WHAT DID I MAKE?
A Zentangle Box. It is an interactive box with several sensors embedded on the top that communicate with p5.js to generate Zentangle doodle drawings on the screen. The analog sensors allow for infinite drawings, so people can keep coming back to create new designs as they desire!
Here is a link to my full project write up.
PURPOSE
The art of Zentangle drawing helps a person focus, relax, increase creative flow, and improve mental wellness in general! However, for many people that aren’t artistically inclined, drawing can seem uninteresting or even too much pressure to make something perfect. My Zentangle box will allow anybody to be an artist, all they have to do is interact with the sensors and fascinating designs will be generated. I want my Zentangle box to increase accessibility of drawing for relaxation.
FUNCTIONALITY
I embedded 6 photocell resistors, 3 potentiometers, and a button to be flush with the top and front of the box. This precise installation preserved the smooth feel to the box and the calming experience to using it. As different photocells were covered, the line weight and shading of the Zentangle shapes will be modified. Additionally, each potentiometer has a different effect on the drawing. One will change the base geometric shape of the design (from circles to squares), the second will increase the number of shapes on the screen (from one to six), and the third will cycle through a variety of borders & backgrounds to the doodle. Lastly, pressing the button triggers an event to save the image on the screen, using the save() function in p5.js. So as the user continues to use the box, every time they press the button to save their artwork a new design is added to their gallery of creations.
Here are a few photos of my process
