[a]life drawing

2022, Images generated by guiding a differenciable rasterizer with CLIP

[a]life drawing is a series that is part of an ongoing experimentation on generative systems combining language models (CLIP) with differentiable vector graphics rasterization (DiffVG).

The generative system uses at its core differentiable vector graphic rasterization along with a defined set of rules that limit the representational power of the system and forces it to come up with creative solutions within the allowed rules. As an artist I'm fascinated by the creativity displayed by generative models when asked to represent objects and concepts while constrained by certain rules. The resulting works, while representing the objects required by the artist, maintain a certain aesthetic quality that favors visual indeterminacy and abstract imagery, prompting the spectator to actively look for imagery in the picture, as different objects emerge on their mind.

While all the drawings in this series are purely digital, taking as inspiration life drawing, and depicting the human body -in all its forms and shapes- as their main subject, future lines of experimentation of this project will combine generated imagery with real watercolor paintings. By using the abstract watercolors as a base for the generative system to add new strokes to the existing shapes, the aim is to open a door for interesting collaborations between artist and machine.

Credits

• David Estevez