Author: Naser AlHumaidi

Reading Reflection – Week 2

Randomness is an unexplored territory not only in the realms of mathematics and engineering but across all sectors. It’s often seen by humans as unsettling, something to be avoided, as it carries a hint of chaos. Yet, there’s a captivating dance between order and chaos that strikes a chord within us. Caser Reas’s concepts illuminate how elements of randomness and order can harmonize to create a piece that speaks to us in countless ways. Since randomness is an integral part of human existence, it finds its way into our lives no matter how meticulously we try to structure them. These subtleties find their reflection in artistic expression. It’s fascinating to see how we, as humans, translate these emotions and facets of our experiences into art, resulting in pieces that communicate on multiple levels.

What stands out to me about Casey’s showcased pieces is that regardless of how randomness is integrated into the art, they all give rise to distinct compositions teeming with points, lines, and more, each possessing its own character. Every piece imbued with randomness in its elements crafts a unique identity, capable of forging a profound connection with individuals who resonate most deeply with it. As I gazed at the various art pieces presented by Casey Reas, I couldn’t help but ponder: how does the infusion of random elements into these artworks alter our perception of reality and the future? On one hand, I felt that randomness is an inevitable force, and our best course of action is to embrace it and forge ahead, which is the sentiment these art pieces conveyed to me. However, on the flip side, could these unique art pieces, brimming with randomness, imply that randomness is an exponential force that may one day surpass our control, potentially leading to unforeseen consequences? I believe that while some art pieces effectively integrate randomness to create intriguing works, straying too far from the balance of order and chaos might convey a daunting and overwhelming impression of life. This could potentially become a psychological burden for some, as they grapple with the realization of their own insignificance in the face of nature. Thus, art’s impact can vary greatly depending on how randomness is employed.

Assignment 2

Concept:

After learning about the different loops in P5.js, I wanted to create a simple yet soothing code. That’s when I remembered a game I used to play as a kid. When I moved the cursor around the screen, all the points scattered away from it. It was a basic game, just rolling a ball around a screen, but there was something oddly satisfying about seeing the points move away from me.

So, I decided to recreate that game in my code. I used a loop to keep generating points randomly, making sure they never stopped appearing. Then, I added a bit of trigonometry to make it look like the points changed direction when they got close to the cursor. This gave the illusion that they were all moving away from the cursor, following the ball’s lead. It was a fun way to bring back a childhood memory through code.

A highlight of some code that you’re particularly proud of:

let d = dist(random1, random2, mouseX, mouseY);
if(d < 50) 
{
let angle = atan2(random2 - mouseY, random1 -       mouseX);
random1 += cos(angle) * 2;
random2 += sin(angle) * 2;
point(random1,random2);

As I scoured the internet in search of a function that could calculate the distance between the cursor and the points, I stumbled upon the ‘dist’ function, and it was exactly what I needed. Delving into the p5 references, I delved into trigonometric equations, studying their inputs and outputs. Through a series of trials and errors, I played around with the code, hoping for it to be similar to that childhood game. I’m pleased to share that the outcome exceeded my expectations and turned out rather well.

Reflection and ideas for future work or improvements:

Discovering the potential of loops in programming has ignited my imagination for creating games and sketches, and it’s incredibly thrilling. Although the sketch is already promising, I see room for enhancement by incorporating a diverse palette of colors and trails that follow the ball’s movement. Additionally, I aim to optimize the program’s performance to reduce any glitches caused by its rapid execution. Looking ahead, I envision using both ‘for’ and ‘while’ loops to craft even more imaginative games, such as a maze, and bring forth fresh interactive experiences.

Self Portrait- Assignment 1

Concept:

In the program, I crafted a self-portrait that reflects my desired features, such as long hair. To achieve a whimsical look, I employed a combination of basic shapes, including ellipses, rectangles, and circles. Additionally, I paid attention to detail by adjusting the stroke thickness to give specific elements, like my eyebrows, a darker and more realistic appearance that matched my actual features. I also implemented a dynamic feature- as the mouse cursor hovers to the mouth, it creates another arc on top of the mouth, giving it more of an open mouth or a shocked look overall.

A highlight of some code that you’re particularly proud of:

One aspect of the code I’m well content with is the dynamic feature of the mouth and how it adds an arc to it as the mouse gets within the specified region around the mouth. The simple placement of an arc to the mouth ultimately changes the entire expression on the face and the impression it overall gives.

//mouth
arc(width / 2, height / 2 + 70, 80, 40, 0, PI);
 if(mouseX>width/2-50 && mouseX< width/2+30){
   if(mouseY>height/2+30 && mouseY<height/2+80){
   arc(width / 2, height / 2 + 70, 80, 40, PI, 0);
 }}

Reflection/Improvements:

I am confident that I can further refine my creative skills and explore ways to not only enhance engagement but also elevate the visual appeal of my work. Moreover, I aspire to expand my proficiency in the extensive realm of coding and functions available to me, enabling me to create an even more compelling self-portrait than the current one.

Throughout the process of creating my self-portrait, I encountered challenges related to pinpointing the precise coordinates within the canvas. Despite implementing code to display the mouse cursor’s position, I spent a significant amount of time fine-tuning the positioning of elements to achieve the desired balance. I look forward to acquiring more efficient techniques to address this issue, ultimately leading to more streamlined and aesthetically pleasing artwork in the future. On top of that, I could have also worked on the colors to make it pop out more and more visually appealing, but overall, I believe that this is a good start.