About and Contact
Hi, I’m John Corney, the artist and photographer behind KornKobArt.
My obsession with capturing the world didn't start with a high-end digital sensor. It started when I was nine years old, growing up in New Zealand. My Dad lent me his "Box Brownie" (a Kodak 'Six-20 Brownie C', to be exact) for a school trip, and let’s just say he never really got it back.
I have been a passionate amateur photographer since I was a kid growing up in New Zealand.
That simple box camera taught me the fundamentals of framing a moment. It taught me that you don't need complex gear to tell a story; you just need an eye for the light.
What the "Box Brownie" did for photography in the 1950's, the digital camera has taken to the nth degree in the 21st Century. Everyone is a photography enthusiast these days, and computing power, image software, and the internet have enabled all these newly-minted hobbyists, including myself, to publish their art form cheaply and widely for all to see.
Old School Roots, New School Tools
While my roots are in film, I am not afraid of the future. I have embraced the digital revolution—from the first DSLRs to the latest in AI-assisted digital painting.
I believe art is about imagination, not just documentation. Sometimes that means taking a "purist" nature photograph, and other times it means using digital tools to add a painterly twist or an ironic turn to a concept. My work is a blend of both: the discipline of that old Box Brownie mixed with the limitless color and texture of modern digital art.
Now we are entering a new world of imagery with the advent of AI image generators. I have to admit I've been onboard since the first versions of ChatGPT became available. The progress over the last 2 years has been unbelievable, and an array of AI image generators are available to one and all. I am enthusiastically allowing my imagination to run wild and enjoying learning how to work with AI to come up with creative imagery or to improve my photography archive. My mind is always actively searching for a new twist or an ironic turn on some thought that comes to mind. I hope you enjoy my imagery, be it "old-school" photography, or the latest in AI generated imagery.
Thanks for joining me on this visual journey.
Shop my Collection
By the way, I'm not in this to make a living; rather, making images is how I get my dopamine hits. And honestly, most of my small number of sales earn me less than 50cents! But nonetheless, when someone buys one of my images on one of the offerings at Redbubble, I get the dopamine hit of knowing that somehow I managed to please someone with my art. I think of it as a "Like" + a coin in my busker's cup". My portfolio of both photography and digital art is available on Redbubble in my kornkobart store, where you can order high-quality "print on demand" prints, apparel, greeting cards, phone cases, home decor, and more.
Note: While navigating Redbubble, you can always get back to my portfolio by searching @kornkobart
Thank you!
John
Want to send me a message? Please use this form.
Feel free to reach out with questions, commissions, or collaborations.