Art Lectures, Presentations, and Classes

My experience as a speaker dates back to my college days. Some years after graduating I began to deliver presentations to community groups on the topics of astronomy, planetary science, and space exploration. This was done initially as a spokesperson for the Northern Illinois Space Advocacy, the Planetary Studies Foundation, and the Chicago Society for Space Studies. I have also had the good fortune to have been able to develop and teach a number of courses for Chicago's Adler Planetarium, including a course on astronomical image processing and astronomical art. In 2002 I was selected to be a Solar System Ambassador for the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and continue to provide presentations dealing with planetary science. I am also a Space Ambassador for the National Space Society giving presentations on the economics of space development and space settlement.

My career in information systems and software development resulted in early work of web development. My most recent formal work in this field was serving as the National Space Society's Director of Information Technology, a position I resigned from at the start of 2021 in order to devote more time to my art, book projects, and web sites.

The rise of digital art allowed me to combine my artistic interests with my computing interests and I became what is today known as a creative coder. Consequently I began giving presentations that tied together my interests in art, space, astronomy, and computer graphics. Most recently (2023) I developed and taught two workshops on using Python and Google Colaboratory to write programs that access and use Large Languages Models (LLMs) to generate art and textual responses to prompts.

Following is a list of prepared presentations that relate to the aforementioned topic areas. The length of each lecture/presentation can be tailored to a group's particular needs. If you are a representative of a community organization, civic group, library, etc. and would like to book me for a presentation, please use the form at the bottom of this page to contact me. Note that I do on occassion develop fully customized presentaions to meet the specific needs of a requesting organization.

Table of Contents

• List of Art Business Related Presentations/Tutorials
• List of Digital Art Related Presentations/Tutorials
• List of Astronomical and Space Art Presentations
• List of Earth As Art Book Project Presentations
• Partial Listing of Past Presentation Venues/Customers
• Contact Jim to Book a Presentation

List of Art Business Related Presentations/Tutorials

For additional information about each presentation, click the presentation's title link.

Category	Description and Link to lecture / presentation detail.
Art Business	Print On Demand for Artists and Photographers An analysis of how to review the many competing print on demand businesses and how to choose the POD site most appropriate for your art/photography business. Category: art business
Artist Web Development	Building an Online Presence: The Internet for Artists and Photographers An instructional presentation for artists and photographers on how to create a presence on the Internet and how to market that presence. Category: art business, web development
Artist Web Development	Instagram and Pinterest for Artists and Photographers A tutorial presentation for artists and photographers on how to use Instagram and Pinterest to promote your work. Category: art business, web development (retired)
Artist Web Development	Search Engine Optimization for Artists and Photographers Class A tutorial presentation for artists and photographers on using SEO (search engine optimization) to improve their search engine ranking. Category: art business, web development
Artist Web Development	Social Media for Artists and Photographers Class A tutorial presentation for artists and photographers on using social media to network and promote your art and photography. Category: art business, web development

List of Digital Art Related Presentations/Tutorials

Sub-Category	Description and Link to lecture / presentation detail.
Computer Art	The Beauty of Algorithmic Art A visual tour of algorithmic art and an overiew of its history.
Computer Art	Designing Algorithmic Art: From Concept to Realization A tutorial-oriented look at the creative design process used to create algorithmic art.
Computer Art	Algorithmic Art: Where Art, Computers, and Math Collide A look at algorithmic art and its history. Category: digital art
Computer Art	Computer Art, Digital Art, New Media Art The exploding popularity of art created with the aid of digital devices and the continual invention of new means of creative use of computing technology means that this field of art is ever changing. This presentation provides an overview of the rapidly growing field of new media art, and the associated terminology.
Computer Art	Creating Digital Spirographs and Harmonographs with Processing A one session class on how to create digital spirographs and harmonographs using the Processing programming language. In addition to the lecture component, students are provided with model programs to explore and keep.
Computer Art	Glitch Art: Errors in the name of Art A presentation on the history and nature of glitch art with a focus on digital glitching techniques.
Computer Art	Processing for Artists and Photographers An introduction to the Processing platform for artists and photographers. Category: digital art, instructional
Digital Art	The Agony and Ecstasy of Being A Digital Artist A first person account of the unique challenges and rewards of being a digital artist. Category: digital art
Digital Art	Live Art A presentation and live demonstration of audio-driven art creation. Category: digital art

List of Astronomical and Space Art Presentations

Sub-Category	Description and Link to lecture / presentation detail.
Astronomical Art	Art of Astronomy A review of the history of astronomical art. Category: astronomical art
Astronomical Art	Astronomical Image Processing with NASA and your PC A tutorial on astronomical and planetary image processing. Category: astronomical art, instructional
Astronomical Art	Hubble's Universe A look at the Hubble Space Telescope, its astronomical images, and discoveries. Category: astronomy, astronomical art
Astronomical Art	Imaging Mars An overview of planetary image processing as it relates to NASA robotic missions to Mars. Category: astronomical art
Space Art	The National Space Society Space Settlement Art Contest An inside look at the NSS Space Settlement Art Contest. Category: space art
Space Art	Art and the Exploration of Space A look at space art, its development and uses in the realm of space exploration. Category: space art

List of Earth As Art Book Project Presentations

Sub-Category	Description and Link to lecture / presentation detail.
Earth Art	Planet Earth As Art: The View From Space A presentation that presents planet Earth as a work of art based on satellite imagery. Category: earth art, remote sensing

Partial Listing of Past Presentation Venues

Some of the venues for my past presentations include:

Museums Adler Planetarium, Chicago IL Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst IL Cernan Space Center, Triton College, River Grove IL Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago IL PSF Henize Science Center, Crystal Lake IL	Schools Campanelli Public School, Schaumburg IL Da Vinci Academy, Elgin IL Eisenhower Junior High School, Hoffman Estates IL Harper College, Palatine IL Kennedy High School, Chicago IL Prairie Ridge High School, Crystal Lake IL
Libraries Gale Borden Library, Elgin IL Helen M. Plum Memorial Library, Lombard IL Hinsdale Public Library, Hinsdale, IL Morton Grove Public Library, Morton Grove, IL Niles Public Library, Niles IL Schaumburg Township District Library, Schaumburg IL Wauconda Library, Wauconda IL	Conventions and Conferences Capricon Science Fiction Convention Duckon Science Fiction Convention International Space Development Conference Midwest Space Development Conference Musecon Self Employment in the Arts Conference To Be CONtinued Science Fiction Convention Windycon Science Fiction Convention Worldcon World Science Fiction Convention
Other Barrington Cultural Arts Center Boys Scout Troop 67, Northbrook IL ED/CAS/SSC Societies of IEEE, Motorola, Schaumburg, IL Fox Valley IEEE, IIT Rice Campus, Wheaton IL Friendship Village Men's Club, Schaumburg IL Hanover Township Senior Center, Bartlett, IL Harper College Astronomy Day, Palatine IL	Other Lake County Astronomical Society, Deerfield IL Music Institute of Chicago, Evanston IL Naperville Astronomical Association, Naperville IL Northwest Suburban Astronomers, Hoffman Estates IL Pixel Camera Club, Schaumburg IL Skokie Valley Astronomers, Riverwoods, IL

Contact Jim to Book a Presentation

Please use the form below to submit your inquiry. Note that you will need to enter the alphanumeric string you see in the green image in order to be able to submit the form (necessary due to bots and spammers).

Or I can be contacted by email by clicking the link below.