Wax and Bodies

// composition: the comb enters low-left and fills the lower-right two thirds on a diagonal; the bees crowd its upper rim, thickest at the right third; the top left stays bare paper
// layering: broad wax washes and a shadow under the rim first, then cell rims, capped lids and dark open mouths, then the bees, whose thoraxes and legs are the last and blackest marks
// the paper above the rim is left alone apart from two bees still in the air
const PALETTE = [
  "#efe6d3", // ground — warm paper
  "#c9a45c", // mass — wax
  "#8a6730", // shadow — cell rims and mouths
  "#332a1f", // ink — bee bodies
  "#c2632c", // accent — wet honey, rationed
];
const GROUND = PALETTE[0];
const WAX = PALETTE[1];
const SHADE = PALETTE[2];
const INK = PALETTE[3];
const HONEY = PALETTE[4];

// the ragged upper rim of the comb, falling left to right, two octaves of wobble
function combEdge(x) {
  return 548 - 0.528 * x + (noise(x * 0.0038) - 0.5) * 130 + (noise(x * 0.013 + 40) - 0.5) * 44;
}

function hexPoints(cx, cy, r, rot) {
  const pts = [];
  for (let i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
    const a = rot + (i * Math.PI) / 3 + random(-0.1, 0.1);
    const rr = r * (1 + random(-0.13, 0.13));
    pts.push([cx + Math.cos(a) * rr, cy + Math.sin(a) * rr]);
  }
  return pts;
}

// six rims, one side at a time; cells near the rim lose more walls, as if half built
function cellRims(pts, w, drop) {
  brush.noFill();
  for (let i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
    if (random() < drop) continue;
    const a = pts[i];
    const b = pts[(i + 1) % 6];
    brush.set(random() < 0.36 ? "2B" : "cpencil", random() < 0.36 ? INK : SHADE, w * (1 + random(-0.32, 0.42)));
    brush.line(a[0], a[1], b[0], b[1]);
  }
}

// a capped cell: a pale lid of wax sitting proud of its rim
function cappedCell(cx, cy, r) {
  brush.noStroke();
  brush.fillBleed(0.24, "out");
  brush.fillTexture(0.55, 0.45);
  brush.fill(WAX, 168 + random(-26, 50));
  brush.circle(cx + random(-3, 3), cy + random(-3, 3), r * (0.76 + random(-0.07, 0.1)), true);
  if (random() < 0.45) {
    brush.fill(SHADE, 84 + random(-18, 34));
    brush.circle(cx + r * 0.22 + random(-2, 2), cy + r * 0.24 + random(-2, 2), r * 0.34, true);
  }
}

// an open cell: the mouth is a hole, and the holes are what make it read as comb
function openCell(cx, cy, r, deep) {
  brush.noStroke();
  brush.fillBleed(0.14, "out");
  brush.fillTexture(0.4, 0.8);
  brush.fill(deep ? INK : SHADE, deep ? 132 + random(-32, 74) : 138 + random(-40, 54));
  brush.circle(cx + random(-5, 5), cy + random(-5, 5), r * (0.58 + random(-0.11, 0.16)), true);
  // strokes inside the mouth carry the real dark, raked at the cell's own angle
  if (!deep && random() < 0.45) return;
  brush.noFill();
  const ang = random(-1.1, 1.1);
  const ca = Math.cos(ang);
  const sa = Math.sin(ang);
  const n = deep ? 3 : 2;
  for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
    const t = -0.34 + i * (0.68 / (n - 0.4));
    const hw = r * 0.5 * Math.cos(t * 1.9) * random(0.72, 1);
    const ox = cx - sa * t * r * 0.62;
    const oy = cy + ca * t * r * 0.62;
    brush.set("charcoal", deep ? INK : SHADE, (1.5 + random(-0.4, 0.7)) * (deep ? 1 : 0.66));
    brush.line(ox - ca * hw, oy - sa * hw, ox + ca * hw * random(0.7, 1), oy + sa * hw);
  }
}

function honeyCell(cx, cy, r) {
  brush.noStroke();
  brush.fillBleed(0.34, "out");
  brush.fillTexture(0.4, 0.55);
  brush.fill(HONEY, 176 + random(-24, 44));
  brush.circle(cx + random(-2, 2), cy + random(-2, 2), r * (0.64 + random(-0.06, 0.1)), true);
}

