Artist and Computer linked on Astounding Computer History

“No computer will ever take the place of an artist. But many artists are discovering computers as a medium to create finished pieces of art, while others explore new art forms, using the computer as an idea machine.”

This is the book that inspired me to finally write an ASCII art generator. Artist and Computer• is a fascinating collection of essays by artists from the seventies, just before the onset of the home computer. It contains everything from oscilloscope art to ASCII art, as well as primitive three-dimensional work.

Because it is set before the advent of the home computer, the artists often didn’t own the computer they were using to create their art. Many worked with a programmer. But they all had to have some understanding of programming in order to manage the process.

The artist now goes to an art supply store to purchase a given set of tools, whereas the computer artist can create the tools he will use. This is remarkable and allows for unlimited possibilities in the art to be created. — Ruth Leavitt (Artist and Computer•)