I’m hoping to be as surprised by what happens with my projects as other viewers. I want to do only 80% of the work of the project and then let the 20% remaining emerge from the project on its own. This can come either from emergence, interactivity with the project, or in the best cases the interactivity between the people interfacing with the project.
ARTIST BIO
Dean Cheesman is a creative technologist building interactive installations, generative art, making tutorials, and tinkering with software, light, and motion. He’s based in Provo, Utah.
- Web: deancheesman.com
- Instagram: dcheesman
- Tiktok: dcheesman
- X: dcheesman
- Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/DeanCheesman
What Is one belief, insight, or idea that guides your creative process?
I’m hoping to be as surprised by what happens with my projects as other viewers. I want to do only 80% of the work of the project and then let the 20% remaining emerge from the project on its own. This can come either from emergence, interactivity with the project, or in the best cases the interactivity between the people interfacing with the project.
Can you tell us how you discovered Mixed art and what drew you into it?
My first experience was with programming TI-80 calculators in high school. It was my first experience with learning a programming language. The first generative thing I made was a simple line that would bounce around the boundaries of the screen leaving a trail behind it. I was always drawn to this idea of simple sets of rules leading to complex results.
What do you think defines your style or creative approach, and how did you arrive at that identity?
My style usually has some theme of emergence and is usually manifested in maximalist particle-driven approaches. My creative approach is usually trying to find those simple rules that will translate into the desired outcomes. I’m continually inspired by the evolutionary rules of nature and biology. They’re the ultimate emergent system.
How does a project usually begin for you? Do you have a creative ritual or structure you follow?
Projects rarely begin the same way for me. I’ll see something that I’m inspired by. Sometimes other artists on Pinterest or Instagram, but also from movies, nature, science, or maybe just a conversation with someone.
What tools or technologies do you use most, and how do they influence your visual language?
TouchDesigner is my hammer. I had previously used many other tools like After Effects, C4D, Processing, p5js, d3js, and will still use those tools occasionally, but TouchDesigner is capable of so much and allows for super fast prototyping that its what I reach for for almost any project now.
Do you feel there Is a strong generative art scene? What would you like to see evolve in it
I’ve seen interest grow over the past few years a lot with tools like TouchDesigner and p5js becoming more popular. I think students learning design are wanting to differentiate themselves more from the basic Adobe Suite skillset and see these generative tools as a great way to find their own styles. With the rise of AI its also able to stay slightly more ahead of the wave since there’s still not a real-time interactive AI tool out there (yet).
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start creating generative art but doesn’t know where to begin?
I learned almost everything I know from YouTube and online documentation. I didn’t go to school for design or programming. It was all learned on my own. My advice that I normally give is to think of a project that feels outside of your current skill set and offer it to someone for free. Offer to make free visuals for your friends bands, etc. On the way to completing that project you’ll learn all sorts of extra stuff that will likely fuel the next project. If you do this well enough you might just get noticed by someone who’d be willing to pay you to do the next one. My rule is that I’m the only one who decides when I work for free. If its someone else’s idea it’s always a no from me and I recommend others do the same.
Which artists or creators do you think are doing remarkable work and deserve much more recognition?
I’ve been going down some real rabbit holes lately on caustic lenses and have been blown away by all the stuff that zintaglio and Grayson Wu have been doing. In TouchDesigner world I’m continually blown away by people like MiniUV, SARV, Cacheflowe, Torin Blankensmith, Brett Bolton, Bart Pulley.
I’m lucky that in my small Utah scene we’ve got some amazing artists that are always pushing me to do more. Joe Bowers (the well tarot), Matterform.xyz, Jake Reedy, Nathan Solomon.
