Algorithmic Art Skill - Generative Art with Claude

Source: Content adapted from anthropics/skills (MIT). Last synced July 8, 2026, against the April 20, 2026 upstream update.

Overview

The official description: "Creating algorithmic art using p5.js with seeded randomness and interactive parameter exploration. Use this when users request creating art using code, generative art, algorithmic art, flow fields, or particle systems."

How the skill works

The skill's defining idea is that Claude must write an algorithmic philosophy before writing code. The SKILL.md walks through:

• Philosophy creation - generating a named artistic stance (with worked philosophy examples) instead of jumping to visuals
• Deducing the conceptual seed - deriving the artwork's controlling idea from the user's request
• p5.js implementation - with a hard rule marked "⚠️ STEP 0: READ THE TEMPLATE FIRST": all sketches start from templates/generator_template.js
• Craftsmanship + technical requirements - seeded randomness so every output is reproducible, and interactive parameter exploration via the bundled viewer
• What's fixed vs variable - which parts of the template Claude may change and which it must not

What's inside the skill folder

• templates/generator_template.js - the mandatory p5.js starting point
• templates/viewer.html - interactive parameter explorer
• SKILL.md (~20 KB, one of the most detailed official skills), LICENSE.txt

Key takeaways for your own skills

• Templates with a "do not deviate" contract produce far more consistent output than open-ended instructions.
• Seeded randomness turns generative art into a reproducible, parameterized artifact - the same discipline applies to any skill that generates variable output.

See it on GitHub

skills/algorithmic-art