Author: Kathy

Looking Outwards 03

Media Lab’s “Aguahoja”, 2017

Aguahoja

The Mediated Matter Group’s “Aguahoja” is not only inspirational to me but also very compelling. I admire that this work is a collection of digitally fabricated biomaterials that require literally no work. The project integrates material formation, digital fabrication, and physical behavior of the biological world to create biodegradable composites that combine natural life with manmade goods.

The work involves water-based design and technology to integrate the natural materials with manmade goods. The pieces are printed by a robot, which I suppose must receive instructions on how and what to print by the designers. Along with the robot’s work, the pieces are shaped by water which I also suppose must have been programmed by the designers on how to function.

The creators’ artistic sensibilites are manifested in geometric patterns and shapes within the project. While the pieces are created by robots, the creators preserve the look of manmade materials, but also mimick the natural feel of the natural life.

Robotically printed and water-based design of natural materials conjoined with manmade goods

Variable Faces

This project was extremely difficult for me because I kept making tiny mistakes which absolutely broke my code. This was definitely a learning experience, and towards the end I had more fun creating.

sketch
// Kathy Lee
//Section D

// Variable Setup
var faceHeight = 200;
var faceWidth = 200;
var shirt = 200;
var eye = 50;
var mouth = 50;

// Color Variables
var r = 50;
var g = 50;
var b = 50;

// mouthsize, hair length, eyesize

function setup() {
    createCanvas(640, 480);
    text("Smiling Alien", 10, 15);
}

function draw() {
    background (220);
    noStroke();

    // Shirt
    fill(200 - r, 200 - g, 200 - b);
    ellipse((width / 2), (height / 2) + 200, shirt + 100, shirt * 1.5);

    // Face
    fill(r + 50, g + 50, b + 50);
    ellipse(width / 2, (height / 2) + 50, faceWidth, faceHeight);

    // Eyes
    fill(r + 150, g + 150, b + 150);
    ellipse((width / 2.5) + 25, height / 2, faceWidth - 150, eye); // left eye
    fill(r + 150, g + 150, b + 150);
    ellipse((width / 2) + 40, height / 2, faceWidth - 150, eye); // right eye
    fill("black");
    ellipse((width / 2.5) + 20, height / 2, faceWidth - 200, eye - 30); // left pupil
    fill("black")
    ellipse((width / 2.5) + 110, height / 2, faceWidth - 200, eye - 30); // right pupil
    
    // Mouth
    fill(r + 175, g + 175, b + 175);
    ellipse(width / 2, (height / 2) + 75, mouth + 50, mouth / 2);
    fill(r + 50, g + 50, b + 50);
    ellipse(width / 2, (height / 2) + 70, mouth + 50, mouth / 2); // top ellipse to make smiling mouth

}

function mousePressed() {
    faceWidth = random(150, 300);
    faceHeight = random(150, 300);
    shirt = random(200, 300);
    eye = random(50, 60);
    mouth = random(50, 150);
    r = random(0, 255);
    g = random(0, 255);
    b = random(0, 255);
}

Looking Outwards 02: Generative Art

Leander Herzog’s project “Radar” really captivated me in terms of color and movement. I admire the split screen of blue and pink, along with the asymmetry of the spiraling design. Another component I admire is how the new “spiral” is formed by the vertical edge of the pink spiral. I admire the split screen of color and asymmetrical design because it is mesmerizing visually, but it’s not too simple. I admire the creation of the new spiral from the vertical edge because the split screen tricks the eye into thinking that the spirals are created as a circle, but when you take a moment to look closer, the spirals are not full circles, but rather start as a semicircle and gradually pan out until they disappear off the page.

The only thing that I can identify in this project is the use of a loop, because the design is continuous and keeps generating new spirals that float off of the page.

The creator’s artistic sensibilities manifest in terms of color and shape. Herzog uses very contrasting colors, creating a pop in the eye and easy distinction between the two spiral sections. The shape is continuous, in terms of connecting between the two sections.

Leander Herzog

“Radar”, 2020

“Radar”, 2020
Another look at “Radar”

https://leanderherzog.ch/2020/radar/

Project 01: Self Portrait

self portrait

sketch

The most challenging part of this project was figuring out which new components go on which coordinates (this part took quite a lot of trial and error).

