SHAPE: Representation Vs. Distortion

Lisset Miranda

Yesterday students completed part two of the second shape project. First, students made a background of compartments. Notice the balance of the diagonal yellow rectangles supported by the large blue rectangle in Lisset's collage above. The second part was to place silhouettes of a tool that gradually becomes more distorted. But, the distortions are not random. Each rectangle must achieve Notan; the balance between light and dark. In other words, the negative areas must be treated with the same importance as the positive areas. The long silhouette on the right is the representational image. Notice the "pen-like tip" in the negative area of the handle. This motif is repeated throughout the modifications adding unity to the overall design. Although the original is a bit tight in its box, all the distorted silhouettes are well balanced with interesting negative areas as well as the positive areas.