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I have a few ideas and I need help narrowing it down

idea #1 Asemic writing

• Training a GAN to produce children’s refrigerator writings + drawings
• Then apply a post processing algorithm to imbue the output with estimated pressure data
• Then get the axidraw working with pressure data (g code?)
• Then get it loaded up with a crayon to draw the drawings with the same pressure variation of a child
• End product?
• A bunch of children’s drawings produced by a neural net and inscribed by a machine
• From far away they look like nondescript children’s fridge drawings but closer up the writing is nonsensical and the drawing is not of an object. The drawing was conceived and executed by a machine. I think it can be kind of creepy.
• what do I get out of it? Learning about GANs and getting the axidraw working with pressure

Idea #2 Generative multiples

• An alphabet bestiary of animals.
• Each letter = new animal
• Each time a button is clicked a new generation of the alphabet bestiary
• Some examples:
• 
• At the end I could try and plot it to make a physical book. Most likely this will exist as only online generative art. (dealing with stroke and fill is a pain, might need to use drawing bots libraries)
• what do I get out of it? I want to start growing a following on twitter to sell NFTs. I think an alphabet bestiary would keep me to a consistent goal that includes daily tweet content (each animal). I also think this is a conceptually accessible project. I would learn about different algorithms to produce each animal. It’ll be a bit tough to keep the project visually cohesive while using different algorithms. Generative algorithms typically have a distinct visual feel. I think my main focus for this would be generative pattern algos. For the final I’ll probably have an incomplete bestiary of a couple letters.
• (Lingdong already made something similar I might scrap this)

Idea #3 Embroidery

• thinking about free standing lace like this
• 
• and using this style in creating dragonfly wings. Need to do experiments with the embroidery machine to see if this is possible
• Also want to make wound patches (I’ll attach a sketch later) and veins / scars
• 
• or even a scarred / wounded stuffed animal
• 
• I think generative stuffed animal patterns with scars / wounds stitched on it would be an interesting concept and very on brand for my work
• 
• (idk if the machine will be fixed so I’ll need to look into that and meeting tatiana)

I plan on making an elaborate generative multiples series. I was inspired by the Ralph Bakshi animated film Wizards, and looked into it. Some of the design was done by Ian Miller, who makes drawings like this:

I realize I can’t get things quite this elaborate in a generative way in just a couple weeks, but my plan is to attempt some of these elements (there are a few surprisingly algorithmic things in here, like circle packing, fields). The tentacles overlapping/twisting/winding is particularly appealing to me, along with the particular blend of 2D elements (I’d consider the mouths with teeth fairly flat), 2.5D elements (sections of tentacles that are organized in a way to be compelling in 2D, but have overlaps), and 3D elements (the ground platforms, overall depth of the image). I would also like to replicate some of the hatching style, although I can count at least 4 distinct hatching techniques in the image above.

I’ve already begun experimenting with some 2.5D tentacle braiding, although not much.

11/08 – Fully functioning boolean operations with polylines, lines. Tubes algorithm complete.

11/15 – 2d elements to cap tubes, tests w arrangements of tubes/caps

11/22 – 3d tube caps, layering. potentially more scattered 2d elements throughout layers (like the black sphere on the ground, or the human figure). potentially sky field design, although that is very much a stretch goal.

11/29 – multi color plots with 3d, 2d, and tubes.

Brief proposal:

For my final project, I want to explore generativity in prints and Latin American counterculture. In particular, I want to look at comics and editorial printmaking and illustration and I want to merge traditional drawing techniques (such as etching and screenprinting) with the computational and generative design that can be made with a plotter. I am especially interested in the interaction between the human and the machine and I want to narrow down my focus this semester to this.

Additionally, I am looking towards the option of scaling and reproducing my project to make small zines or editions of generative comics.

TLDR: I want to make generative comics that explore ideas of Latin American counterculture and heritage, but more importantly challenge mediums and explore plotting, etching, and other forms of printmaking and bookmaking. In this process, I will explore different generative writing methods and different material conditions to make my comics. As such, I anticipate my project being comprised of smaller tests and pieces that are part of a set as an exploration.

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Brief Sketch: Opted not to add a sketch since I still don’t know what I want the visual representation of my project to look like, however below I address some of my inspirations for this.

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Schedule:

11.03	Wed	-- Proposal: Basic themes and idea 
                   Due: #10 (Research/Proposal/Tests); DISCUSSION.
11.08	Mon	-- Completed etching test print and updated "blob" code. 
11.10	Wed	-- Completed brainstorming of themes for final project comic and writing.
11.15	Mon	-- Test prints.
11.17	Wed	-- Test prints.
                   Due: #11 (Major Milestone); CRITIQUE.
11.22	Mon	-- Test prints.
11.24	Wed	-- NO SESSION (Thanksgiving).
11.29	Mon	-- Start final prints + etchings.
12.01	Wed	-- Due: #12 (Final Project); EXHIBITION.

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Previous work and inspiration:

In past semesters I have worked a lot with comics and generative text centering on Latin American studies, history, and language. I would like to bridge this area of my practice with physical mediums and genuinely generative writing.

Some of my comics:

Some of my previous generative writing:

 

Some art that has been inspiring me:

(Microsoft Comic chat)

(etched engraving art: Frank Stella)

(c: virus tropical by Powerpaola)