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Paul Rickards

@paulrickards.bsky.social

Artist exploring vintage pen plotters with modern code. Retrocomputing repair and collecting. Mixes the best of new and old. He/him #penplotter #c64 🏳️‍🌈 My blog: https://biosrhythm.com/ My shop: https://shop.paulrickards.com/

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Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 2d ago

Truchet tile plot with arcs of CMYK color and wavy fringe. CMYK on 24”x36” watercolor paper, vintage HP DraftPro DXL #PenPlotter, Python, #NoAI Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/truchet-tiles/ #GenerativeArt #MastoArt #Art #ArtForSale #Artist #ArtForSaleByArtist #PenPlotterArt #PenPlot

A pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of a pattern of repeating arc segments running left/right that go over and under the rows above and below it. The arcs are large and comprise of multiple pen strokes of cyan, yellow, magenta, and black inks creating secondary colors. Around the perimeter are thread-like strokes that appear to flow with the wind.

Detail from a pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of a pattern of repeating arc segments running left/right that go over and under the rows above and below it. The arcs are large and comprise of multiple pen strokes of cyan, yellow, magenta, and black inks creating secondary colors.

Detail from a pen plot on white paper at an oblique angle of a pattern of repeating arc segments running left/right that go over and under the rows above and below it. The arcs are large and comprise of multiple pen strokes of cyan, yellow, magenta, and black inks creating secondary colors. At the bottom are thread-like strokes that appear to flow with the wind.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 2w ago

A Truchet tile variation with long flowing lines knotted together in center tiles. CMYK on 11”15” watercolor paper, vintage HP DraftPro DXL #PenPlotter, Python, #NoAI Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/truchet-tiles/ #GenerativeArt #Art #ArtForSale #ArtSky #PenPlotterArt #PenPlot

A pen plot on white paper of long horizontal lines of mixed color that appear to be fluttering in the wind. The lines meet in the middle connected via arcs and diagonal lines. The center tiles also have a few vertical slightly wavy threads coming out of the top and bottom. The lines are drawn in cyan, yellow, magenta, and black inks and make secondary colors.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 3w ago

Recently I've been shooting Polaroid film and love how "instantly" recognizable and unpredictable it is. And I've been working on different ways plot a raster image as vector in a way that produces interesting results. These are the results. 🧵 shop.paulrickards.com/character-po... #PenPlotter

A pen plot on white paper of Vermeer's Girl With a Pearl Earring drawn using lines of CMYK ink with a pen plotter. The drawing has a Polaroid instant film frame drawn around it.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 4w ago

CMYK Carousel w a very busy flowing field of ribbons & arcs of hatched blue denim and hot red. CMYK on 24”x36” watercolor paper using a vintage HP DraftPro DXL #PenPlotter with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/cmy-carousel... #Art #ArtForSale #GenerativeArt #ArtSky #NoAI

An abstract pen plot of stacked overlapping geometric shapes with smooth curves. The primary colors are a blue denim and hot red shades created from cross hatch pen strokes of only cyan, yellow, and magenta.

Detail from an abstract pen plot of stacked overlapping geometric shapes with smooth curves. The primary colors are a blue denim and hot red shades created from cross hatch pen strokes of only cyan, yellow, and magenta. The closeup shows individual pen strokes of ink and black outlines.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 4w ago

Another Truchet tile plot of big sweeping arcs of bright color like neon lights. CMYK on 24”x36” watercolor paper using a vintage HP DraftPro DXL #PenPlotter with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/large-plots/ #GenerativeArt #ArtSky #Art #ArtForSale #PenPlotterArt #PenPlot #NoAI

A pen plot on white paper of Truchet tiles of large overlapping concentric arcs in portrait orientation grouping, swirling around the page in primary CMYK inks but mixing to create secondary colors.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper of colorful concentric arcs and circles that swirl over and under each other around the page Only CMYK ink is used for each pen stroke as they combine on the page to create other colors. The detail shows a close up of the individual pen strokes that comprise the tile patterns.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · last mo.