// one bee: pale wing, amber abdomen, banded; thorax and head built from heavy strokes so they stay black
function bee(x, y, ang, len, wing) {
  const c = Math.cos(ang);
  const s = Math.sin(ang);
  const nx = -s;
  const ny = c;
  const w = len * 0.4;

  // abdomen — amber, tapering to the sting
  brush.noStroke();
  brush.fillBleed(0.14, "out");
  brush.fillTexture(0.42, 0.55);
  brush.fill(random() < 0.24 ? HONEY : WAX, 226 + random(-22, 28));
  brush.beginShape(0.7);
  brush.vertex(x - c * len * 0.02 + nx * w * 0.54, y - s * len * 0.02 + ny * w * 0.54);
  brush.vertex(x - c * len * 0.5 + nx * w * 0.5, y - s * len * 0.5 + ny * w * 0.5);
  brush.vertex(x - c * len * 0.98 + nx * w * 0.07, y - s * len * 0.98 + ny * w * 0.07);
  brush.vertex(x - c * len * 0.48 - nx * w * 0.52, y - s * len * 0.48 - ny * w * 0.52);
  brush.vertex(x - c * len * 0.03 - nx * w * 0.54, y - s * len * 0.03 - ny * w * 0.54);
  brush.endShape(true);

  // three or four bands — thin enough that the amber stays between them
  brush.noFill();
  const bands = random() < 0.6 ? 4 : 3;
  for (let i = 0; i < bands; i++) {
    const t = 0.22 + i * (0.19 + random(-0.03, 0.03));
    const wf = w * (0.56 - 0.36 * t);
    brush.set("2B", INK, 1.5 + random(-0.3, 0.5));
    brush.line(
      x - c * len * t + nx * wf,
      y - s * len * t + ny * wf,
      x - c * len * t - nx * wf,
      y - s * len * t - ny * wf,
    );
  }
  // the tip, darkest on the abdomen
  brush.set("2B", INK, 1.9);
  brush.line(x - c * len * 0.9 + nx * w * 0.1, y - s * len * 0.9 + ny * w * 0.1, x - c * len * 0.99, y - s * len * 0.99);

  // thorax — a dense dark blob with two strokes laid over it
  brush.noStroke();
  brush.fillBleed(0.06, "out");
  brush.fillTexture(0.2, 0.9);
  brush.fill(INK, 238);
  brush.circle(x + c * len * 0.19, y + s * len * 0.19, w * (0.6 + random(-0.05, 0.08)), true);
  brush.noFill();
  brush.set("charcoal", INK, 2.3 + random(-0.3, 0.5));
  brush.line(x + c * len * 0.08 + nx * w * 0.34, y + s * len * 0.08 + ny * w * 0.34, x + c * len * 0.3 - nx * w * 0.3, y + s * len * 0.3 - ny * w * 0.3);
  brush.line(x + c * len * 0.08 - nx * w * 0.32, y + s * len * 0.08 - ny * w * 0.32, x + c * len * 0.3 + nx * w * 0.28, y + s * len * 0.3 + ny * w * 0.28);

  // head
  brush.noStroke();
  brush.fill(INK, 232);
  brush.circle(x + c * len * 0.47, y + s * len * 0.47, w * (0.3 + random(-0.03, 0.05)), true);

  if (wing) {
    // one wing laid back over the abdomen: a pale film with a drawn leading edge
    brush.noStroke();
    brush.fillBleed(0.4, "out");
    brush.fillTexture(0.24, 0.35);
    brush.fill(GROUND, 104 + random(-14, 20));
    brush.beginShape(0.8);
    brush.vertex(x + c * len * 0.16 + nx * w * 0.26, y + s * len * 0.16 + ny * w * 0.26);
    brush.vertex(x - c * len * 0.34 + nx * w * 1.34, y - s * len * 0.34 + ny * w * 1.34);
    brush.vertex(x - c * len * 0.74 + nx * w * 1.16, y - s * len * 0.74 + ny * w * 1.16);
    brush.vertex(x - c * len * 0.9 + nx * w * 0.5, y - s * len * 0.9 + ny * w * 0.5);
    brush.endShape(true);
    brush.noFill();
    brush.set("2H", SHADE, 0.7);
    brush.beginShape(0.7);
    brush.vertex(x + c * len * 0.16 + nx * w * 0.26, y + s * len * 0.16 + ny * w * 0.26);
    brush.vertex(x - c * len * 0.34 + nx * w * 1.3, y - s * len * 0.34 + ny * w * 1.3);
    brush.vertex(x - c * len * 0.72 + nx * w * 1.12, y - s * len * 0.72 + ny * w * 1.12);
    brush.endShape(false);
  }

