VALUE: Gradation

Autumn

Paige

Today the class completed work on the Gradation Paintings. The objective was to explore the application of a value scale within design.
Next week we will apply this concept to images addressing atmospheric perspective. The powerpoint presentation is on Canvas. Below is the original film still of Lon Chaney as "The Wolfman" and my demo. You may use a photo or create your own composition. Come to class with some ideas. I'll give detailed instructions next week.

VALUE: Gradations

Autumn- work in progress

Today the class started work on Value paintings addressing Gradations: the smooth, gradual transition from light to dark. Students made simple designs with ten spaces for the ten tonalities of a value scale. We will continue working on these paintings Wednesday.

COMPOSITION: The Parts of the Puzzle

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Yesterday the class continued working on the "Puzzle Parts" project. Notice the similarities and differences in the two series above. By using vertical and horizontal lines and shapes, Ashley has created a very stable series of images. The designs are reminiscent of the inner workings of a machine. The circles appear to run along the linear elements.
Calli has also employed vertical and horizontal lines for division and stability yet the implied diagonals connecting the other elements add dynamics and excitement.
The color schemes of the two series are very different as well. Ashley has used a monochromatic color scheme of blue which is very unified and cohesive. Calli's color's are similar to a complementary color scheme again adding more extreme contrasts and dynamics.

COMPOSITION: Parts of the Puzzle

Yesterday the class continued working on the "Puzzle Parts" assignment. Tomorrow will be the last class session dedicated to this assignment before we move onto VALUE and paint. Notice how the backgrounds are divided, creating new shapes on the examples below.

Jorge

Waldo

COMPOSITION: The Parts of the Puzzle

Yesterday the class began a series of six compositional studies using the same line and shapes elements and colors for each image. The objective is to see how many variations can be achieved. Students are trying to balance the space by applying the compositional rule of: one large shape, a few medium shapes and one or more small shapes as well as five of the six distal cues: location, diagonals, overlap, size, value (the last and not included atmospheric perspective).

Emily

 Emily's composition exhibits a left/ right movement. Nice how the circle passes through the lines. She has established triangulation between the "u" shapes as well as the color black. The only fault with this composition is that she has seven positive shapes where the rules state "no more than six are allowed."

Jose

 Jose has done a great job of creating an interesting negative (blue) shape by "cropping" many of the positive shapes. Observe the multiple rhythms in orange, yellow and black.

Nick

 Nick too has created multiple rhythms with orange, black and red. In addition, he has effectively used overlap and "grouping" in the lower left.

Odalis

Odalis has presented a somewhat threatening scenario. The pointed lines are obstructive and create tension blocking the joining of the circle and square. Furthermore, they have divided the background resulting in an interesting negative area in black.

MANDALA

Yesterday the class finished work on the Mandala Project. Below are three examples of the variety of images made.

Calli 

Calli has created a very striking design with her bold use of large black and white shapes buffered with patterns and textures appearing as gray tonalities.

Emma

 Emma has established strong rhythms and movement by repeating and rotating triangular shapes. Her use of bold lines and dark shapes add weight and clarity to the design by containing the finely patterned areas of gray.

Hannah

Hannah has created a vey soft and delicate design. The overall tonal range is high key. The line work is very thin and fragile complemented with airy, cloud-like shapes and stippled value.

MANDALA

Sim

Yesterday the class began work on the Mandala project. Sim's drawing above is a work in progress. Directions for this project and the powerpoint presentation are located on the class Canvas page. We will continue working on these drawings on Monday with a critique at the end of class. Wednesday we start a collage project. Be sure to get colored construction paper.