Lots of small arc tiles make up this big Truchet tile rug plot. CMYK on 24”x36” watercolor paper using a vintage HP DraftPro DXL #PenPlotter with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/large-plots/ #GenerativeArt #CreativeCoding #Art #ArtForSale #Artist #NoAI #ArtSky

A pen plot on white paper of Truchet tiles of small overlapping concentric arcs in portrait orientation grouping, swirling around the page in primary CMYK inks but mixing to create secondary colors. The four sides of the group extend beyond in random lengths like tassels.

Detail from a pen plot on white paper of Truchet tiles of small overlapping concentric arcs in a large portrait orientation grouping, swirling around the page in primary CMYK inks but mixing to create secondary colors. The detail focuses on a the bottom showing the individual pen strokes of the tassel threads in an oblique view as the distance goes out of focus.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · last mo.

Big Truchet tiles in #C64 inspired raster bar color patterns. CMYK on 24”x36” watercolor paper using a vintage HP DraftPro DXL #PenPlotter with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/large-plots/ #Art #ArtForSale #Artist #ArtForSaleByArtist #PenPlotterArt #NoAI #PenPlot

An abstract pen plot of colorful concentric arcs and circles that swirl over and under each other around the page. Only CMYK ink is used for each pen stroke as they combine on the page to create other shades, predominantly violet and yellow.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · last mo.

CMYK Halftone Roses. Doing plotter halftones is brutal on the pen up/down mechanism but the results are very pleasing. CMYK on 24”x36” watercolor paper using a vintage HP DraftPro DXL #PenPlotter w Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/large-plots/ #Art #ArtForSale #Artist #NoAI

A portrait pen plot on white paper of a bouquet of roses in yellow, pink, and red. The yellow and pink roses are almost fully open while the red and several others are still tightly closed. The drawing is made from thousands and thousands of tiny dots of various sizes in rotated halftone screen all drawn in cyan, yellow, magenta, or black pens.

It’s based on the horticultural work “Varietes de Rose jaune et de Rose du Bengale. Rosa lutea & Rosa Indica (Var.)” by P. J. Redoute and Langlois from around 1830.

https://collections.rhs.org.uk/view/64393/varietes-de-rose-jaune-et-de-rose-du-bengale-rosa-lutea-rosa-indica-var

Detail of roses and a butterfly drawn with tiny CMYK dots of various sizes.

Detail of roses drawn with tiny CMYK dots of various sizes.

Detail of a butterfly drawn with tiny CMYK dots of various sizes.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · last mo.

CMYK Hatched Delaunay Triangles on Waves, color curved triangles from overlapping sine waves hatch shaded with arcs. CMYK on 24”x36” watercolor paper using a vintage HP DraftPro DXL #PenPlotter with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/large-plots/ #Art #ArtSky #ArtForSale #Artist

An abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of tightly packed triangles outlined in black and arranged in a subtle wave pattern from upper left to lower right each hatch shaded with arcs in a different color from overlapping cyan, yellow, and magenta inks.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of tightly packed triangles outlined in black and arranged in a subtle wave pattern from upper left to lower right each hatch shaded with arcs in a different color from overlapping cyan, yellow, and magenta inks. The detail shows individual pen strokes comprising the hatch shading.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · last mo.

A big rainbow phyllotaxis spiral, beaming with positive pride vibes. CMYK on 24”x36” watercolor paper using a vintage HP DraftPro DXL pen plotter generated and controlled with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/large-plots/ #PenPlotter #Art #ArtForSale #ArtSky #Artist

Oblique view detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of a series of slightly overlapping droplet shapes spiraling out from the center in a phyllotaxis pattern each hatch shaded with the colors of the rainbow. The detail shows the individual pen strokes of cyan, yellow, and magenta inks that comprise the hatching.

An abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of a series of slightly overlapping droplet shapes spiraling out from the center in a phyllotaxis pattern each hatch shaded with the colors of the rainbow with lavender in the middle transitioning to violet, blue, green, yellow, organ, and red. Each shape is outlined in black and has a small drop shadow in black.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of a series of slightly overlapping droplet shapes spiraling out from the center in a phyllotaxis pattern each hatch shaded with the colors of the rainbow. The detail shows the individual pen strokes of cyan, yellow, and magenta inks that comprise the hatching.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · last mo.

Rainbow tapestry, a plot of rainbow textures with wavy fringe giving a textile feel. Happy Pride! CMYK on 24”x36” watercolor paper using a vintage HP DraftPro DXL with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/large-plots/ #PenPlotter #Art #ArtForSale #PenPlotterArt #PenPlot #NoAI

An abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of thin irregular horizontal sections of rainbow shades of color from hatched pen strokes. The rainbow starts with pink at the top and goes to red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and ending with violet. The top and bottom have black gently waving lines coming out of them that look like threads.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of thin irregular horizontal sections of rainbow shades of color from hatched pen strokes. The detail shows a closeup of the hatch pens strokes of cyan, yellow, and magenta pinks.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 2mo ago

CMYK Circle Galaxies, a nod to space telescope photography. Probably one of the more complex plots I’ve done. CMYK ink on 24"x36” watercolor paper using a vintage HP DraftPro #PenPlotter with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/large-plots/ #NoAI #CreativeCoding #Art #ArtForSale

An abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of a field of densely packed variable sized circles of a variety of colors on a black background. The colors of the circles are loosely related to one another and slow change color across the composition.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of a field of densely packed variable sized circles of a variety of colors on a black background. The detail shows the individual pen strokes that comprise the shading of the circles in cyan, yellow, and magenta.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation shown at an oblique shallow depth of field of a field of densely packed variable sized circles of a variety of colors on a black background. The detail shows the individual pen strokes that comprise the shading of the circles in cyan, yellow, and magenta.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Super excited to announce my #PenPplotter #art work will be on display in the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, Delaware during the month of May 2026! Titled "Programmable Ink: Pen Plotter Art," the show will feature works from a variety of series I've created over the past 10 years.

An invite with a colorful pen plotter design behind text that reads

Paul Rickards

Programmable Ink:
Pen Plotter Art

Solo Art Show
May 2026

Opening Reception
May 1, 2026
5-7pm

The Grand Opera House
The Gran Gallery

818 N Market St
Wilmington DE 19801

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Engagement. Black India ink on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter generated and controlled with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/wildcards/ #PenPlotter #Art #ArtForSale #ArtSky

An abstract pen plot on white paper of social media icons of hearts, stars, bookmarks, and arrows in black ink haphazardly stacked and rotated on top of one another.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper of social media icons of hearts, stars, bookmarks, and arrows in black ink haphazardly stacked and rotated on top of one another.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Truchet țile curves have to be one of my favorites, diving over and under with endless paths to explore. CMYK ink on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/truchet-tiles/ #PenPlotter #Art #ArtForSale #ArtSky #TruchetTiles

A pen plot on white paper of a large number of overlapping, concentric arcs in portrait orientation grouping, swirling around the page in primary CMYK inks but mixing to create secondary colors bounded by a black box.

Detail from a pen plot on white paper of a large number of overlapping, concentric arcs in portrait orientation grouping, swirling around the page in primary CMYK inks but mixing to create secondary colors bounded by a black box. The detail focuses on a middle showing the individual pen strokes of the arcs in a multitude of colors.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 4mo ago

CMYK circle growth with circles densely packed and shaded. I promise it’s not a pseudoisochromatic color vision test. CMYK on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/cmy-circle-g... #PenPlotter #Art #ArtForSale #ArtSky

An abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of circles of various sizes packed together with very little space left between them. The circles are shaded a variety of colors and outlined in black.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of circles of various sizes packed together with very little space left between them. The circles are shaded a variety of colors and outlined in black. The detail shows a close up of the individual pen strokes of cyan, yellow, and magenta inks that comprise the hatch shading.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Rainbow tapestry, a plot of rainbow textures with wavy fringe giving a textile feel. CMYK on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter generated and controlled with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/wildcards/ #PenPlotter #ArtForSale #Art #ArtSky

