Creative Coding: Artists
- Scratch [Visual Block-based Programming Language for Children]
- p5.js Editor [Web-based Editor for p5.js]
- CodeGuppy [Educational Programming Platform using JS and p5.js]
Periods: Contemporary art, Conceptual art, Minimalism, Modern art
In the 1960s Sol LeWitt developed a pioneering type of conceptual art by writing instructions for art works. The instructions would be followed by workers at the display spaces, the art created would usually only last for the duration of the exhibition and would be removed or destroyed afterwards. Sol LeWitt observed in 1971 that "each person draws a line differently and each person understands words differently".
This idea of coded instructions producing ephemeral artworks mirrors the creative coding process. Sol LeWitt's
p5.js is a JavaScript library for creative coding, with a focus on making coding accessible and inclusive for artists, designers, educators, beginners, and anyone else! p5.js is free and open-source. This editor is a web-based implementation of p5.js and allows a user to write and run code in a web browser.
CodeGuppy is a free programming platform for children aged 13+. It teaches JavaScript and also uses p5 libraries, but simplifies the learning curve by removing some elements.
More Information
Why these tools?The tools linked above are free, esaily available on the web and are ready to use in the classroom.
Where can I find out more?The worlds of computer graphics, visual arts, creative coding, generative art and other ways of using computers to create art are vast. There is an incredible amount of information available on the web. A great place to start (as with most computing topics) is an awesome list. Here's one for Creative Coding by Terkel Gjervig, designed for beginners.