ALGORITHMICS / REFERENCES

References

A research catalogue for drawing, systems and computational practice: artists and studios, curatorial work, source libraries, methods and tools.

Artists and studios

Vera Molnár

Vera Molnár used simple systems, variation, and productive disorder to expand the possibilities of computer drawing. Her plotter works are a foundational precedent for allowing rules and small deviations to coexist.

Manfred Mohr

Manfred Mohr is a pioneer of algorithmic digital art. His long investigation of computer-generated geometry and multidimensional hypercubes anchors the conceptual rigour of rule-based drawing.

Bridget Riley

Bridget Riley and Current inform the starting condition for the Current study: periodic line, optical pressure, and the productive instability of repetition. Algorithmics makes an original parametric study, not a reproduction; rights in Riley’s work remain with the artist and rights holders.

Paul Klee

“Taking a line for a walk” names the open, active line at the centre of Algorithmics. Klee’s Pedagogical Sketchbook (1925) frames drawing as motion and duration

Karsten Schmidt

Karsten Schmidt is a computational designer, artist, educator, and open-source author. His long-running work on geometry, noise, form finding, digital fabrication, and generative tools is a significant reference for Algorithmics: code developed as a practical drawing and making instrument.

Julien Gachadoat / v3ga

Julien Gachadoat (v3ga) develops generative drawing from simple graphic rules, monochrome geometry, repetition, and randomness. His plotter works make a direct bridge between code, vector structure, and pencil on paper.

Maks Surguy

Maks Surguy is a digital artist, design technologist, and plotter enthusiast working across generative code, drawing robots, and physical algorithmic artworks. His practice is a useful reference for the relation between software tools, vector systems, and plotted ink.

Joanie Lemercier

Joanie Lemercier’s Paysages Possibles brings algorithmic landscapes into plotter drawing: a machine traces dense lines on paper, making computational terrain physical and durational.

Dan Catt

Dan Catt’s CATT PRINT research-and-development practice is a useful contemporary reference for generative systems developed through code, iteration, and physical output.

Tyler Hobbs

Tyler Hobbs works with algorithms, plotters, and paint. His attention to the exchange between programmed structure, organic variation, and material outcome is a useful reference for plotted drawing.

Mark J. Stock: Sprawl

Off-lattice diffusion-limited aggregation as a growth-pattern reference, clearly distinguished from Physarum modelling.

Jon McCormack

Generative art, artificial life, evolutionary systems, and nature-inspired computational practice.

Nervous System

Generative design, differential growth, tessellation, simulation, and digital fabrication.

Curatorial practice and exhibitions

Marnie Benney

Curatorial projects connecting art, technology, data, environmental systems, and public experience.

Fields, noise and growth systems

Perlin noise

A research note on coherent gradient noise: local interpolation, continuity, gradients, layered frequencies, and structural use in procedural fields.

Blue noise

A research note on non-clumping spatial samples: Poisson-disk spacing, spectral behaviour, anti-aliasing, and seed distributions.

Pink noise

A research note on inverse-frequency spectra: equal power per octave, multi-scale variation, temporal drift, and spectral analysis.

Spatial extension

Flow Field Space carries that sequence into a regular cubic volume: width becomes depth, field samples become spatial vectors, and camera depth becomes a limited set of plotter ink grades.

Slime Mould / Physarum polycephalum

A research note distinguishing organism observations, adaptive network models, multi-agent trail systems, reaction–diffusion analogies, and graphic path translations.

Drawing tools and software

three.js

three.js and OrbitControls support the interactive camera, orbit, pan, and volumetric study in Flow Field Space.

SVG / Canvas / WebGL

Browser-native drawing surfaces keep the research immediately adjustable: SVG for export-ready pen paths, Canvas and WebGL for interactive viewing.

Libraries, archives and lettering

Hershey lettering

The Hershey vector-font archive remains a historical reference in the 67-font Pen Calibration catalogue. Generated Algorithmics plot titles use Routed Gothic entry 64.

SVG line-font calibration

The Pen Calibration study maintains the working catalogue of 67 SVG line fonts used in Algorithmics. Routed Gothic is catalogue entry 64. Its RoutedGothic.svg glyph paths are the authoritative source for Algorithmics plot titles: labels remain SVG path geometry, not browser text, and record their render time in the plot output.

Learning resources

Source maps and research methods

Growth-pattern taxonomy

A working taxonomy for multi-ink growth-pattern plots, distinguishing agents, networks, fields, branching, cellular systems, and data-constrained paths by mechanism, inputs, visual structure, and layer role.

Literary and conceptual research

Research practice

References are retained here to make influence and technical provenance visible as the studies develop. A citation acknowledges a source; it does not transfer copyright, authorship, or licence. This page will grow alongside the work.