Digital Brushstrokes: Randomness and Loops in Action
Unleashing Creativity through Scratch and Computational Art

This activity is based on a workshop developed as part of the MonTech project. For more information, visit montessoritech.eu.
Overview:
This workshop is designed for educators to introduce the concepts of loops and randomness in programming through the creation of digital art using Scratch. Participants will explore how computational tools can emulate artistic techniques, using randomness and iterative processes.
Objectives:
The workshop aims to help participants understand the programming concepts of loops and randomness, create dynamic digital art using Scratch's Pen extension, and foster creativity and problem-solving through computational thinking.
Materials:
Participants will need computers with internet access, Scratch accounts, and access to the Scratch Pen extension (pre-installed on Scratch).
Step-by-Step Guide for Teachers:

Discovering Vera Molnár's Art: Begin the session by showcasing a selection of Vera Molnár's artworks, focusing on her innovative use of geometry, repetition, and randomness (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Moln%C3%A1r). Discuss how her early computational works bridged art and technology, inspiring the concept of generative art. Ask participants reflective questions such as what patterns or techniques they notice in her work, how randomness plays a role in creating unique pieces, and how they might recreate similar effects digitally using Scratch.
Exploration and Ideation: Encourage participants to research Vera Molnár's works online and sketch their ideas in a design journal. Prompt them to think about how loops and randomness can replicate her artistic style digitally.
Creating Art with Scratch: Set up Scratch by opening the platform and activating the Pen extension. Explain the purpose of blocks such as “pen down,” “pen up,” “move,” and “set pen color.” Demonstrate a simple program using loops to draw repetitive shapes and introduce randomness by showing how to randomize pen color, line thickness, or sprite movement. Provide an example program:

Guided Exploration: Encourage participants to modify the provided code to create their own designs. Suggest variations such as changing sprite movement patterns, experimenting with pen color gradients, and varying loop iterations and conditions. Check this Scratch studio for ideas (these are examples from MonTech project).
Sharing and Reflecting: Host a virtual art gallery where participants upload their creations to a shared Scratch studio. Discuss what randomness adds to their artwork, the difference between digital and traditional art-making, and their overall experience.
Wrap-Up Activity: Have participants reflect in their journals on how loops and randomness influenced their creative process. Encourage them to think about whether they could replicate their digital art with traditional tools, and why or why not.
Follow-Up Ideas: Colors, Loops, Randomness, and Watercolours
Encourage participants to integrate traditional and digital art forms. Begin by having children use watercolors (or other materials like markers or crayons) to create spots or stains on paper, imagining unique shapes or patterns. Once the physical designs are complete, take photos of the creations and upload them as sprites in Scratch. Use Scratch’s graphic editor or tools like remove.bg to erase the background and isolate the designs.
Once the sprites are ready, let children experiment with programming loops and randomness to create digital compositions. They can use blocks like "stamp" and "set X effect to" to alter colors, transparency, or add effects. This hybrid activity highlights the connection between randomness in traditional techniques and computational art, while encouraging creativity and exploration.
