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.

MANDALA

Yesterday the students continued working on their Mandalas. We will critique these drawings first thing Monday morning before moving onto the collage project "Parts of the Puzzle."
As you finish these up pay attention to line quality and how it affects depth and placement in the design. In addition, try to achieve a balance and rhythm through similarity and repetition of black, white and gray shapes (patterns and textures). Below are a couple of progress shots.

Ciera

Ismena

LINE: Line Types

Emily

Stephen

Yesterday we began studying the characteristics of Line. First, we made drawings exploring different line types. The drawings above illustrate straight lines, curved lines, angular lines and jagged lines. We discussed how the changes in line quality will increase its weight and sense of volume, location in space and overall strength and intensity. Repeating lines can imply movement and energy as well as texture and value. In addition, we discussed the changing formats affects on proportion, location and negative space.

Ely

Katie

In the second set of drawings the class made compositions of 4 straight, curved and angular lines as well as compositions that combined all three. Again, with these images the change in line quality adds weight and dynamics as well as depth when thicker lines overlap thinner lines.

ARCHITECTURAL IMPROVISATION

Bettina Schoefer Gordon

Michelle Frydenlund

Rio Dominguez

Last night the class completed work on the Architectural Improvisation project. Bettina's drawing is a tumbling and swirling composition of architectural forms separated into linear and shape based elements. The light and dark areas are balanced with textural, gray values and patterns.
Michelle's drawing exhibits a multilayered space of rectangular shapes of various sizes are characteristics. The dynamics of the composition are attributed to criss-crossing diagonals and high contrasting values.
Rio's drawing exhibits a collage-like composition of disparate and similar objects as well as mark-making effects. The composition is balanced with repeating brick patterns and leaf shapes bound together with high contrast values and textures.

ARCHITECTURAL IMPROVISATION

Phillip Vidal

On Tuesday, the class began working on their midterm project. This is a two part project. This first part was to draw at least (4) thumbnail sketches from various locations around and within the art building. Students were to observe the intersecting lines, patterns and textures of the architecture, landscape and the objects occupying those spaces. In addition, students tried to create images with varying degrees of value from mostly dark to mostly light as well as equally balanced light and dark areas.

DESIGN PRINCIPLES: Line and the Illusion of Depth

Katelynn Pizzio

Last night began with a discussion about the Principles of Design. The project employs the principles of design as well as the distal cues. Working with a specific number of specific shapes the class made drawings illustrating a deep sense of space. Each drawing is rendered with horizontal, parallel lines. One thing to bare in mind is when lines are grouped together they act less like line and more like value.

LINE: The Characteristics of Line

Last night the class began exploring the different types of lines and their characteristics. Review the notes above for a full description of LINE. The objectives of the projects below was to 1.) explore the various types of line while increasing their dynamics 2.) explore the changes in format and the affect on the lines 3.) create a series of small compositions with the possibility of expanding one into a larger more resolved image.

Hayley Simmons: Line Types

Katelynn Pizzio: Line Types

In our first drawing exercise students chose four different line types to explore. The top row exhibits the individual types. The columns illustrate the original line gaining intensity and strength combined with changing formats.

Jessi Davis: 4 Lines, 4 Times

Stacey Murphy-Brown: 4 Lines, 4 Times

In the second project, students worked exclusively with straight, curved, and angular lines. The forth column illustrates the combining of all three. Again, the dynamics of the lines are increased moving down the columns to the circular format aka "tondo."

At the end of the night students chose one thumbnail from the projects above to expand into a more resolved image.

 Amber's drawing is reminiscent of a rolling and tumbling landscape of overlapping hills. A strong tension and pulling effect is created with the lines arcing inward toward the center.

Melissa Milks

 Melissa's drawing is very elegant and lyrical. The fluid, flowing lines are very musical. Each line and dot representing a different sound or instrument.

Victoria Le

Victoria's drawing evokes a cosmic landscape complete with light waves and reflections, asteroid belts and a cloud of gas that seems to be peeling back space in the upper left hand corner.

LINE: Characteristics and Dynamics

Yesterday class began with a discussion on the characteristics and qualities of different kinds of Line. The first drawing was an inventory of four different kinds of line. Hayley's drawing below illustrates straight lines and curved lines with varying degrees of velocity. The dynamics increase in power and intensity towards the bottom of the paper. Notice how the changes in format influence the stretching, pulling and compacting of the lines within.

Hayley Irvin

The second drawing focused on straight lines, curved lines, angular lines and the combination of all. Sarah's drawing clearly illustrates how thicker lines advance in space while thinner lines recede. The spaces with one type of line are very unified whereas the combination of different lines adds variety and dynamics increasing the visual interest of the images.

Sarah Greathouse

We finished the day with a series of line drawings addressing shape, texture and depth within a composition. Tayler's drawing is an example of a symmetrically balanced composition with accented lines around the circles reinforcing their position in space. In addition, the rows of circles implies a linear path. The horizontal lines add texture as well as value increasing the sense of depth. Note how the lines get closer together as they recede.

Tayler Marsh

Heather's drawing is asymmetrically balanced. Depth is created primarily by overlapping forms and changing the size from large to small. The parallel lines on the frame shapes add texture and value providing a surface that stands apart from the background.

