lab 5 – drawing and animating in processing

Lab Exercise

Step 1: 

For today’s exercise, you will use an image as a motif to emulate and draw in Processing. First, select an image or choose an image that inspires you. This image can come from any source, source, so you should download and cite where this image came from and who it was designed by. Some suggested sources of inspiration are:

• Computer Graphics and Arts (1976 – 1978)
• Bauhaus School of Arts
• sol lewitt
• vera molnar
• http://reas.com/ 
• http://www.ryojiikeda.com/ 

Considering your motif as a starting point or inspiration, draw a new image with Processing using any 2D primitive or vertex shapes. To draw your new image, you may directly emulate your motif’s design or create an interpretation of the motif. Then, using the functions/methods covered in class, modify any shapes and adjust color to enhance your design. Using paper to sketch your idea may help. 

You can use the following functions to help compose your drawing:

• arc()
• ellipse()
• line()
• point()
• quad()
• rect()
• triangle()
• smooth()
• stroke()
• fill()
• color()

 

Step 2: 

Using the functions covered in class, create an animation with Processing. Using paper to sketch your idea may help.
Incorporate variables, functions, and loops.

Step 3:

Use the mouse and/or keyboard to make your animation interactive. 

Documentation

Start by uploading the image you chose in Step 1. Then, discuss briefly what you wanted to draw in Processing and how your final creation is linked to the motif. Please make sure to  post your code with comments and your final sketch.

Watch the video How To Draw With Code by Casey Reas and read Toward Aesthetic Guidelines for Paintings with the Aid of a Computer.
Write next your thoughts on the questions below, reference the text and the video when you state an idea (you don’t need to agree with the author’s ideas):

• Is there any value in recreating an existing image/drawing/graphic using computational media? What is it?
• Do you think that both, hand and computational drawings cause the same feelings in the viewer? 
• Do you think technology will replace humans in the future? What about art? Using the computer to draw, makes the computer the artist? can computers be artists?