Demo: Drawing Algorithms as Modular Objects: A Framework for Procedurally Generated Visual Arts and Music

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Published In

FARM '26: Proceedings of the 14th ACM SIGPLAN International Workshop on Functional Art, Music, Modelling, and Design, August 24 - 29, 2026 Indianapolis, IN

Publisher

Association for Computing Machinery

First Page

43

Last Page

46

Publication Date

8-24-2026

Abstract

We developed a framework in JavaScript for procedurally generating visual artworks and music. This framework specifies how drawing algorithms are structured to step-by-step create images. While images are being generated, drawing actions are (optionally) converted to sounds to create music. Drawing algorithms are treated as objects that carry a state that changes over time. The current state determines how the next drawing step adds to and manipulates the image canvas. Drawing algorithms can run independent of each other with a collection of premade functionalities such as initialize, start, pause, reset, and drawOneStep. In addition, drawing algorithms can be passed as input into functions allowing them to run under a variety of configurations and be connected to user interfaces and external applications. Furthermore, using this framework, we present a particularly interesting example of a drawing algorithm that has a dual purpose for both visually representing solutions to an algorithmic problem and for creating unique artworks. This algorithmic problem is defined as follows. Given an m by n binary matrix, our task is to enumerate all rectangular blocks containing only 1 entries on the border and 0 entries within the interior. The authors previously developed a solution for this problem that runs in O(m · n) time using O(n) space. We adapt this solution to create a drawing algorithm that draws visual artworks in the style of visionary artist Piet Mondrian and contemporary artist Adam Lister.

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