Code Painting

What is Code Painting?

Code Painting is a creative method of making visual art using programming code. Just as a painter uses brushes and paint on canvas, a code painter uses programming languages to create works on a digital canvas.

The tools used in Code Painting are diverse: Mathematica and Wolfram Language specialize in mathematical visualization, while Processing and p5.js excel at interactive graphics. More recently, AI techniques such as deep learning-based Style Transfer have also been adopted as tools for Code Painting.

What matters is that AI in Code Painting is not a replacement for the artist, but rather a tool the artist uses, much like brushes or paint. The human role is essential in the core creative process: imagining, writing code, discovering errors, and selecting the final work.

This "Code Painting" philosophy has been carried forward more earnestly at Data Art Lab since artist LEE Joohaeng founded Pebblous. Compared to earlier works, the practice now handles data at a much larger scale and leverages AI more actively. This approach contributes to Pebblous's vision of "Tangible Data" — transforming abstract data into tangible forms.

Code Painting uses programming code as the primary medium for visual art creation. Like traditional painting with brushes and pigment, code painting employs programming languages on a digital canvas. AI serves as a tool, not a replacement for the artist's creative vision.