Meet Michael Devereux
Michael Devereux's artistic journey began through the lens of a camera, spending years honing both technical skills and artistic vision through wildlife and bird photography. This work became the foundation for his broader artistic practice. Although he studied applied physics for his undergraduate degree and later completed a PhD in applied mathematics, he was always drawn to art and creativity.
In 2012, Michael decided to expand his artistic practice by studying traditional art forms. He recognized that understanding fundamental artistic principles through painting and drawing would strengthen his photographic work, particularly in terms of composition and visual structure. This immersion in traditional techniques opened up new ways of seeing and creating, significantly impacting his artistic development. During this period, he was also introduced to traditional printmaking techniques, which became another major creative passion.
Michael's exploration of generative art emerged through experimenting with code to create visual effects. His mathematical background led him to explore patterns and algorithms, discovering how simple mathematical inputs could create remarkably complex and beautiful outputs. Through continuous experimentation and testing new approaches, he developed his own style of generative art, often blending these with printmaking techniques for unique results. This exploration culminated in his first long-form project on ArtBlocks in 2022, where he explored more ambitious concepts and ideas.
Michael has always been intensely focused on archival quality in his art. When he learned about Bitcoin ordinals, he was immediately drawn to their potential as an elegant solution for preserving digital art. The ordinal numbering system offers a perfect way to track progress and associate specific pieces with particular moments in time. Beyond the artistic aspects, he has found great satisfaction in delving into Bitcoin's technical elements—writing query scripts, conducting analyses, and working directly with the blockchain. He appreciates the straightforward nature of Bitcoin compared to more complex blockchain platforms. While inscription costs create certain constraints in terms of code size, these limitations have inspired new approaches to his work, especially in print editions.
Michael's abstract work frequently features brightly colored animated geometric forms, particularly three-dimensional structures and their two-dimensional projections. Cubes and cubic forms have unintentionally become recurring elements in many pieces, emerging naturally from his exploration of mathematical patterns and forms.
Pushing Boundaries
Michael's artistic approach centers on experimentation and discovery. He enjoys finding new techniques and pushing boundaries through continuous testing and refinement. His abstract work typically features bright, geometric forms, particularly three-dimensional structures and their two-dimensional projections. Cubes and cubic forms have become recurring elements in many pieces, emerging naturally through his exploration of mathematical patterns.
He often blends traditional printmaking techniques with digital work, creating unique combinations of old and new approaches. This intersection of traditional craft and digital innovation feels particularly authentic to him. What drives his work is the process of discovery—finding unexpected results through experimentation and refining them into finished pieces.
An Archival Solution
Michael was drawn to Bitcoin ordinals due to their elegance as a long-term archival solution. The ordinal numbering system provides an ideal way to track progress and associate specific pieces with particular moments in both the Bitcoin timeline and important times in life. Beyond the artistic aspects, he has found great satisfaction in diving deep into Bitcoin's technical elements.
The experience with ordinals has been very different compared to other blockchains, but one he loves. With ordinals, both the artwork and all required libraries are inscribed on-chain, making each piece completely independent and robust. He appreciates the raw nature of inscribing the completed piece himself, which becomes the final version of the art. This contrasts with other blockchains where artworks typically depend on centralized platforms and must adhere to rigid standards, with lots of additional processing and code injection. While inscription costs create certain constraints in terms of code size, these limitations have inspired new approaches to his work.
Lissajous Hypercube and Restless
Two pieces that hold special significance for Michael are "Lissajous Hypercube" and "Restless," both born from ideas that came to him in dreams. Having worked extensively with Lissajous patterns in previous pieces, "Lissajous Hypercube" felt like a natural evolution of this work. He recalls waking up with the concept fully formed in his mind and immediately documenting it, worried it might fade like most dreams do. Yet, months later, the idea remains remarkably clear in his mind.
"Restless" followed a similar pattern of dream-inspired creation. While the original concept was more abstract, the process of development and refinement led to the current form, characterized by vibrant, flowing patterns. Although he can't fully recall that initial abstract idea from his dream, it's something he still hopes to explore someday.
A Turning Point
Michael's journey into traditional art forms began in 2012, proving to be a crucial turning point in his artistic development. Coming from a background in photography, he made a deliberate decision to study foundational art principles through painting and drawing. This study significantly enhanced his understanding of composition, form, and visual structure.
During this period, he also discovered printmaking, which has become a vital influence in his creative practice. The methodical nature of printmaking, with its emphasis on process and technical precision, resonates strongly with his background in mathematics and physics. This influence is particularly evident in his current digital work, where he often approaches generative art with a printmaker's mindset—thinking in layers, considering how elements interact, and maintaining a strong focus on the final output quality.
The transition to digital art felt natural for Michael, as it allowed him to merge his traditional art training with his mathematical background. Rather than feeling like a departure from traditional techniques, digital tools have become an extension of them, offering new ways to explore concepts while maintaining the core principles he learned through traditional media.
Embrace the Process
Throughout his journey from wildlife photography to generative art, one of the most significant ways Michael has grown is in learning to embrace process over perfection. Each medium he has worked with—from traditional printmaking to generative art—has taught him that some of the most interesting results come from embracing unexpected outcomes. This has influenced how he approaches challenges beyond art, helping him become more experimental and open to new possibilities.
Influence is Everywhere
Michael's inspiration comes primarily from the world around him—random discoveries online, patterns in nature, and everyday observations. For example, he might find himself fascinated by the line patterns in a mesh produce bag and explore how those curves and intersections could evolve into something entirely different. Rather than being influenced by specific artists or movements, he finds himself drawn to interesting patterns, geometric forms, and visual effects he encounters in daily life.
Adaptability and Intention
Adapting to create art for ordinals has taught Michael a lot about patience and precision. Coming from environments where he could easily update or modify work, the permanence of ordinals forced him to develop a more methodical approach. He has learned to be more careful and deliberate in his process, taking time to ensure everything is exactly right before inscription. What might seem like technical constraints around file sizes and code optimization have actually helped him become more thoughtful and intentional in his creative decisions.
A Project in the Works
Michael has a secret project in the works that will be his first long-form generative art project on Bitcoin, which is an exciting and significant step for him. He is taking his time to ensure it is right.
Looking further ahead, Michael plans to create a collection featuring selected pieces from his traditional art practice over the years. After spending over a decade exploring various mediums from photography to printmaking, these works represent key moments in his artistic development. Using ordinals for this collection feels particularly meaningful as a way to bridge his traditional art background with blockchain technology, creating a permanent digital archive of the journey that led him to where he is today.
Keep it Natural
Michael's main advice to emerging digital artists is to start slowly and not feel pressured to dive in all at once. While Bitcoin ordinals are permanent—meaning what is inscribed will exist forever on the blockchain—this shouldn't discourage experimentation. For those new to ordinals, beginning with image files is often easier than diving straight into generative art, as there are fewer technical considerations to manage.
There are now many tools and resources that make the inscription process relatively easy. He encourages taking time to explore these, connecting with other artists in the space, and not hesitating to ask questions.
Most importantly, he advises artists not to let the technical aspects limit their art; they should create what feels natural to them.
Explore Michael's work on Gamma