Project 2: Life Inspired Generative Art

A generative project inspired by life: evolutionary systems, L structures, genetic systems, cell automata.

2/4/2022

I have been thinking about life inspired art due to this class. Cell automata has been the most interesting.

I've stumbled upon this website which is of interest to me. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/CellularAutomaton.html#:~:text=A%20cellular%20automaton%20is%20a,many%20time%20steps%20as%20desired.

So this is some of the images that can be produced via cell automata that were discussed in class. I think the images themselves are beautiful. I feel as though this type of image would be difficult to control or predict until the image takes place.

2/6/2022

We discussed Karl Sims Evolved virtual creatures. In essence the creatures have a goal that they are attempting to achieve and then evolving to better reach that goal. I am having trouble understanding the thought that there is a "desire" in code. How can you code that?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBgG_VSP7f8

It's an interesting video if you would like to reference it. I think it could have a fascinating application in medical use. It very much reminds me of a virus, evolving to better adapt to a host.

2/9/2021

I was playing a new game with one of my students called quoridor.

The object of the game is to get your piece to the opposite edge. However, you have wooden fences that you can use to block your opponent. This forces your opponent to travel different paths based on what is put in front of them. The tricky part is that based on the rules of the game, you have to leave at least one path open for your opponent to reach the other side. While playing the game it has a unique beauty in the patterns that are created. A randomness based on strategy that also has restrictions based on movements. It echoed in appearance to L structures and the decision making of cell automata. Kind of beautiful and very different on how I would have seen this before this semester.

2/10/2022

I am considering doing my project on L systems. I have a weird idea inspired by the quoridor game. Maybe I can code an Lsystem that would help me find a way to win this game or find the best strategy ( So far I have only won one time).

Another thought would be using L systems to generate a variety of plant life and display that in color to not just create something that has practical use but also something that is esthetically pleasing.

2/15/2022

After some thought, it would be very difficult to create an L-system that follows a strategy and that would work with the rules of the game Quoridor. We presented our ideas today. I have two ideas that will fit this project. I want to code an L-system that will look like a branch and then find a branch that compares to it in real life. OR I would like to use plaster to create a mold of an anthill that is inherently an L-system created by an autonomous lifeform.

After some feedback from class today- I will be choosing the idea of representing a real life fern using the L-system code. The idea of comparing the two objects, although it aligns with my purpose of creating real life fern like plants as it relates to my future career-- doesn't quite fit an artist aesthetic.

2/17/2022

Another idea I am tossing around is creating coral with the L-system code and then create an art piece based on that. I am having trouble writing my code and getting it to work properly with the initial Rule sets.

2/22/2022

My code Works! I've learned to create a rule set that draws based on the traditional values of + - [ ] F, X. I have just been playing around all day with inputting different rulesets. I've made it so that I can have as many Rules as I would like, but I am sticking to just one or two. I have also learned that the best branches are those that have a balanced rule.

For instance, [F+F] +[F-F]

or FF-[FF+F-F]+[FF-F+F}

As long as the two sides are equal but opposite in signs, that gives me a branch that splits equally left and right on the screen and doesn't have a biased lean.

I have also learned that starting the initial replacement of the axiom with a drawing code will start off my branch better and it will be taller and leaner.

The amount of code I get back is crazy! Its almost impossible to predict and it's kind of pretty. I'm thinking of including it somehow in my final piece.

Here are some branches I was able to produce today:

Using the same code, I was able to iterate a few more times to create a thicker branch. I also played with stroke Weight.
	This looks like Thyme or Parsley.
	This is one of my favorites! Kind of reminds me of the lollipop trees in the Lorax.

Since these were so hard to predict- I started by researching a tried and true rule. I then randomly changed it to see the effects. I played with random angles, stroke weight, Rule1, Rule2, and iteration amount.

I really like this next set I was able to get, which is a more wispy branch:

I also played around with very exact angles, such as 60, 90, and 120. These were just fun and interesting to make.

		This one in particular looked like an edge of a building and I couldn't help but doodle little silhouettes of people at their desks.

2/25/2022

I've started to compile my final piece. I am going to use the branches that I created to make a real life plant. I also made an L-system that very much looks like a root system. I am going to flip it upside down in my composition. I have also included the code used to generate the roots into the piece.

2/27/2022

I wanted to add one final element to my piece. I think its missing just a touch of color. What is a plant, without flowers?

I created a flower in Houdini that is randomly generated! It has seven layers. For context, I created seven cloth layers with a high poly mesh. I then threw a ball at it with a random speed, turbulence, wind speed, and roughness. This crunches the cloth in an unpredictable way. The video below if my first flower attempt.

I then used the same principle to create a more complicated and organic flower. To do this, I used a random generator that created fringe on the edge so that it wasn't perfectly circular.

My organic and randomized flower!

I included this flower into my final piece and compiled in photoshop.

Titled the "The Depth of Code," this piece is special to me on multiple accounts. Firstly, I learned how to create a more complicated code to produce images that are impactful and useful. This was a tough one to learn and to implement. Each element of this picture is coded or is code, which I think is pretty cool. On top of that, they are all randomly generated to create an aesthetic composition. Secondly, I am not only an aspiring surfacer, but I am also a gardener. So it has a personal meaning to me in that I can create something organic from something so rigid. I may sit at a computer for most of my days, but I can create a very different garden.

The Depth of Code