A couple months ago, I was approached by the people from Computer Arts to write a tutorial explaining how KulerCreator was made. They had an upcoming issue that was going to feature a number of leading generative artists, like fellow Peorian Erik Natzke, among others, and wanted a tutorial that would show the readers a relatively simple generative project to get them started in creating their own compositions. I gladly obliged.

The tutorial is published in Computer Arts Issue 145, so if you are interested in seeing how the colorful orbs came to be, and learn a bit about the Kuler API and some simple AS3 drawing, along with E4X, go pick up an issue. I think the tutorial is a bit out of the norm for the magazine, as KulerCreator contains no illustration or traditional “art” at all. It truly is completely code driven, so the path to completing the project is somewhat different than the usual pieces in the magazine. I hope that the readers are finding value in it and can use some of the ideas presented in the piece to create their own generative pieces or web service powered art.

I know I felt honored to placed in such a great magazine. While I am not a subscriber to Computer Arts, I do read it from time to time, so it was a real pleasure to be chosen as a contributor. When you consider the other designers in the issue like Go Media, Edvard Scott, etc… It really is something to have my work featured next to theirs.

I got a package today at work similar to the one mentioned at SeanTheFlashGuy’s blog. Pretty sweet indeed. Many thanks to Suzanne Nguyen and her team at Adobe… It is definitely an honor to be named a Flex Developer Community Champion. Very cool Indeed.

The box had a bunch of cool little things in it and some great training materials from Total Training. Like Sean, I also already have a copy of Programming Flex 2 (I’m pretty much an O’Reilly addict), so I will most likely give the book to an attendee at a “Intro to Flex” presentation I plan on giving at the university I teach at, Bradley University, sometime this spring. If that goes well, I may be hosting a Central Illinois event, as well… If you might be interested in attending, shoot me a line so I can gauge interest prior to setting something up.

Here is my picture of the goods… thanks to my wife Renee for the picture. Go check her photos out at flickr… she does good work.