Since starting my voyage of fractal discovery I have had the pleasure of exploring many mathematical universes. My computer screen has been transformed into something like the viewing area of a glass-bottomed boat that allows me to capture images of the coral reefs and the like created by a particular universe's laws of physics. Computers have allowed mathematics to become an experimental science with a visual component and iterated equations can now serve as an artist’s paint brushes or engraving tools. Well Bred Fractals represent a seamless fusion of art and science.I've used a combination bottom-up/top-down strategy to create my fractals: the computer's bottom-up number-crunching and display is combined with top-down rule-based decision-making provided by me in a directed evolutionary process. Using this objectively subjective decision strategy, a menu of mathematical formulae provided by the fractal program, a good sense of colour and design and classical framing techniques, I have created a great variety of beautiful and interesting fractals.My fractals often mirror shapes found in the natural world and this is not surprising because they have evolved through a purely mathematical form of the same sorts of dynamic processes which in this universe have created everything from spiral galaxies and clouds to trees and sea shells. Human beings are also complex fractals down to our very thoughts and dreams and we are hard-wired to have deep emotional and intellectual responses to fractal forms, whether rugged mountain landscapes, sun-coloured evening skies, Hubble Telescope images or Well Bred Fractals.You can see a definitive portfolio of Well Bred Fractals at pinterest.ca/fractalsteve/well-bred-fractals-portfolio-500. E-mail me at fractals@kingston.net for general information about my fractals, purchasing various sized fractal giclee prints, cards or bookmarks, and possible art gallery or institutional shows or site specific monumental art possibilities.

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by what is now known as Complexity. Complexity represents the underlying organizational principle in this universe over all scales, from the very smallest quantum foam structures to the large-scale structure of the known universe, as recently shown by Planck satellite images. It is all around us, as manifested by the supreme elegance and intricacy of fractal geometry, and is responsible for a great part of what we consider to be natural beauty. Complexity is the reason that satellite shots of hurricanes resemble vast spiral galaxies and why both of those in turn resemble the shapes of various plants and sea shells, and an understanding of it also goes far to explaining how systems like animal swarms, financial markets and the weather operate. We really are getting closer to understanding the utterly amazing and beautiful ways in which nature has self-organized over time. See complexityawareness.wordpress.com for lots of Complexity science background information.A major project of mine over the last few years has been to try to see how things in this particular universe sort out when viewed from the standpoint of Complexity science, and I have as a result collected and organized a comprehensive 6,000 image Survey of Complexity, with the great assistance of Google image search. The image file names are posted at surveyofcomplexity.wordpress.com and complexityawareness-blog.tumblr.com. I've used some of the images from the Survey of Complexity as the basis for a series of informative and visually interesting presentations that I believe would be of interest to a wide variety of people. Topics ready for prime time include: an Introduction to Complexity, the Fractal Nature of Nature, the Implications of Complexity, Business Applications and Fractal Fine Art. My e-mail is fractals@kingston.net.

For quite a few years I have conducted informative and fun bicycle tours, taking visitors from all over the world cycling around Kingston during our tourist season. It is a real pleasure to be able to ride around the city on a beautiful summer day, explaining at intervals why Kingston is such a special place, one so full of history and beauty.My Downtown Kingston bicycle tour is 3 hours in duration and over the course of our ride you will see many things of natural and cultural interest, including the Queen’s and Royal Military College campuses, parks and the lakeshore trail, harbours and prisons, as well as British Empire landmarks and other buildings of architectural interest. No one has ever had a problem with the 14-kilometre distance, as the route is pretty flat and the pace is leisurely, and I can promise you an enjoyable and memorable experience. The cost for this tour is $35 Canadian per person for groups of 2-3 people, $30 Canadian per person for groups of 4-8 people, tax included.For those who are more adventurous, I also offer a half-day Kingston Mills Picnic tour that makes its way up to these very impressive first locks on the Rideau Canal, where a tasty lunch will be served as we enjoy this UNESCO World Heritage site. On our way back into town we will stop by Barriefield Village, Fort Henry and the RMC campus. The cost for this tour and picnic is $55 Canadian per person for groups of 2-3 people, $45 Canadian per person for groups of 4-8 people, tax included.I am a nationally certified Can-Bike cycling skills instructor and have a lot of experience leading group tours. Cyclists wishing to take these tours are strongly advised to wear helmets and must be willing to obey the rules of the road.To make an appointment for either of my bicycle tours, please e-mail Steve at fractals@kingston.net or contact Ahoy Rentals at ahoyrentals.com or 613 549 4277. Rental bikes available.