Author: Fatima Alsuwaidi

Concept

I aimed to build on my previous assignment by creating flowers using the lollipop example from class and crafting a bee inspired by the bouncing ball technique. Having already created a tree, I wanted to continue developing this theme.

Sketch

press to move the bee

I chose the color of flowers to be this pink/magenta shade because there use to be a similar flower that would bloom very high we could never pick them as kids.

Highlight
My original bee looked like this. I couldn’t figure out how to get the bee to look like how I originally wanted it to. But then I remembered that I could -/+  this.x/this.y and it worked. I’m happy with the current bee especially since looking back, this one just looks weird.

show() {
  // bee's wing
  fill("#D5EBEE");
  stroke("#EBFAFC");
  ellipse(this.x - 3, this.y - 15, 15, 23);
  ellipse(this.x + 6, this.y - 15, 17, 24);

  // bee's body
  stroke("#E7D534");
  strokeWeight(3);
  fill("#FFEB3B");
  ellipse(this.x, this.y, 40, 30);
  
  // bee's stripes
  fill("rgb(15,15,15)");
  noStroke();
  ellipse(this.x, this.y, 3, 30);
  ellipse(this.x - 8, this.y, 3, 25);
  ellipse(this.x + 8, this.y, 3, 25);
  ellipse(this.x + 15, this.y, 3, 20);

  // bees' eye
  stroke(0);
  point(this.x - 15, this.y - 2);
}

I got the petals to rotate from Fasya Rahmadhani ‘s rotating strawberries.

Reflection

Overall I’m happy with the final piece. I did want to add the push/pop function to add/remove bee’s but they ended up just following each other. When I added the bee after the flowers the flowers shifted, I used chat gbt to figure out what went wrong, I ended up needing to add push(); and Pop(); to restore the transformation and style to isolate them from translate() and rotate().

For future improvements I wish to make It way more interactive. like adding/removing bees but also using the mouse pressed and key pressed function for visual changes.

 

I believe that interactivity comes from the use of our senses. Sight, touch, hearing, smell, and even balance. While not every interactive system needs to involve all of these senses, it must engage at least one. I agree with the idea that anything can be interactive because we can interact with everything around us. However, what’s crucial is distinguishing the level of interactivity (as he mentioned) whether it’s high, moderate, or low, since different forms of interaction have different impacts. 

When the author claimed that printed books aren’t interactive because they can’t “speak,” I would argue that interactivity can also be one-sided. For instance, I am reading this author’s views, which may or may not influence or challenge my own thinking. The author created the book, and I am engaging with it—how can that not be considered a form of interaction? The experience of reading may not be a conversation, but it’s an intellectual exchange, a dialogue between the creator’s ideas and the reader’s mind. 

Regarding Improving User Interaction in p5 Sketches I think allowing users more control over the artwork itself, such as changing colors, adding or removing elements, etc, could make the experience feel more personal and engaging. And offering users guidance on how to interact with the sketch, such as through on-screen prompts or hints, would help them understand how to navigate and manipulate the artwork more effectively. Also, adding sounds or auditory information. Though I haven’t seen any examples of that so I don’t know if It is possible. 

Concept:

I got my inspiration from this tree while watching my sisters play.

I wanted to create a tree that showcased the four seasons. And when you would move the mouse around the tree you would get to see the different seasons in each corner. Then when pressed, it would be dark (night). And just for visuals sake have the leaves fall automatically.

 

Sketch:

I couldn’t figure out how to include all 4 seasons without rewriting most of what I already did, so I moved on. I ended up adding apples, and when you move the mouse around the leaves they appear on the tree as well. When the sketch is pressed the autumn version appears; where instead of apples falling they are now leaves. 

Falling circles effect

Highlight:

There isn’t a code I’m proud of, I’m mainly happy that I was able to take something that I envisioned and was able to create it since I was worried about that.

But I am pleased with how easily I was able to incorporate the loop function.

//   leaves
  for (let x=0; x<=width; x+=35){
    for (let y=0; y<=height; y+=50){
      fill('#4CAF50');
      strokeWeight(5);
      stroke('#54AF4C');
      circle(x,y/2,40);
    }
  }

Improvements:

I think it would be cool to incorporate all four seasons instead of two. Also if I could actually recreate the game that originally inspired me; and be able to somehow catch the apples.

Casey Reas explored the interplay between order and chaos in art. The artworks he showed in the start intrigued me, it was simple but didn’t look like art created by code. It felt organic, having movement even through it was still. It maintained a sense of human touch and spontaneity despite its underlying systematic principles; the mix of chaos and order. 

I liked his approach and perspective. towards the end he says the graphics are underwhelming/simple. But he thinks it encourages you to look closer (his goal). I like the last art pieces he showed where it’s interactive in how the art piece ends. As you have control to create as well. He claims that each of these are algorithmically uninteresting. Except the idea of being able to expose the system, which he finds engaging. I think this explains art perfectly: the relationship between surface simplicity and underlying complexity. That the value of art lies not in its immediate visual impact but its capacity to reveal the deeper truth and meaning of it. That also viewing art and understanding the process/meaning of it gives you two very different perspectives.

For this self portrait I was inspired by the art style of Toca Boca, a mobile video game I used to play a lot as a kid. So I attempted to create myself in that art style.

 Highlighted Code:
I am proud of this code because I originally was worried with how I would create the hijab, but I ended up simply creating a circle and making the “head” above it. Even though it’s just 2 circles on top of each other, I’m glad I found a simply solution.

//hijab
fill('#523F2D');
circle(width/2,height/2,270);

Reflection:

I’m happy with the final result, when starting I thought I wouldn’t be able to create what I envisioned. I did want to add some hair, and I tried with arc using HALF_PI but with the hijab it didn’t work so I scratched that idea. I think for future assignments I want to try to make my work interactive.