Learning Outcomes:
- Understand how important risk is to the creative process
- Introduce an element of risk to your practice
- Develop creative confidence
- Explore new mediums/methods
This week, we were asked to add an element of risk to our creative practice. I chose creative coding within the means of live visuals with HYDRA.
I have been interested in this since I learnt about it, and wanted to give it a try but I was too scared to get started.
This is a practice that is experimental and down to the user on how they would like the visuals to go. I would say this practice is in the same family as VIDEO SYNTHESIZERS, as both use hardware or software to manipulate the user’s experience of visuals.
Process.
“Uh Oh,” I say when I first open the application. I’m greeted with a screen on what to do, however as impatient as I am I x out of the tab and continue to the main screen.
That was a bad idea, since I was practically clueless on what to do so I went back to the tutorials and functions.
I wanted to create something similar to Tame Impala and Lil Yachty’s Breathe Deeper Remix, However, I got frustrated in trying to do so by myself so I had some help by an amazing MSc student and now teacher Mahalia.
In the meantime, I decided to take other people’s makings and experiment with stuff. Trying not to make anything to take the pressure off.
Finally, the unfinished version of my code to emulate the Breathe Deeper video.
What did I like?
I liked
- Being able to experiment with code and ask for external help
- Learning that ideas aren’t linear, and sometimes cannot be fixed until you have the technical skills to advance ideas
- Added an element of risk into my practice which was coding. It was quite enjoyable when I took off the pedestal to learn it in one hour.
What didn’t I like?
- I couldn’t get my filter like the video in time, it still bothers me
- I didn’t read the guide earlier, It is fun and games to experiment but mixing that in with technical and practical skills from the guide makes your practice even better
PLANS for time:
- Reading the manual, first or at least whilst working when experimenting with a new medium
- Do more practice on the software, it is visually cool and can potentially bring in income.