the algorithms behind generative art

generative art grows from a handful of simple, reusable ideas. here are the core ones in plain english, each with a live demo you can play with. these are also the ideas gaogao is built from.

voronoi diagrams

split a space into cells around scattered points. the skeleton of every gaogao organism.

flow fields

steer particles along invisible currents to trace flowing, organic lines.

cellular automata

simple local rules, repeated on a grid, that grow into lifelike patterns. draw on a live game of life.

recursive subdivision

split a shape into smaller shapes, over and over, into structured compositions.

perlin noise

smooth, natural-looking randomness, the quiet engine under most of the others.

grow one for yourself →