The above image is a sample of a Particle Simulation Water Fountain created using the Houdini Software.

     Particles being used for art transcends the idea of "art imitating life and life imitating art". In all manners of realism all life is developed and maintained by a system of particles. All things are made up from particles. Tiny pieces of matter meticulously group together to form larger systems. The idea of particle art work is to take minute pieces or smaller systems and develop them into larger systems of aesthetically pleasing pieces of work.

     Predominantly in computer art, particle systems refer to instanced reference points used to generate phenomena. Phenomena commonly refers to systems which include fire, smoke, fog, water, explosions, meteors, dust, fairy sparkles, etc. However, with the use of procedural 3D systems like Side Effects Software's Houdini, particles can be used as instance references for any type of geometric representation. Thus the use of crowd simulations, dynamic particle interaction and the formations of enormous geometric systems can be accomplished.

This is a Procedural Particle System being emitted from geometry used to create the Water Fountain using Houdini.

     The basics for any particle system include:

                An Emitter
                The Spawning Radius
                The Particle Network
                The Particle Lifespan
                Outside Forces

     The Particle Emitter is the object from which the particles will be birthed. Depending on the shape of the emitter and its location, particles can be emitted in just about any direction and from any shape. Upon birth each particle,multitudes of parameters control and effect the size, shape, velocity and life of the particle. The spawning radius defines how much of the emitter's surface will be used to effectively birth particles.

These are the point data parameters that can be manipulated to develop the Water Fountain using Houdini.

     Once the particles have been generated, the system can be given parameters in how it can react to itself and outside forces. These parameters define all dynamics including lifespan, color changes, and a multitude of others.

This is a look at the Prcedural Network used to generate the Water Fountain using Houdini.

     While working in a procedural system that gives complete control of particles, done to each reference point, a technical artist can assign pre-designed geometric shapes to each point reference. This ability renders the capability to generate a swarm or herd network that dynamically interacts with itself and its surroundings.

~ Artistry with Particles ~

Procedural Particle Systems being emitted from geometry using Houdini.

     As a Particles Artist, the realm of possibilities for creation and expression is endless. Particles can birth new particles, react in and out with geometry, have geometry react to them, with no limits to their functionality. The expression of particles in art is the ability to aesthetically please a visual appetite with the fluidity of movement that can only be accomplished with the controlled randomness of a particle simulation.

     In the early 1800's there were scientific observations done on color, optical effects and ideas in perception. These theories were taken in and applied to artistic works developing the forms of art known as Pointillism and Neoimpressionism,. During this time period, an uncanny artist by the name of Georges-Pierre Seurat took the ideas of Pointillism mixed with a philosophy of Color Harmony and created scientifically based movements of color and emotion. The dots that Seurat used to generate emotion with paint initiated my love of particles.

Georges Seurat is the ultimate example of the artist as scientist. His famous canvas Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the Grande Jatte was the centerpiece of an exhibition in 1886.

     The language Seurat named Chromoluminarism denotes that perception of imagery can be expressed using lines of colors in varying intensity and color schema. This language holds true today in the use of particles to create a visual impact. Using layerings of particle systems within the language of Chromoluminarism, visual epics can be achieved with many delicious outcomes.

     Using this type of language would not be possible if it were not for Technical Scientists like Jim Blinn that developed functions leading into environment and bump mapping. These techniques give color and life to the particle system. With all of this history behind the ideas of Particle Art, it should be quite a popular art form. Yet, the techniques to perform the art is more than just visionary, it is mathematical, and to watch a load of hard mathematical facts create soft and sometimes chaotic pieces is mind-expanding.

     Particles Art is developed using software systems that allow for control of particles system. My personal recommendation is Side Effects Software's Houdini. Inside the interface for Houdini, the operator is immersed in a purely procedural environment, allowing for total control of every minute detail of every operation. Data flow can be manipulated on each instance of a particle, giving an artist total control of each point from birth to death of the particle.

This is a Procedural Environment within the program Houdini.

     Houdini uses a C-Shell like scripting language called Hscript. Using expressions in this language matched with a strong knowledge trigonometry an artist can use technical ability to generate beautiful movements in art ranging from the delicate blowing of a wish on a dandelion to the strong chaotic turmoil of a crashing wave.

     The expression of artistic emotion while working with particles is left to the individual artist. The base idea of using particles or dots all stem from the idea of breaking things down to their simplest form, and then developing an complex composition using simple parts. Particles Art rewards the artist with the notion of an art piece taking on life and growing on command. Watching the tiniest part of something form a beautiful arrangement is breath-taking and exhilerating.