Analysis

Reflecting upon my practical work there is still a lot I would like to do. However conceptually I do feel that what I have produced fits my brief, I am neither an artist or mathematician yet I have produced a visual that is created by computer drawing of mathematical equations.

The visualisation is sketchbook style and depicts elements that are found in nature. It also has a process that is similar to nature that alters the image by varying degrees at varying intervals. 

Math and Art Practical - Final Code

I reverted back to black and white after working on improving the colour and realism in the code. This produces a an image more reminiscent of a sketchbook and I think although it is quite different from my initial aim it is far better than having an image that is too colourful and lacking harmony.

Code Improvements... and Difficulties

I have worked hard on applying a gradient fill to the mountain shape... what I have been trying to do is graduate from a random colour value to black... similar to Etienne Saint Amant work that is light at the top moving to dark at the bottom.
I have however been having a lot of trouble with this as using a random value in a for() structure keeps producing different colour values in each polygon that makes up the mountain.

Because I have had difficulty with this and found the previous code over-done I am considering reverting back to grey-scale and returning to a sketchbook aesthetic.

First Code

This is my semi - complete and working code. I have removed the delay() function so it will update quickly and at regular intervals for the sake of demonstration.

There are things I like about this visualisation and things that I don't. In general I am happy with the 3 fractal elements that make up the sketch; the tree, the mountain and the plasma(sky). However I am finding that there is rapid loss of any sense of subtlety or style as the random function is generating all sorts of brightly coloured fills for my shapes and the image is fast becoming alike to the images that I have steered clear of from the beginning.

There are a few things that I am considering trying to reduce the high level of colour of that fast accumulates on the screen. Having already set the alpha level to that there is a layered and muted effect to the colour I want to work on reducing the colour level by integrating some greyscale into the image to avoid the overcrowding seen in this video.

Practical Project - Thoughts and Aims

What I am wanting to achieve in my code is essentially to select one of the 3 fractal types and draw it to the screen.

I will make use of the random function to control the selection of the element to be drawn, its location and the interval between each alteration; it will also be useful in the selection of a colour palette.

I hope that the image will look very different each time it it drawn.

Sample Codes

To see the original codes in action and see where I have downloaded from click the following links Plasma Fractal Generator, Tree Fractal Generator, Mountain Fractal Generator.

Having decided to tackle the task of making a continuous sketch in Processing I did some searching to find out what effects some fractal equations produced and what fractal work had been produced already in Processing.

I was happy to find that there are quite a few sample codes available online to get me started with my project, these are the 3 codes that I intend to start combining and experimenting with.

I like these especially because they are relatively simple and they allow multiple drawings to be created from the same code. The aesthetic that they all have is reminiscent of natural landscape although they appear more 'sketchy' as if they are more of a hand-drawn impression of a natural landscape... all of which suit me as a starting point for my concept.

Research and Processing - The beginnings of the practical project

For my practical project I am really interested in creating 'art' from 'math' so I have been doing some research on computer generated art and especially the field of fractals. I do like the idea of using code to create my project as it is creating a visual from mathematical equations and contextualises just how useful math can be in the creation of visuals and thus in creative practice.

Having seen a few references to the fractal art displayed on the website deviant art, I decided to check it out and came away with a much clearer idea of what I like and what is achievable.

I have developed a serious dislike all the fluro coloured creations that seem to overwhelm the field of fractal created art. There are far fewer subtle and nature-like creations but I did find this image (see left) produced by artist Etienne Saint Amant. What really struck me about  his work is that it so closely seems to resemble hand painted art, what I believes takes this work further is the subtley beautiful animation of the same piece available on his website. What I especially like about this piece is the artfully chosen colour palette and the subtle combination of shapes that appear like brush strokes in the image.


This second image is another from the fractal gallery in deviant art. Again what I like about this image is that it manages to keep a real natural look although the image itself is surreal. The colour palette is really simple yet striking and the image is altogether very effective.






I have decided that I am going to tackle my practical project using Processing so that I might create a visual that is constantly drawing and to the screen following a random process that will produce different results each run time.