Due to the singularity of oil constructions on canvas, painting is considered an analog medium. The act of applying pigment cannot be reduced to a notational system composed of coordinates or characters. Radiating the power of authenticity, autographic works on canvas cannot be reproduced for repeated copying introduces degradation of some variety. Conversely, a musical score is an allographic work which can be copied infinitely without decay. While the code behind these works can be reproduced without ruin, a musical score is brought to life by the actual performance. Likewise, a digital photograph is instantiated by the pulled print that follows the tones or colors specified in the bitmapped image file. The symbols that make up the coding structure of an allographic medium thus remain unchanged although the means of output or display can markedly alter the appearance of the piece.

In the process of creating digital work, I attempted to set up a forum for play and personal expression with an allographic medium. Essentially, I wanted to recreate my strong autographic sensibility in an allographic medium which gave the viewer the responsibility of dynamic interactivity. Rather than watching images pour from a brush grasped by my hand, I set out to create a script that would simulate my mark making process for a viewer manipulating a mouse. This digital recombination of my painterly impulses has become MarkSPOT, a multi-faceted project which currently functions as an interactive website and compact disk, and gallery installation.