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Generative Art: a practical guide using Processing |
- The complete guide to creating generative graphics for print, video and the web.
- The philosophy and practice of using a programming language as an artistic tool.
- Includes a beginners guide to Processing, and applied tutorials on subjects such as Perlin Noise, Randomness, Fractals, Emergence, Agent Oriented Programming, Three Dimensional Drawing, and Cellular Automata.
- Featuring the work of Robert Hodgin, Jared Tarbell, Aaron Koblin, Casey Reas and many more of the finest contemporary generative artists.
- Foreword by Marius Watz
EARLY ACCESS NOW AVAILABLE

The book has been through three review panels during the writing process, each of which has helped improve the manuscript, to the point where the final review left me with very little to change, apart from add more colour. Below are some of the most recent comments made by these (anonymous) reviewers:
“Matt succeeds in tying dull core programming concepts into fun explorations in genart concepts. I’m really impressed by this.”
“The book’s approach is unique and Matt’s style of writing is wonderfully personal. It is not only educational but also entertaining. I’ll definitely add to my library.”
“Matt’s approach is unique in that he focusses on core concepts of genart instead of core concepts of programming. He succeeds in teaching about variables, functions, OOP and recursion without the reader realising what he’s doing.”
“Matt Pearson succeeds in teaching without lecturing. Generative Art approaches its subject in a practical and immersive way, building abstract programming skills without the reader, or rather the participant, ever realising it. This is the first book on Processing or creative coding that had me following the code examples throughout. Especially the later chapters devoted on agents and recursion provide enough ideas to fuel many explorations.”
“Its construction is unique and the chapter titles reveal this. It doesn’t feel like a hard-copy of a course given somewhere by someone. Browsing the TOC, I was tempted to read each chapter. Due to the very personal approach throughout the book, I even read the chapters where Matt couldn’t teach me anything new.”
“Matt Pearson has provided an excellent introduction to generative art using Processing. With just the right mix of instruction and inspiration, working through the book was a pleasure, and I was producing interesting and rewarding results right from the start. This book should be considered as a stepping stone to experimentation, rather than a comprehensive review of the (many) facets of generative art and it’s certainly set me along an interesting and rewarding path into the area.”
If you want to read the book ahead of publication follow the “early access” link above, for both free and paid access to the early chapters.
And let me know what you think …
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September 29th, 2009 at 9:37 am
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