LINEAR PERSPECTIVE: One Point

Karina

Last Wednesday the class completed work on the one-point linear perspective drawings and started their two-point project. Karina's drawing illustrates overlapping and intersecting forms. In addition, she has balanced the composition by repeating the "z" form around the design.

LINEAR PERSPECTIVE: One-Point

Cathryn (sketchbook)

Last Wednesday the class began working on One-Point Linear Perspective drawings. The objective is to place forms above, below and across the horizon line. These drawings will be due at the start of class next Wednesday.

COLOR SCHEMES

Yesterday the class continued working on their color schemes project. These are due Monday morning. Next week we start drawing in One and Two Point Linear Perspective. Bring rulers.

COLOR SCHEMES

Emma

The class continued working on the color schemes project. Tomorrow is the last day to work on this project in class. We will critique them Monday morning before starting One-Point Linear Perspective.

COLOR: Color Schemes

Last Wednesday the class started working on designs for the color schemes project. Below are some good examples. Be sure to have your designs transferred and ready to paint when we return from Spring Break.

COLOR: Color Wheels

Today we began working with color. The slide lecture covered various vocabulary and five different color schemes. After the lecture students made color wheels. The color wheels made today are slightly different than the one above. The layout was the same but each color was divided in half. One half of a circle illustrating a thin application allowing the paper to show through. The other half received a second coat of paint increasing the opacity.

VALUE: Atmospheric Perspective

Danny

The class continued working on the "Atmospheric Perspective" project today. These will be due next Monday morning. From there we will start color. Be sure to bring black, white, blue, yellow and red acrylic paint.

VALUE: Atmospheric Perspective

The class began working on sketches for the Atmospheric Perspective paintings. Many students began painting as well. We will critique these paintings next Monday.

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

Add caption

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.

LINE DYNAMICS: Asymmetry

Calli

Jessica

Yesterday the class continued exploring Line Dynamics in an asymmetrical balance by employing line weight variations (Calli's drawing) and the Distal Cues (Jessica's drawing). Observe the way thick, dark lines advance and thin, light lines recede in Calli's drawing. In addition, when grouping lines together they tend to shed their Line characteristics and act more like Value.

By drawing objects lower on the picture plane larger and diminishing the size as they recede (or move up the picture plane), Jessica has created the illusion of depth. Furthermore, overlapping objects helps establish foreground and background.

LINE DYNAMICS: Symmetry

Yesterday the class made symmetrical drawings within a "continuous field arrangement." The objective was to create the illusion of depth using line weight variations, shape and texture. Take note how the thickness of the line changes its location in space (i.e. thick lines advance, light lines recede). In addition, repeating lines to create texture simultaneously creates tonal variations.
In the last hour of class, students began symmetrical compositions employing the Distal Cues. My example is at the bottom. We will critique this work at the beginning of class on Monday.

Calli

Emily

Nick

Paige

Distal Cues: Symmetrical Balance Demo

EXPANSION OF THE SQUARE

Today in class we discussed the Principles of Design and the Japanese concept of Notan. The "take-away" for the day was the rule of composition: one large shape (dominant), a few medium shapes and one or small shapes.  Examples of the today's project are below. The powerpoint and directions for this project as well as the powerpoint for the Principles of Design are located on the class Canvas page.

 This design has a powerful central shape fringed with medium shapes that enclose the smaller shapes.

 This design effectively uses repletion with all the rectilinear elements.

 This design reveals strong adherence to the rule of composition. Of particular note are the small jagged shapes.

 The mask-like arrangement of shapes presents a strong sense of "unity."

This design effectively uses diagonals. The image is reminiscent of a figure doing jumping-jacks.