Intro Elements Composition Stroke Color Test Mints Prints

Freehand

Freehand is available for minting on Art Blocks.

A series of “freehand” mixed media drawings — made by an algorithm.

In each drawing, three basic elements (horizontal lines, diagonal lines, and arcs) are extruded and rendered in three possible stroke types (pen, flat brush, and round brush). Simple variations produce a wide range of compositions, transforming the image from a flat graphic into a composition that evokes a series of spaces, a collection of objects, or anything in between.

Freehand emerged from a desire to generate digital images with the texture and irregularity of hand-drawn images. Though these images are, by definition, not freehand drawings — because the hand is far removed from their creation — there is a strong parallel between the lack of control in freehand drawing and the lack of determinism in generative art. In both cases, the artist gives up a degree of precision in favor of freedom and unpredictability.

Prints and Sets

From the beginning of developing Freehand, we set out to create a project that was very broad and diverse in its outputs. We are excited about the wide range of potential connections that one could make between individual pieces and across the project as a whole, as well as the opportunity for people to create sets that speak to them personally. Freehand invites people to enjoy the work as a single piece or as larger sets.

Here are a few example sets that we put together from the test outputs: