Rebuilding...

About FatBits

Current

Hello, My name is Matthew Belanger and I’m a New York City based freelance consultant and developer. I have 10 years of experience working for companies large and small. I’m proficient with a range of skills and techniques including but not limited to standards based web development in JavaScript, PHP, MySQL, XML, XSLT, HTML, CSS, rich internet application development in ActionScript using Adobe Flash, design and digital photography workflows in Adobe Creative Suite, SD and HD video production and post-production using Final Cut Studio or Adobe Creative Suite, physical computing techniques using the Arduino platform, as well as application development for Mac, Windows, and Linux in REALbasic. For more information, see my profile on LinkedIn or Email me!

I’m also an artist, generally exploring in my work, the human condition as influenced by this crazy modern world we live in. My portfolio can be found at matthewbelanger.net. In 2007 I founded Greylock Arts with my partner Marianne Petit so that we could be more actively involved in community and the arts. Located at the foot of Mount Greylock in the town of Adams, MA Greylock Arts presents exhibitions and talks, fosters community involvement, and develops educational programs to facilitate a deeper public appreciation for emerging arts practice.

History

In 1984, at the age of 8, my father introduced me to the original Macintosh. MacPaint, a drawing and painting application created by Apple developer Bill Atkinson, was my introduction to electronic art. MacPaint had a feature called FatBits that, once selected, allowed users to edit their 1-bit illustrations at 8x magnification. This mode really allowed you to perfect your work. And I probably spent thousands of hours drawing in MacPaint, animating in MacroMind VideoWorks, and fooling around with HyperCard.

FatBits made such an impression on me that I grabbed up the domain name fatbits.com in 1997 (along with .net and .org the following year) knowing that someday I would need a place for my website. Over the years fatbits.net has been many things, including a personal blog as far back as 1998. In 2009 I re-launched fatbits.net, so that I could aggregate the things that I do personally, professionally, and artistically with the various interests that I have into one place. I look forward to your feedback. Enjoy!

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