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 4mo ago

CMYK Circle Growth visualizes the growth of a tree structure as a groovy 70s jazz record sleeve. CMYK on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter generated and controlled with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/cmy-circle-g... #PenPlotter #ArtForSale #ArtSky

An abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of a series various sized shaded circles distributed on the page that are connected with a thick black line as if branches of a tree.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of a series various sized shaded circles distributed on the page that are connected with a thick black line as if branches of a tree. The detail shows the hatch shading is made up of individual pen strokes of cyan, yellow, and magenta.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 5mo ago

It’s spring time here, so I’m revisiting phyllotaxis spiral patterns which are visible in some plants as they grow. CMYK on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/wildcards/ #PenPlotter #ArtForSale #Art #ArtSky

An abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of a series of small droplet shapes spiraling out from the center in a phyllotaxis pattern each hatch shaded with the colors of the rainbow with pink in the middle transitioning to red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Each shape is outlined in black and has a small drop shadow in black.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of a series of small droplet shapes spiraling out from the center in a phyllotaxis pattern each hatch shaded with the colors of the rainbow. The detail shows the individual pen strokes of cyan, yellow, and magenta inks that comprise the hatching.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 5mo ago

CMY Delaunay Triangles on Waves, where triangles dance and flow along undulating curves of white space. CMY on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter generated and controlled with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/cmy-delaunay... #PenPlotter #ArtSky #Art

An abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of packed triangles arranged in a subtle wave pattern hatch shaded with a different color from overlapping cyan, yellow, and magenta inks.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of packed triangles arranged in a subtle wave pattern hatch shaded with a different color from overlapping cyan, yellow, and magenta inks. The detail shows individual pen strokes comprising the hatch shading.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 5mo ago

CMY herringbone, with simplicity in texture and color, reminding me of bird feathers or blankets. CMY on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter generated and controlled with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/shop-cmy-her... #PenPlotter #ArtForSale #Art

An abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of four groups of vertical pairs of hatch marks aligned along a center axis in a variety of slowly evolving colors including shades of green, yellow, magenta, red, and purple.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Tangled CMY Triangles, an updated design where triangles make up the structure and hatch marks create texture, color, and movement. CMY on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/tangled-cmy-... #PenPlotter #ArtForSale

An abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of hatch marks loosely bound in the shape of triangles are hatched with cyan, yellow, or magenta in a seemingly random but organized way to create large amorphous areas of color, creating secondary colors of red, green, and violet.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of hatch marks loosely bound in the shape of triangles are hatched with cyan, yellow, or magenta in a seemingly random but organized way to create large amorphous areas of color, creating secondary colors of red, green, and violet. The detail shows a closeup of the individual pen strokes.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Hatched CMY Delaunay triangulation. I call these “umbrellas” because they remind me of the view above of a crowded beach. CMY archival inks on 11x15 watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/wildcards/ #PenPlotter

An abstract pen plot of many tessellated triangles each shaded with hatch marks of overlapping CMY strokes creating a myriad of other colors.

Detail from an abstract pen plot of many tessellated triangles each shaded with hatch marks of overlapping CMY strokes creating a myriad of other colors. The detail shows the individual hatch marks of cyan, yellow, and magenta pen strokes.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 5mo ago

CMY Carousel showing a flowing field of ribbons of hatched color, swirling around a center vortex. CMY archival inks on 11x15 watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter generated and controlled with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/cmy-carousel... #PenPlotter #Art

An abstract pen plot of stacked overlapping geometric shapes with smooth curves. The colors are a variety of blue denim and yellow gold shades created from cross hatch pen strokes of only cyan, yellow, and magenta.

