Sadie Johnson – Looking Outwards – 04

This project is by Swiss artist Zimoun, and is usually referred to by its materials- 121 prepared dc-motors, filler wire 1.0mm. It’s admirable because even though it appears ludicrously simple at first glance, it springs into life when turned on and almost appears organic. It’s also a fantastic exploration of sound that is interesting but isn’t necessarily music. The algorithms that control the spinning wires seem simple at first, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that each wire is spinning with a different starting point in a random direction. Zimoun is known for sculptures so simple they are almost abstract, a nod to minimalism, and that aesthetic is shown in this piece.

zimoun_361_dc-motors_filler_wire_01_800x450px

photo credit to zimoun.net

 

http://www.zimoun.net/2010-361.html

sajohnso Project-04-String-Art

sketch

/*
*Sadie Johnson
*15-104 Section C
*sajohnso@andrew.cmu.edu
*Project-04-String-Art
*This program draws art with lines
*/

function setup() {
    createCanvas(640, 480);
    background(225);
}

function draw() {
	var nop = 20; //nop = Number of Points 
	var spaceX = width/nop;
	var spaceY = height/nop;
	background('#2C9F88');

	for (i = 0; i < nop/2; i++) {
 	  //larger,central form
 		stroke('#2C8791'); //dark blue
 		strokeWeight(2);
 		//quadrants III & I
          line(i*spaceX, height/2, width/2, height/2+((i+1)*spaceY)); 
          line(width/2, height/2-((i+1)*spaceY), (width)-(i*spaceX), height/2);
        //quadrants II & IV 
          stroke('#91CDD4'); //light blue
          line(width/2, height/2+((i+1)*spaceY), (width)-(i*spaceX), height/2);
          line(i*spaceX, height/2, width/2, height/2-((i+1)*spaceY));
  }

  for (k = 0; k < 7; k++) {
    //smaller forms
          stroke('#91460C');
    	//quadrant IV
        line(width-(7*spaceX)+(spaceX*k),height,width-spaceX*k,height-(spaceY*k));
        line(width,height-(7*spaceY)+(spaceY*k),width-spaceX*k,height-(spaceY*k));
        //quadrant III
        line(0,height-(7*spaceY)+(spaceY*k),spaceX*k,height-spaceY*k);
        line(spaceX*7-(spaceX*k),height,spaceX*k,height-spaceY*k);
        //quadrant II
        line(spaceX*7-(spaceX*k),0,spaceX*k,spaceY*k);
        line(0,(7*spaceY)-(spaceY*k),spaceX*k,spaceY*k);
        //quadrant I
        line(width-(7*spaceX)+(spaceX*k),0,width-(spaceX*k),spaceY*k);
		line(width,(spaceY*7)-(spaceY*k),width-(spaceX*k),spaceY*k);

  }

}


 

My goal in this assignment was to recreate a fourth grader’s string art from the blog post linked to in the assignment (it’s shown below). I spent roughly half my time on this assignment trying to figure out how to create “curves”. Once I did, however, I was able to finish the assignment very quickly.

screen-shot-2016-09-23-at-4-24-47-pm

 

dynamicdrawing

/*
*Sadie Johnson
*15-104 Section C
*sajohnso@andrew.cmu.edu
*Project-03-Dynamic-Drawing
* This program creates an image based off mouse position

*/

function setup() {
    createCanvas(500,500);
}

function draw() {
    background(0);
    fill(mouseX/2,mouseY,mouseX/2);
//connecting lines t0 cursor
    stroke(mouseX/2);
    line(0, 0, mouseX, mouseY); // top left
    line(width, 0, mouseX, mouseY); //top right
    line(0, height, mouseX, mouseY); // bottom left
    line(width, height, mouseX, mouseY); // top left

//circle that follows cursor
    ellipse(mouseX, mouseY, 55, 55);

    fill(height-mouseY/2,width-mouseX,height-mouseY/2);
    ellipse(0,0,mouseX/2,mouseX/2); //top left
    ellipse(0,height,mouseX/2,mouseX/2); //bottom left
    ellipse(width,0,mouseX/2,mouseX/2); //top right
    ellipse(width,height,mouseX/2,mouseX/2); //bottom right

//rotating lines
    if (dist(width/2, height/2, mouseX, mouseY) > height/10) {
        stroke(225);
        strokeWeight(12);
        push();
        translate(mouseX, mouseY);
        rotate(millis()/mouseX/2);
        line(0,0,height,width);
        pop();  
        push();
        translate(mouseX, mouseY);
        rotate(millis()/mouseX/2);
        line(width,0,0,height);
        pop(); 
    }
}

The hardest part of this assignment for me was keeping track of which variables controlled which reactions, and fixing them accordingly when they didn’t work the way I wanted them to.