// Kathy Lee, Section D function setup() { createCanvas(500, 500); background(230); text(“My Self Portrait”, 10, 15); } function draw() { //my hair fill(0); ellipse(250, 245, 200, 270); fill(0); rect(152, 220, 75, 200); fill(0); rect(273, 220, 75, 200); //face fill(223, 172, 107); ellipse(275-25, 275-25, 150, 225); //neck fill(223, 172, 107); rect(200+12.5, 300, 75, 125); fill(223, 172, 107); ellipse() //my rectangular shirt noStroke() fill(255); rect(100, 400, 300, 300, 50); //front hair that flows down past the shirt fill(0); rect(151, 375, 62, 100); fill(0); rect(287, 375, 62, 100); //eyes fill(0); ellipse(223, 220, 30, 20); // left eye (full pupil) fill(0); ellipse(277, 220, 30, 20); // right eye (full pupil) fill(223, 172, 107); ellipse(223, 225, 30, 20); // left eye skin tone fill(223, 172, 107); ellipse(277, 225, 30, 20); // right eye skin tone //nose fill(208, 161, 101); triangle(250, 250, 230, 280, 270, 280); //mouth fill(203, 117, 100); ellipse(250, 300, 50, 25); // pink lip color fill(223, 172, 107); ellipse(250, 290, 50, 20); // skin tone to highlight smiling mouth //ears fill(223, 172, 107); ellipse(180, 250, 40, 50); // left ear fill(15, 126, 47); ellipse(170, 275, 15, 15); // earring fill(223, 172, 107); ellipse(320, 250, 40, 50); // right ear fill(15, 126, 47); ellipse(330, 275, 15, 15); // earring //eyebrows fill(208, 161, 101); rect(210,190, 30, 7); // left eyebrow // I wanted to make the eyebrows with lines and change the strokeweight but then all the shapes get outlined? // Not sure exactly what’s going on so I will stick to rectangles for now fill(208, 161, 101); rect(260, 190, 30, 7); // right eyebrow } 
// Kathy Lee, Section D

function setup() {
    createCanvas(500, 500);
    background(230);
    text("My Self Portrait", 10, 15);
}

function draw() {
    //my hair
    fill(0);
    ellipse(250, 245, 200, 270);
    fill(0);
    rect(152, 220, 75, 200);
    fill(0);
    rect(273, 220, 75, 200);
    
    //face
    fill(223, 172, 107);
    ellipse(275-25, 275-25, 150, 225);
    
    //neck
    fill(223, 172, 107);
    rect(200+12.5, 300, 75, 125);
    fill(223, 172, 107);
    ellipse()

    //my rectangular shirt
    noStroke()
    fill(255);
    rect(100, 400, 300, 300, 50);

    //front hair that flows down past the shirt
    fill(0);
    rect(151, 375, 62, 100);
    fill(0);
    rect(287, 375, 62, 100);

    //eyes
    fill(0);
    ellipse(223, 220, 30, 20); // left eye (full pupil)
    fill(0);
    ellipse(277, 220, 30, 20); // right eye (full pupil)
    fill(223, 172, 107);
    ellipse(223, 225, 30, 20); // left eye skin tone
    fill(223, 172, 107);
    ellipse(277, 225, 30, 20); // right eye skin tone 

    //nose
    fill(208, 161, 101);
    triangle(250, 250, 230, 280, 270, 280);

    //mouth
    fill(203, 117, 100);
    ellipse(250, 300, 50, 25); // pink lip color
    fill(223, 172, 107);
    ellipse(250, 290, 50, 20); // skin tone to highlight smiling mouth

    //ears
    fill(223, 172, 107);
    ellipse(180, 250, 40, 50); // left ear
    fill(15, 126, 47);
    ellipse(170, 275, 15, 15); // earring
    fill(223, 172, 107);
    ellipse(320, 250, 40, 50); // right ear
    fill(15, 126, 47);
    ellipse(330, 275, 15, 15); // earring


    //eyebrows
    fill(208, 161, 101);
    rect(210,190, 30, 7); // left eyebrow
    // I wanted to make the eyebrows with lines and change the strokeweight but then all the shapes get outlined? 
    // Not sure exactly what's going on so I will stick to rectangles for now
    fill(208, 161, 101);
    rect(260, 190, 30, 7); // right eyebrow

}

L0 My Inspiration

An interactive project involving a creative bent that I find inspirational is Cooking Mama, specifically the version played on the Nintendo DS.

I admire Cooking Mama because it is an interactive game in which the player must skillfully time and perform tasks to Mama’s standards. The game is challenging, entertaining, and even vaguely informative of cooking skills.
Cooking Mama was developed by Office Create and published by Taito, Majesco Entertainment, and 505 Games. There isn’t much detail about the software, but this game was pretty groundbreaking because of the new touch screen technology on the Nintendo DS.

While there are many known sequels to the game, there are no publicly known prior works in which the developers could have been inspired by (other than different Nintendo DS games). Cooking Mama was a great success that many sequels were created, each having a different theme or challenges.