The Cutting Floor
Old and abandoned WIPS
My computer is desperately out of memory and preventing me from downloading new files. Instead of coming up with a sustainable solution, each time I need to download something new, I go into my archives and delete old files.
It’s been surprisingly fun to revisit generative algorithms that I abandoned. Let’s go through the latest batch of old outputs I discovered.
To start, here’s a quick exploration…
It’s aesthetically nice, but I see why I lost interest. It’s just one tiny step up from a tutorial / Generative Art 101 and you can really feel the Perlin Noise.
Next is something very different that I still love. A tiny maze or Where’s Waldo with arrows that either point towards the destination, away from the destination, or randomly. I’ve always loved generative systems that pair text and visuals. I think - if I’m remembering correctly - this piece was inspired by another artist’s work and I didn’t pursue it further because I couldn’t put enough of my own spin on it.
Next are two small texture studies - one of paint and one of ink. They’re both…fine.
This next system is special and probably worth revisiting. I made it the week our second daughter was born and it instantly brings me back to that feeling of joy and relief that I felt knowing the baby and my wife were healthy and safe.
I love how these simple curves can be combined with such variety. In hindsight, many of these outputs remind me of heraldry or a family crest in the way they mix a small set of patterns and shapes and aren’t afraid of details. It would be fun to push this further with that direction in mind.
Next I discovered a tiny tree and some fighters. I remember pushing both of these systems quite a bit further, but I’m not sure they got better over time. These early outputs are cute and evocative and I like them as-is.
I had forgotten about these next two explorations completely (flowers and a forest). I made both of these at a time when I was learning a lot of new math and techniques. I could manipulate the tools, but didn’t really understand how they worked or what I was doing. I think it shows. These have something going for them, but it’s clear to me now in hindsight how blind I was to how they really worked on the inside.
Lastly, I found a rite of passage for any generative artist / pen plotter - using thousands and thousands of dots to create abstract shapes. One of the first things I made that I loved, but really no style or originality present here.
—
This newsletter was adorned with a magnificence of capital letters and produced without the use of a pen (although it lacks clearly divided rubrics). If you enjoyed it, please feel free to forward it to a friend. If you have a question or request, please feel free to reply here.