Detail from an abstract pen plot of stacked overlapping geometric shapes with smooth curves. The colors are a variety of denim blue and yellow gold shades created from cross hatch pen strokes of only cyan, yellow, and magenta. The closeup shows individual pen strokes of ink and black outlines.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 6mo ago

CMY Delaunay Triangles on Waves with curved shaded triangles from overlapping sine waves. CMY on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter generated and controlled with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/cmy-delaunay... #PenPlotter #Art #ArtForSale

An abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of tightly packed triangles arranged in a subtle wave pattern from upper left to lower right each hatch shaded with a different color from overlapping cyan, yellow, and magenta inks.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of tightly packed triangles arranged in a subtle wave pattern from upper left to lower right each hatch shaded with a different color from overlapping cyan, yellow, and magenta inks. The detail shows individual pen strokes comprising the hatch shading.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Tangled CMY hatched plus series from 2018. I’ve always loved the fluidity and motion in these. CMY on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter generated and controlled with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/tangled-cmy-... #PenPlotter #Art #ArtForSale

An abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of hatch marks loosely bound in the shape of pluses are hatched with cyan, yellow, or magenta in a seemingly random but organized way to create large amorphous areas of color, creating secondary colors of red, green, and violet.

Detail from an abstract pen plot on white paper in portrait orientation of hatch marks loosely bound in the shape of pluses are hatched with cyan, yellow, or magenta in a seemingly random but organized way to create large amorphous areas of color, creating secondary colors of red, green, and violet. The detail shows a closeup of the individual pen strokes.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Full page halftone of Perlin noise fields in CMY. I love the subtly of the image and how it changes w viewing distance. Also has a great underlying hexagonal pattern. CMY on 24”x36” watercolor using a vintage HP DraftPro DXL #PenPlotter Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/large-plots/

An abstract pen plot of a full page field of small dots of CMY of varying sizes like a halftone effect. From a distance, the image looks like a colorful soft cloud of warm colors.

Detail from an abstract pen plot of a full page field of small dots of CMY of varying sizes like a halftone effect. Close up you can see the individual dots in cyan, yellow, and magenta inks.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Having more fun with this composition of quads filled with Ben Day dots which is slow to plot because there’s so much pen up and down motion. CMYK on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/wildcards/ #PenPlotter #Art #ArtForSale

An abstract pen plot of squares of various sizes outlined with black rounded corners, sometimes dividing into smaller squares. Each square is filled with small dots of CMY color of varying size and density. From a distance, the dots form a different color but close up the dots can be seen clearly.

Detail from an abstract pen plot of squares of various sizes outlined with black rounded corners, sometimes dividing into smaller squares. Each square is filled with small dots of CMY color of varying size and density. Close up the dots can be seen clearly.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Composition with floppies, using two different kind of fills: cross hatching and BenDay dots. CMYK on 11”x15” watercolor paper using a vintage HP 7585B pen plotter generated and controlled with Python. Available in my shop: shop.paulrickards.com/floppy/ #PenPlotter #Art #ArtForSale

A pen plot of a grid of alternating 3.5” and 5.25” floppy disks drawn in a 3x5 grid with a surrounding box filled with Ben Day dots of various sizes and densities of CMY inks. The floppies are filled with CMY cross hatching creating a myriad of rainbow colors.

Detail from a pen plot of a grid of alternating 3.5” and 5.25” floppy disks in a surrounding box filled with Ben Day dots of various sizes and densities of CMY inks. The floppies are filled with CMY cross hatching creating a myriad of rainbow colors. The detail shows individual pen strokes.

Paul Rickards @paulrickards.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Ever since I saw the Typeframe (a DIY writerdeck or cyberdeck), I wanted to build one. And so I did! I tweaked the design here and there to fit what I had on hand and my tastes. Here's the result. I'm pleased with how it turned out.

A small computer in beige plastic that resembles a slabtop from the mid 1980s. A backlit keyboard with beige, dark gray, and orange keycaps is in the front with a small LCD screen on the upper left tilted up toward the viewer.

A small computer in beige plastic that resembles a slabtop from the mid 1980s. A rainbow backlit keyboard with beige, dark gray, and orange keycaps is in the front with a small LCD screen on the upper left folded flat down on the case.