The Great Orange Spot

“What if the computer goes to sleep while the plotter is drawing?”

This original artwork, part of the “Displaced” series, combines digital and analogue expressions of generative art. The drawing was initially made with code using an algorithm to generate multiple outcomes of grids of circles and crosses.

One of those outcomes, with a subjectively appealing composition, was picked by intuition and then transported to paper in two stages. The first used an orange felt tip marker to draw the circles layer, respecting the original paper alignment. Then, after slightly misaligning the paper, a fine-liner pen drew the layer of black crosses.

Close to completing the first layer, the computer went to sleep, and the plotter stopped the unsupervised drawing while the pen was down on the paper. The result was a large orange spot aligned to a golden ratio grid, adding an extra layer of uniqueness to the artwork.

About 50m of paint was applied to the paper.

Made with code (Javascript & SVG).

Original / Unique edition.
Signed and stamped.

Shipped unframed inside a tube.

An NFT on the Tezos blockchain is included as the digital receipt for the purchase.

Year: 2023
Medium: Algorithmic digital design, micro pigment ink on paper
Paper: Bockingford watercolour cold-pressed 300gsm
Pens: Sharpie fine point permanent marker in orange colour and Pigma Micron 02 fine-liner
Plotter: Axidraw V3/A3
Dimensions: 310x410mm / 12x16in