Week 1 Blog ‐ A brand new Journey

Post 1:

In the past, I often found solace in the world of writing and photography, using them as tools to narrate my thoughts. However, this was mostly a one-sided conversation, and I frequently found myself lost in my own world. As I delve into the world of the interactive art, I'm beginning to realize that my graduate journey will be about fostering "dialogue." It's about inviting others into my world, much like throwing a branch into a still pond, creating ripples that resonate.

In the realm of interactive art, the dominance of "self" in storytelling gradually diminishes. This is something I must embrace and learn – how to use interactive art to create multifaceted narratives that resonate with a diverse audience. This semester, I may work on projects involving Arduino and p5.js, or explore the world of interactive art. These are the potential avenues I'm excited to explore.

But what am I most eager to dive into? Well, I already have a clear answer - "games." I have an immense passion for games and am an avid gamer myself. This semester, I hope to blend classroom learning with personal exploration to create art-inspired and interactive games that ignite my creativity.

As I embark on this new academic journey, I'm looking forward to the challenges and growth that await me. And I'll stay tuned for updates on my adventures in interactive art and game design during grad school :)

Post 2:

This is the first time I draw a self-portrait using p5.js, which is funny but really tough. My self-portrait is the character I most want to become,which from a beloved Chinese children's animated series. I have a special affinity for this character because he embodies a carefree attitude, often approaching life's challenges with a calm demeanor. While he may be incredibly lazy, I can't help but admire his ability to enjoy life to the fullest, eating and drinking without a care in the real life.

At the beginning, I started with a sketch on my pad and created a grid to establish coordinates. This grid would prove invaluable in speeding up my drawing process by helping me locate specific points accurately.

Initially, I attempted to use the arc() function to depict the character's fluffy wool, but I found it challenging to control the curvature precisely. After some research and experimentation, I turned to the bezier() function, which allowed me to create soft, flowing lines. While it was a labor-intensive process, the end result was well worth it, and I gained a deeper understanding of coordinate systems along the way.

During the mid-stage of coloring, I encountered numerous irregular shapes that needed attention. To address this, I utilized other shapes in the same color as masks to create a seamless appearance. Additionally, I learned how to use the translate() function to rotate ellipses and experimented with alpha values in the color-filling process to achieve the desired effects.

Throughout the entire creation process, I couldn't help but think, "Wouldn't it be easier to do this in Photoshop?" However, I realized that this challenging process was preparing me for future artistic possibilities. Programming has the power to break through many of our limitations :D