Heather Monnot-Griffith

LINE: Characteristics of Line

Class began with a slide lecture on the characteristics and types of line. The first drawing was a line inventory. Students explored the qualities and differences of four different types of lines. Belen's drawing illustrates straight, curving, zig-zag and looping lines. By expanding and zooming in on the lines as she moves down the columns, the negative space is diminished increasing the tension and its relevance within the composition.

Belen Chavez Silva

The second drawing was an exercise called Four Lines, Four Times. The objective was to explore the advantages of working with a singular line family as well as a combination of multiple line families. All students used straight, curved and angular lines and a mix of the three together. Notice how the overall weight of the page increases moving down the columns. Although Nancy has clearly addressed three different types of line, the bold, graphic nature of her renderings create a sense of unity across the entire paper. The last column of combinations is especially successful taking advantage of the qualities of each line family to create a very dynamic and compelling shape.

Nancy Aguilar

LINE AND THE ILLUSION OF SPACE

Kelly Sherwood

Today students made line drawings with the intent of creating the illusion of space. The constraints were to use a specific number and type of shapes and render them with either vertical parallel lines or horizontal parallel lines. There are no outside contours rather the shapes are defined by continuous lines across the composition of varying values. So this project in Line is very much a project in Value as well. Kelly has very skillfully placed dark values in a manner that moves diagonally across the composition creating a dynamic as well spacious image. In addition, her treatment of overlapping shapes and transparency adds an extra level of visual interest. The inclusion of cast shadows has given the design a sense of light or time.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LINE

Sasha Mattos

Today we began our investigation of the art element Line. Sasha's drawing above is a Line Inventory illustrating various line types. The objective was to explore different types of lines and what happens to them when 1. the format changes, 2. lines are repeated, 3. lines intersect, 4 lines move outside of the format (cropping)., etc. Format in particular may stretch the line, or in the case of a "tondo" or circular format, the negative areas are drastically altered.

Kacie Brunk

From there students made drawings exploring straight, curved and angular lines individually as well as combined. Notice in Kacie's drawing how the dynamics become more powerful with the changes to line and weight. In addition, when a line expands at an end or in the middle it may look more like a shape. Observe the left tondo composition how the line becomes "almond" shaped.

Ma Samson

Lastly, students chose one of the thumbnails from the previous drawing to enlarge. Ma's drawing has maintained much of the integrity and interest witnessed in the original. Notice how the bold lines advance and the thin lines recede and the broken or dashed and dotted lines bring a different rhythmical quality to the image than that of the continuous lines. Furthermore, there is an "implied" line within the spaces between the "actual" lines. All of these lines create a sense of unity in there likeness (similarity)  but are visual interesting for their variations (variety).

SHAPE: Inventory

Noah Wilkinson

Jana Guenther

Class began with another Line Drawing.  The purpose of this drawing was to investigate line quality and to create a sense of depth.  Students made compositions of pure shapes (i.e. circles, squares, rectangles and half circles). Then the entire image area was filled with horizontal or vertical parallel lines.  The method was to use thick, thin, light and dark lines.  Students tried to create depth and define the shapes with the varying line quality in the parallel lines instead of outlining the shapes.

Next we discussed the characteristics and types of shape. Shapes basically fall under two categories: Geometric and Organic.  Geometric shapes are rectangles, squares, circles, etc.  Organic shapes are irregularly shaped; biomorphic or amoebic. Forms from nature are organic as well (i.e. leaves, rocks, people, etc.).

From there we made Shape Inventory studies.  Similar to the Line Inventory, students started with simple renderings of the various types of shapes gradually becoming more dynamic as they moved down the columns of the template.

LINE DYNAMICS

Annette Kirchner

Nesho Dimov

Trevor Stroupe

Rebecka Craig

Class began with a lecture covering the Principles of Design. Following the lecture students continued with line studies but on a larger scale.  The objective was to create dynamic compositions using the various line techniques investigated on Tuesday with the addition of paying special attention to establishing a sense of depth. Students began with quarter sheets and ended with a half sheet that is to be completed for homework.  We will look at the results of the half sheet compositions first thing tomorrow morning.
Annette's drawing above makes great use of thick and thin lines spiraling into the composition with fluid, wavy lines rising to the surface. Nesho's drawing is a good example of the influence of drawing tools and mediums.  His pen has a brush like tip which allows for calligraphic lines and dry brush techniques. Trevor's drawing exhibits powerful, expressive lines reminiscent of grinding steel. And lastly, Rebecka's drawing illustrates the cool clarity achieved with even, smooth, mechanical lines.

LINE: Inventory and 4 Lines, 4 Times

Today we discussed the various types of lines: straight, curved, angular and implied.  Followed by the characteristics of line: 1. gesture- quick and spontaneous, 2. contour- slow and deliberate, 3. cross-contours- topographical lines circling the surface of an object, 4. calligraphic- swelling, thick and thin like handwriting 5. impersonal- cold and mechanical; even thickness and lastly 6. ghost lines- erased. Furthermore, lines can exhibit and evoke qualities like calmness, stability, animation and energy. In addition, when lines are accented or change thickness they may appear to advance or recede, suggest lightness and darkness, or a sense of weight. 

Line Inventory by Mary Carrol

Four Lines, Four Times by Emily Goh