOS)
GlitchyPsychedelic Camera VHS (iOS)
Nü Photo (iOS)
PREQUEL (iOS)
Retro Film (iOS)
RarevisionVHS (iOS)
FilterStack (iOS)
GlitchCam (iOS)
Glitch Clip (iOS)
Analog Lab (iOS)
Filto (iOS)
Mega Photo (iOS)
Mega Photo (Android)
Generate (iOS)
Matter (iOS)
DU-VFX (iOS) (from the makers of Decim8 (iOS)
2. Some apps save images as tiny files, while others are quite sizable. If you go glitch crazy (as I do), you may find yourself gobbling up your device’s storage memory. (Since I know I will likely want to upscale or print my art later, I also go to each app’s settings and designate exports for the largest size.) I try to practice “good tech hygiene” by uploading images to Dropbox and saving them on an external hard drive, then deleting from my device (if I don’t plan to work with them in the near future).
Whatever works for you is of course fine—just an FYI to keep an eye on capacity as you play.
3. If you’re sharing on Instagram, you’ll likely want some glitch-ready hashtags. I dig these, but you will likely find others you prefer as you explore: #vibe #trippyart #vaporwave #glitchaesthetic #glitchart #glitch #glitched #glitchartistscollective #webpunk #opart #opticalillusion #glitched #trippy #opticalart #psychedelicart #synthwave #netart #newmediaart #vaporwaveaesthetic #xuxoe #digitalabstract #digitalabstractart #abstractgeometric #generativeart #glitchersconsulat #glitchwave #visualprogramming #pixelsorting #databending #datamosh #cyberart
4. Confused? Overwhelmed? Don’t get discouraged. If you only work within one app where you feel comfortable, that is totally OK. Glitching should be fun, not stressful, and there’s no pressure to achieve a particular outcome. Narrowing in on a signature style can be a fulfilling way to work within your comfort zone, while still being proud of your efforts and outputs. So you can always start (or even end) there.
5. Although glitching doesn’t require studio space or many additional materials, I do recognize that the cost of apps—let alone devices—can be prohibitive. I apologize for any insensitivity in that regard, and hope that this can indeed be an accessible art to all.
Additional Resources
Galleries, Venues, Events, Competitions, and Opportunities:
Boston Cyberarts
Art on the Marquee
Emerson Contemporary
Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston
MIT List Visual Arts Center
DAP (Dorchester Art Project)
Digital Soup
Ars Electronica
Lumen Prize
FILE Festival
Contemporary + Digital Art Fair
/’fu:bar/ Glitch Art Festival
Vector Festival
New Digital Collage
Xuxoe
The Webby Awards
NEoN
Abandon Normal Devices
Publications and Directories:
Property Materials Zine
ArtNome
SciArt Magazine
Digital America
Boston Art Review
CODAworx
Communities, Councils, Companies, and Educators:
Convergence
Boston Tech Poetics
Christopher Konopka
WGBH Open Vault
Glitchet
Glitch Artists Collective
Free the Pixels
Creative Tools to Generate AI Art
Sensory App House
Reddit: Glitch Art
ThoughtWorks Arts
Art-a-Hack
Histories:
The Long, Twisted History of Glitch Art
Glitch It Good: Understanding the Glitch Art Movement
Inside the Bizarre Phenomenon Known as “Glitch Art”
Glitch Art
Make it Glitch, Baby! Here’s Why Womxn Have a Competitive Edge in New Media
(Did I leave you out or forget something important? Tell me, plz!)
Where to See My Stuff
My website (You’re here already! Good job)
Instagram
Behance
YouTube
Where to Buy My Stuff (no pressure)
Etsy
Underdog Print Shop
Fy!
Society6
Art Grab
Peace Out
Thank you for giving this a whirl! I’d love to see what you create, as well as answer any questions.
Get in touch with me (slogansfornothing(at)gmail) if you need additional assistance. And feel free to shoot me a DM on Instagram (@atanenhaus) if you’d like me to check out your work there.
Want to hire me for a project? That would be neat, too. :)
Happy glitching!
