Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 6: Personal Computer Era (1980s)

1985

Mark Wilson Publishes Drawing with Computers

Publication

Blue, black and white book cover with Mark Wilson’s name and the large title Drawing with Computers.
Mark Wilson, Drawing with Computers: The Artist’s Guide to Computer Graphics, 1985. Original cover. © Mark Wilson, 1985. Perigee Books / The Putnam Publishing Group. Scan from the author’s website. Image source.

In what may be the first creative coding book for artists, Mark Wilson published the seminal Drawing with Computers. The book served as manual for anyone to pick up and learn about making art with computers. In the mid-80s when the book was released, there was intrigue and enthusiasm for art by algorithms but it was difficult to learn. Wilson’s book filled this gap and would prove influential to artist and educator Travess Smalley, who spoke to Wilson about the book and much more in his profile on Le Random Editorials.

Also read this piece by Wilson himself on Le Random Editorials, where he reflects on his practice in his own words.

Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random, fact-checked September 2026.

Sources

People

Mark Wilson, Travess Smalley

Movements

digital art, generative art, Technology and Art

Filed under

Ideas
creative coding, democratization, digital art, education, generative art, Technology and Art
Technologies
algorithms, computer art
People
Mark Wilson, Travess Smalley
Works
Drawing with Computers

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