In generative art, simplicity can be used to create interesting and complex results. By starting with a simple line or shape, and then adding complexity through variations, Generative art can produce results that are much more interesting than if all the elements were completely random. In addition, simplicity can help to create a sense of order or structure in Generative art, making it more understandable and visually appealing.

This project can be used to teach a class about procedural generation in several ways. First, it can be used to introduce the concept of procedural generation, and how it can be used to create complex results from simple rules. It can also be used to show how different approaches to procedural generation can produce different results, and how the same approach can be used to generate different results depending on the input data. Finally, it can be used to show how procedural generation can be used to create art, and how the results can be affected by the choices made by the artist.

The creative process

Setting up a balanced canvas

The first step was to create a white canvas using the golden ratio to have a good balance between width and height in the screen. Here, I choose the portrait mode, because it will be more interesting to the following grid function. The use of 1.618 as aspect ratio is considered interesting to aesthetical results because it creates a sense of balance and proportion. The golden number is often used in art and architecture because it is believed to be aesthetically pleasing. It is also used in web design and graphic design.

Adding texture

Adding textures seeks to bring a little realism to a digital piece. I asked for the first time the help of GPT-3 (OpenAI) to suggest texture that was simple for the purpose of the project. Done! After that, I adapted some variables to respect the proportions on any screens and added a slight transparency. For discrete textures the alpha values are very influential and generally need to be low.

Drawing shapes in a grid

For the drawing, I opted for simple shapes: circles, rectangles and triangles distributed in a grid varying according to an approximation of the golden progression. A simple trick to create flaws in the pattern was to place a few shapes in the same color as the background. The difference in grids can be a little big, taking away the harmony between the shapes, so some conditionals were inserted to give control. Then, using the same syntax as the grid, discrete thin dashed lines cross the background diagonally, intersecting between the shapes to better fill the voids without affect directly to the whole composition. This function interferes directly in the previous order of the shapes but is not a problem to concern about. After that some shadows are cast...

Choosing color and testing outputs

I wanted to create a soft and dreamy artwork that would be soothing to look at. Pastel colors are perfect for this type of artwork. I remember when I was very little, I had this beautiful set of pastel-colored wooden blocks. They were so pretty to look at, and I loved playing with them. I would build towers and houses out of them, and then knock them down and start all over again. I had so much fun with those blocks, and I still remember them fondly. Pastel colors are generally associated with happiness and sweetness, so they tend to make people feel good in the same way I feel dealing with them. This justifies the choice of a single white background, to keep a light and soft conversation between it and the foreground. Backgrounds with other colors would overload the atmosphere and the use of shadows was already as much dark tones as I could allow. There are 12 pastel colors available in an array that is shuffled for each token. Also the random option picks white color sometimes and another 3 colors from this array.

Making chaotic grids

Despite there is not a real need for disorder, it may add to the atmosphere of the artwork once rotating shapes in a random or unpredictable manner can create a sense of tension or unease, which may be desired in some generative artworks. Some possible reasons for rotating shapes in a grid might include creating a less balanced or harmonious composition or creating a sense of movement or flow. Additionally, rotating shapes may help to create a sense of depth or perspective, or to emphasize certain elements within the composition. Some collectors may prefer chaotic or disordered grids, while others may prefer more ordered and balanced compositions. In the end, it is up to the collector to decide what they find most appealing.

To create a more organic feel to the artwork and maybe to add interest or variety to the piece, shifted strokes could appear to the regular or chaotic grid. Also, the blurry effect give the final output another feeling of movement, as can be seen in the following examples.

The final touch

The grid is a guide for the eye to see the general distribution of the points, but the algorithm that generates the points does not actually use the grid. To break the seriousness of the grid and its "Tetris Metrics" geometries, the random dots (or triangles!), in small variations in size, spread across the canvas as if they were splatters of paint that show the fun and lightness behind the artist's intentions.

To finalize the piece, a frame with the one of the same colors of the picked palette is put to create a cohesive look and to add a bit of contrast to the background. Yet another reason could be to create a more unified design.

GPT-3: an interesting tool

The use of artificial intelligence was indeed a different experience. I believe its value consists mainly in its use as an auxiliary tool in the creative process, as a support. Not sure what to expect from their next replacements, but the GPT-3 algorithm really impressed me. As said in this article written by Pronoia: "To see how far these systems have come over the last decade has made me optimistic about the short-term prospects and slightly scared about the long term."

Twitter: Dewi Simanjuntak