  // legs, short and crooked, and two fine antennae — the last marks
  for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
    const t = 0.02 + i * 0.12;
    const sp = random() < 0.5 ? 1 : -1;
    const ox = x + c * len * t;
    const oy = y + s * len * t;
    const lr = w * (0.6 + random(-0.12, 0.22));
    const spread = 0.7 + i * 0.5 + random(-0.2, 0.2);
    const kx = nx * Math.cos(spread) + c * Math.sin(spread) * 0.8;
    const ky = ny * Math.cos(spread) + s * Math.sin(spread) * 0.8;
    brush.set("2B", INK, 1.3 + random(-0.25, 0.45));
    brush.line(ox, oy, ox + kx * lr * sp, oy + ky * lr * sp);
    brush.line(ox - nx * sp * 0.6, oy - ny * sp * 0.6, ox - kx * lr * 0.7 * sp, oy - ky * lr * 0.7 * sp);
  }
  brush.set("2H", INK, 1);
  brush.line(x + c * len * 0.54, y + s * len * 0.54, x + c * len * 0.82 + nx * w * 0.34, y + s * len * 0.82 + ny * w * 0.34);
  brush.line(x + c * len * 0.54, y + s * len * 0.54, x + c * len * 0.8 - nx * w * 0.38, y + s * len * 0.8 - ny * w * 0.38);
}

function setup() {
  createCanvas(800, 800, WEBGL);
  brush.scaleBrushes(2.4);
  noLoop();
}

function draw() {
  translate(-width / 2, -height / 2);
  background(GROUND);

  // 1 — the wax mass: broad washes sweeping the lower right, the largest gestures first
  brush.noStroke();
  brush.fillBleed(0.66, "out");
  brush.fillTexture(0.36, 0.36);
  brush.fill(WAX, 132);
  brush.circle(600, 556, 252, true);
  brush.fill(WAX, 118);
  brush.circle(352, 668, 214, true);
  brush.fill(WAX, 106);
  brush.circle(730, 330, 186, true);
  brush.fill(WAX, 94);
  brush.circle(470, 434, 158, true);
  brush.fill(WAX, 80);
  brush.circle(716, 302, 120, true);
  brush.fill(SHADE, 74);
  brush.circle(684, 716, 196, true);
  brush.fill(SHADE, 58);
  brush.circle(214, 764, 132, true);
  brush.fill(SHADE, 50);
  brush.circle(800, 470, 150, true);

  // 2 — a warm shadow lying just under the rim, so the crowd has something to sit on
  brush.fillBleed(0.52, "out");
  brush.fill(SHADE, 104);
  brush.circle(566, 372, 128, true);
  brush.fill(SHADE, 88);
  brush.circle(672, 296, 106, true);
  brush.fill(SHADE, 66);
  brush.circle(378, 470, 96, true);
  brush.fill(SHADE, 58);
  brush.circle(778, 218, 84, true);

  // 3 — the cells: a hex packing thinned by noise, cut off above by the rim
  const R = 40;
  const DX = R * 1.5;
  const DY = R * 1.7320508;
  const cells = [];
  for (let col = 0; col < 16; col++) {
    for (let row = 0; row < 14; row++) {
      const cx = 12 + col * DX + randomGaussian(0, 3.6);
      const cy = 30 + row * DY + (col % 2 ? DY * 0.5 : 0) + randomGaussian(0, 3.6);
      const above = cy - combEdge(cx);
      if (above < randomGaussian(24, 18)) continue;
      const d = dist(cx, cy, 620, 512) / 600;
      let dens = 1.16 - constrain(d, 0, 1) * 0.56;
      dens *= 0.56 + noise(cx * 0.0032 + 11, cy * 0.0032 + 7) * 1.0;
      if (random() > dens) continue;
      cells.push({
        x: cx,
        y: cy,
        r: R * (0.84 + random(-0.09, 0.18)),
        rot: random(-0.17, 0.17),
        s: noise(cx * 0.0058, cy * 0.0058),
        drop: constrain(0.44 - above * 0.0026, 0.09, 0.44),
      });
    }
  }

  // rims firm up near the crowd and fade off toward the edges
  for (const c of cells) {
    const near = constrain(1.35 - dist(c.x, c.y, 596, 400) / 420, 0.5, 1.35);
    cellRims(hexPoints(c.x, c.y, c.r, c.rot), 1.7 * near, c.drop);
  }

