Some of my daily sketches have developed into deeper explorations of specific algorithms or aesthetics. This type of coded art is often called generative or algorithmic—distinct from AI-generated art—in which code defines an algorithm capable of producing a wide range of visual outputs.

I use and build tools that enable parametric exploration of these outputs. TouchDesigner is especially well-suited for this, with its node-based, real-time visual environment. I also work with vanilla JavaScript and WebGL shaders, often paired with custom UI panels for configuring parameters.

I call this process code cartography: mapping the landscape of possibilities through iteration and experimentation to uncover the most compelling areas of the parameter space—where things look interesting, and where they fall apart.

As an example, here are 25 test variations from Worlds Within, a long-form generative art project I released in 2023 on Art Blocks.

Creating this kind of work involves balancing curation, edition sizing, and the design of a parameter space rich enough to support meaningful variation.