One way that I would like to incorporate randomness into my work is by allowing some visuals to change independently while keeping the main elements under my control. What interested me most about Reas’ talk was how some aspects of the composition can be left to the computer to randomly generate, resulting in the creation of distinctively unique artwork. For example, I could control the main shapes and structures while leaving other aspects like color and size to the computer. This would allow different versions of the artwork to emerge while keeping my original intentions.
For me, I believe that there needs to be an equal mix of artist input and randomness. Total randomness could produce interesting results but would tarnish the original intent of the artist and make it less meaningful. Complete control could also feel bland, as the human imagination can only go so far. Randomness can create new ideas and maybe set some new trends in the digital art world, though keeping it at bay is also important. I think the best balance is giving the computer enough freedom to create something unexpected while still allowing the creator to shape the general direction of the piece.