Looking Outwards- 03

This project, Kinetic Dress, was created by a two-person team called “Nervous System.”
The purpose of this project was not only to print a flexible, wearable 3d dress but also to print it efficiently and all in one piece. They used a physics simulator to “randomly” fold the dress small enough that it could be printed in one large 3D printer. This simulator probably used primary random variables, folding the dress using variables like hinge width and size. Kinetic Dress holds constant its aesthetic which is computer-generated but invokes biological structures and patterns. It’s inspiring because it’s not only a technological feat but an important milestone in the world of fashion.

http://n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com/

nervous-system-kinematic-4d-dress-designboom041
Photo credit to Photoboom.com

SadieJohnson-Project02-VaribleFaces

variablefaces

/*
*Sadie Johnson
*15-104 Section C
*sajohnso@andrew.cmu.edu
*Project-02
*This program draws random faces
*/

var eyeWidth = 20;
var eyeHeight = 20;
var faceWidth = 100;
var faceHeight = 150;
var earSize = 30; 
var x = 10;
var lensSize = 40;
var hairWidth = 100;
var hairHeight = 100;
var mouthSize = 30;

function setup() {
    createCanvas(640, 480);
    g = color(120);
    b = color(120);
    
    //rgb colors for the hair 
    //i wanted to put them in  certain range
    h = color(10);
    i = color(15);
    j = color(20);
}

function draw() {
    //fill();
    background(234,237,216);
    //draw background triange
    fill(140, g, b, 127); //color  
    triangle(0, 0, 0, 480, 640, 480);

    //draw hair
    fill (h,i,j); //random hair color
    ellipse(width / 2, height / 2 - 30, hairWidth,  hairHeight);

    //draw ears
    fill (168, 133, 73);
    var earLX = width / 2 - faceWidth / 2
    var earRX = width / 2 + faceWidth / 2
    ellipse(earLX, height / 2 + x, earSize, earSize);
    ellipse(earRX, height / 2 + x, earSize, earSize);

    //draw face
    ellipse(width / 2, height / 2, faceWidth,  faceHeight);

    //draw eyes  
    fill(225);
    var eyeLX = width / 2 - faceWidth * 0.25;
    var eyeRX = width / 2 + faceWidth * 0.25;
    ellipse(eyeLX, (height/2) -5, eyeWidth, eyeHeight);
    ellipse(eyeRX, (height/2) -5, eyeWidth, eyeHeight);

     //draw glasses
     fill(140, g, b, 127); //color glasses 
     ellipse(eyeLX, height/2 + x, lensSize, lensSize);
     ellipse(eyeRX, height/2 + x, lensSize, lensSize);
     //noFill();
        //draw bridge of glasses
    var arcStart = (width/2) - (eyeWidth*.25)
    var arcFin = (width/2) + (eyeWidth*.25)
    line(arcStart, height/2, arcFin, height/2);

    //draw mouth
    fill(89,23,23);
    arc(width/2, height/2 + 40, mouthSize, mouthSize, 0, PI+QUARTER_PI, PIE);

    }

function mousePressed() {
    // when the user clicks, these variables are reassigned
    // to random values within specified ranges. For example,
    // 'faceWidth' gets a random value between 75 and 150.
    faceWidth = random(100, 175);
    faceHeight = random(100, 200);
        eyeWidth = random(10, 30);
    eyeHeight = random(10, 30);
    earSize = random(15,40);
    x = random(0,20);
    g = random(0,225);
    b = random(0,225);
     hairWidth = random(100,175);
 hairHeight = random(100,200);
    h = random(0,225);
    i = random(0,225);
    j = random(1,20);
    mouthSize = random(5,35);
    
}

The hardest part of this assignment by far was making sure that all of the features remained on the face- that is, that everything was controlled by interlocking variables and not “magic numbers”.

SadieJohnson- Looking Outwards- 02

screen-shot-2016-09-09-at-8-31-14-pm

David McLeod’s project “Polymorphism” is a set of videos testing the aesthetics of hypothetical objects in a state of flux. This project is inspirational not only because it is an impressive technological feat, but because McLeod manages to maintain his distinctive art style in a computer program with an element of randomness. Very little information was released about this piece, but the forms pictured seem to be many small spheres that transform to other textures when clustered together, which shoots the pieces apart and starts the cycle anew. McLeod’s artistic sensibilities focus on unrealistic textures that can only be computer-generated, giving the illusion of super-shiny rubber or long, soft hair. Although his forms are simple, he is also a master of graphical composition and uses bright, bold, trendy colors. All of these elements have come across in “Polymorphism”, making it an impressive technical feat.

SadieJohnson- Looking Outwards 01

Mass_Effect_3_Game_Cover

I most admire the action RPG game Mass Effect, a video game developed by Bioware and published by EA games. I admire it because it was the first game I played that showcased the artistic side of video games, such as character design, writing, and musical composition. Mass Effect inspired me to follow my love of game design, and enter a field I  had once deemed “too technical”. Because it is a triple-A game, there were about 300 developers working on it and it took two years to complete. Like many big-budget video games, it was made on an engine- in this case, Unreal Engine 3. Dungeons and Dragons influenced the interactive storytelling, while Star Wars helped inspire the writing and sci-fi artists like Syd Mead.  This project points to a future of more refined storytelling in video games, better graphics and heavier investment in story and art.