  // 4 — states: a dark brood patch under the crowd, capped lids where the noise runs high
  let nCap = 0;
  let nOpen = 0;
  let nHoney = 0;
  for (const c of cells) {
    // the brood patch: an oval smear of open cells, its border torn by noise
    const bx = (c.x - 588) / 168;
    const by = (c.y - 392) / 104;
    const brood = bx * bx + by * by < 0.62 + (noise(c.x * 0.012, c.y * 0.012) - 0.4) * 0.9;
    // a weaker second patch low right, so the eye does not slide off the bottom
    const lx = (c.x - 712) / 128;
    const ly = (c.y - 660) / 96;
    const later = lx * lx + ly * ly < 0.56 + (noise(c.x * 0.014 + 5, c.y * 0.014) - 0.45) * 0.8;
    if (brood && nOpen < 36) {
      openCell(c.x, c.y, c.r, random() < 0.78);
      nOpen++;
    } else if (later && nOpen < 36) {
      openCell(c.x, c.y, c.r, random() < 0.68);
      nOpen++;
    } else if (c.s > 0.53 && nCap < 22) {
      cappedCell(c.x, c.y, c.r);
      nCap++;
    } else if (c.s < 0.44 && nOpen < 36) {
      openCell(c.x, c.y, c.r, c.y < 520 && random() < 0.45);
      nOpen++;
    } else if (nHoney < 5 && random() < 0.14) {
      honeyCell(c.x, c.y, c.r);
      nHoney++;
    }
  }

  // grain in the wax, dragged across the deep corner
  brush.noFill();
  brush.set("spray", SHADE, 3.4);
  brush.line(452, 796, 800, 508);
  brush.line(556, 800, 806, 606);
  brush.set("spray", SHADE, 2.6);
  brush.line(660, 800, 802, 690);
  brush.line(268, 748, 470, 636);

  // 5 — the crowd: clumps of bees on the rim, thickest at the right third, thinning to the left
  bee(300, combEdge(300) + 30, 0.62, 52, false);
  bee(336, combEdge(336) + 62, 1.18, 50, false);

  bee(434, combEdge(434) + 14, -0.32, 60, false);
  bee(456, combEdge(456) + 46, 1.36, 54, true);
  bee(478, combEdge(478) + 20, 0.24, 58, false);

  bee(524, combEdge(524) + 8, -0.58, 62, false);
  bee(546, combEdge(546) + 38, 0.86, 56, false);
  bee(566, combEdge(566) + 14, 0.14, 64, true);
  bee(588, combEdge(588) + 52, 1.44, 52, false);
  bee(606, combEdge(606) + 22, -0.44, 60, false);
  bee(628, combEdge(628) + 46, 0.5, 56, false);
  bee(646, combEdge(646) + 16, -0.86, 58, true);

  bee(700, combEdge(700) + 10, 0.7, 58, false);
  bee(722, combEdge(722) + 42, -0.12, 54, false);

  bee(792, combEdge(792) + 20, 0.96, 52, false);

  // three crawling deeper into the comb, away from the rim
  bee(654, 486, 1.62, 54, false);
  bee(398, 588, 0.38, 50, true);
  bee(748, 668, -1.18, 52, false);

  // 6 — two still in the air, the only marks in the empty quarter
  bee(250, 184, -0.88, 38, true);
  bee(332, 100, 0.44, 28, true);

  // 7 — the last darks: three mouths pushed deeper where the bodies press together
  brush.noStroke();
  brush.fillBleed(0.16, "out");
  brush.fillTexture(0.5, 0.76);
  brush.fill(INK, 168);
  brush.circle(540, combEdge(540) + 54, 16, true);
  brush.fill(INK, 148);
  brush.circle(654, combEdge(654) + 40, 14, true);
  brush.fill(INK, 130);
  brush.circle(404, combEdge(404) + 62, 13, true);
  brush.noFill();
  brush.set("charcoal", INK, 2.4);
  brush.line(486, combEdge(486) + 26, 524, combEdge(524) + 22);
  brush.line(598, combEdge(598) + 20, 632, combEdge(632) + 18);
  brush.line(686, combEdge(686) + 24, 718, combEdge(718) + 20);
  brush.line(342, combEdge(342) + 34, 372, combEdge(372) + 30);
  brush.line(756, combEdge(756) + 30, 788, combEdge(788) + 26);
}