Learning to Paint

Learning to Paint is my attempt at creating a new process for a traditional artform, inspired by digital artists like Rafaël Rozendaal (b. 1980) and the early generative works of Vera Molnar (b. 1924). In this series of paintings, I’ve reconfigured Lindenmayer systems (L-systems) as a tool for abstract composition. L-systems are a mathematical formalism originally developed by biologist Aristid Lindenmayer to model organic growth. They operate through simple rules that, when applied recursively, generate intricate, evolving structures.

My program written with the p5.js JavaScript library, assigns randomized rules that serve as painting instructions. The system iteratively expands these rules, producing unexpected sequences that are then rendered as constellations of dots on a field. Despite their computational origin, organic patterns frequently emerge—some compositions evoke leaves, skeletal structures, or flowers.