Painting by Functions

In minimalist, abstract or computer generated art a real object is often represented by a simplified set of shapes and curves.

For example, this image of the famous artist Mondrian might be transformed or represented by transformations of standard mathematical functions as follows:



Consider some objects and works of art. Think how they might be broken down into shapes or segments of lines and curves. How many such shapes or line and curve segments would be needed to give a recognisable abstract impression of the pictures? Imagine how you could encode your lines and curves mathematically by imposing a coordinate grid on the picture.

Use a graphing software package to create your impressions mathematically. Your toolkit contains the standard mathematical functions: Polynomials, sin, cosh, sinh and also the techniques of composition and transformation of functions.

You might want to print off the picture, highlight the segments of the curves of interest and colour according to the colouring schemes in Painting by Numbers.

Please send us any of your creations!

If you want to focus on pictures made with straight lines, see the problem Painting Between The Lines.