Biography

Robert Jackson completed his BA Hons in Fine Art Printmaking at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Ireland in 2005 and his Masters Degree in Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in 2006. Since 2007 he has worked as a Print Studio Technical Instructor at Dundee Contemporary Arts. He has been intensively involved in the editions program at DCA. Robert was awarded a Creative Scotland grant in 2012 to explore eye-tracking as a drawing method within DCA Print Studio.

Academic Paper

Human-computer interaction: Exploring eye-tracking as a drawing methodology for print artists with disabilities.
Human-computer interaction: Exploring eye-tracking as a drawing methodology for print artists with disabilities. .

This research focuses on using an eye-tracking device as a method for print artists with disabilities to re-engage with direct drawing techniques. This paper will examine how two artists, who have multiple sclerosis, have engaged with and developed this drawing method in relation to their printmaking practice. It will consider the eye-drawn mark as autographic, exploring the relevance and position of eye-drawing within printmaking practice. Both of these artists were trained in and committed to traditional drawing techniques. As their conditions have progressed they have been unable to maintain this aspect of their printmaking practice.

This research will explore how drawing with your eyes is essentially a counter-intuitive process that requires new learning to allow for the intuitive mark. Eye-tracking devices have been commercially available for some time and primarily used to examine the human eyes for specific medical conditions and to measure the motion of the eye in consumer situations. These tests record and visualise eye movement  in many different ways, from mapping points of concentration as visualised heat spots or by point-to-point tracking. The technique of recording data in this project is to save the drawn image files in vector based point-to-point format and thus allow the image created to be read by computer numerical control (CNC)/computer aided design (CAD) based devices.

The human eye naturally moves in a series of constant jumps called saccades. In using an eye-tracking device to draw it requires the user to develop a learned ability to limit this natural movement and to control the eye to create point-to-point based line. The research will consider how drawing directly with the eyes in this manner could lead to a new visual language within the artists’ printmaking practice as they re-access and re-engage with direct drawing techniques.

Exhibitions

Eye Can Draw
Exploring eye-tracking technology to enable access within printmaking practice.

This research utilises a custom built eye-tracking device as a drawing tool for print artists with disabilities. The project is exploring the process and outcomes as artists re-engage with direct drawing using eye movement.

Will this drawing methodology lead to a new visual language within the artists’ practice?

Both artists involved in the project have multiple sclerosis. Jackie Smith has limited dexterity and Dawson Murray is quadriplegic. It is hoped that by re-engaging with drawing using new technology this can limit the need for a human intermediary and allow print artists with disabilities to further continue their autographic, mark-making practice. 

Workshop Demonstrations

Eye-drawing at DCA Print Studio
Eye Can Draw is a research project that has been active at DCA Print Studio for the past two years. The project is exploring custom made eye-tracking equipment as a drawing tool within a contemporary print facility.

The eye-tracking process allows users to produce vector line drawings controlled only by pupil movements. Robert Jackson will demonstrate the hardware and software used during the eye-drawing process.

Exploring eye-tracking technology to enable access within printmaking practice.

This research utilises a custom built eye-tracking device as a drawing tool for print artists with

disabilities. The project is exploring the process and outcomes as artists re-engage with direct

drawing using eye movement.

Will this drawing methodology lead to a new visual language within the artists’ practice?

Both artists involved in the project have multiple sclerosis. Jackie Smith has limited dexterity and

Dawson Murray is quadriplegic. It is hoped that by re-engaging with drawing using new technology

this can limit the need for a human intermediary and allow print artists with disabilities to further

continue their autographic, mark-making practice.