Visual Problems in Shape/Volume

Introduction:

"A shape is a visually perceived area created by either an enclosing line or color or value changes defining the outer edge… Shape usually is considered a two-dimensional element, and the words "volume" and "mass" are applied to the three-dimensional equivalent. In the simplest terms, paintings have shapes and sculptures have masses." —Design Basics, Chapter 8

Application:

The following exercises and project are designed to give the student both short-term and long-term experiences in creating rectilinear and curvilinear shapes. Four individual exercises require students to explore various types of shapes such as: naturalistic, idealistic, abstract, and nonobjective. Students will also practice different ways of creating positive and negative shapes. One project encourages students to compose various types of shapes to create a sense of unity with variety. Students render their shape projects in a professional manner with media used in the field of design, including the computer. The final results are critiqued by their classmates and by their instructor.

Traditional Media

Choose an interesting three-dimensional object from your surroundings. Draw the same object in three different styles: naturalistic, idealistic, and abstract. Use various drawing pencils to do the renderings.

Draw/design a composition made of nonobjective shapes. Rectilinear shapes are to be emphasized in this composition.

Draw/design a composition made of nonobjective shapes. Curvilinear shapes (biomorphic) should be emphasized in this composition.

Design a two-dimensional composition emphasizing positive and negative shapes through the use of lights and darks. Light shapes are to be on dark ones and dark shapes are to be on light ones.

Electronic Media

Choose an object from one’s surroundings, either from nature or mass-produced. Using the various tools and filters in Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop, draw three views of the object: naturalistic, idealistic, and abstract.

Using a drawing program such as Adobe Illustrator, design a composition made of nonobjective shapes. Rectilinear shapes made with straight-line tools in the software should be emphasized in the composition.

Using a drawing program such as Adobe Illustrator, design a composition made of nonobjective shapes. Curvilinear shapes, made with vector or graphics tools in the software, should be emphasized in the composition.

Using a drawing program such as Adobe Illustrator, design a composition emphasizing positive and negative shapes through the use of lights and darks. Light shapes can be placed on dark or black backgrounds and dark shapes can be designed onto light or white backgrounds.

Project:

Goal: To create a design composed of nonobjective shapes which stresses the use of rectilinear or curvilinear shapes. In the former, a strong geometric sense would be expressed; whereas in the latter, a strong biomorphic quality could be presented.

Materials:

A. Traditional design media that will be employed in the execution of this project.

Illustration or bristol, board approximately 12"x15".

Black drawing ink.

Speedball points with pen holder or mechanical drawing pen.

White opaque watercolor paint for corrections and, possibly for making grey values

B. Electronic design software such as: Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop. Project can be designed and rendered either with traditional media or electronic (computer) software. It is also possible to mix traditional and electronic media. For example, a student could use Photoshop to develop design ideas and use traditional media to make the final rendering.

Guidelines:

Approximately six shapes, either rectilinear or curvilinear should be designed into a single composition with variety and unity.

The design should emphasize either rectilinear or curvilinear shapes; however, some of the opposing shapes can be used for variety and contrast.

Positive and negative shapes are to be an integral part of the design. A positive/negative quality can be created to a great extent using light and dark values. They should assist in the unification of the foreground and background shapes in the composition

A focal point should be located near the general center of the composition to provide a sense of stability and balance.

Chapter 9. Texture

Assignment 1. Read the text of Chapter 9 and do the following:

1. Define and differentiate between texture and pattern.

2. Expound on the uses of texture in design.

3. Discuss the reaction that texture can create in a viewer.

4. Define and discuss the technique of trompe l’oeil.

5. Define and identify instances of impasto.

Assignment 2. Oral Quiz. Express your views working in groups (see Glossary below).

1.Talk about the differences between texture and pattern and how you might use the two in a painting or design.

2. Describe what you can use to create different textures in art.

Glossary

Collage An artwork created by assembling and pasting a variety of materials to a two-dimensional surface.

Impasto A painting technique in which pigments are applied in thick layers or strokes to create a rough three-dimensional paint surface on the two-dimensional surface.

Medium The tools or materials used to create an artwork.

Pattern The repetition of a visual element or module in a regular and anticipated sequence.

Tactile texture The use of actual materials to create a surface that can actually be felt or touched.

Texture The surface quality of objects that appeals to the tactile sense.

Trompe l’oeil A French term meaning “fool the eye”. The objects are in sharp focus and delineated with meticulous care to create an artwork that almost fools the viewer into believing that the images are the actual objects.

Visual texture A two-dimensional illusion suggestive of a tactile quality.

Assignment 3. Do the tutorial quiz

1. The surface quality of an object is referred to as … .

2. Texture that can be felt is called … .

3. “Relief” painting that brings tactile texture to a painting by using thick pigment is called … .

4. Different variations in light and dark are referred to as … .

5. Creating a design by cutting and pasting bits of cloth, paper, and other materials is called … .

6. Making the viewer see texture where there really is none is referred to as … .

7. Also commonly known as “deceptive painting”, when the picture and object are so realistic that the viewer is momentarily fooled it is called … .

8. A repetitive design where the same motif appears again and again is called … .

9. The tools or materials used to create an artwork are called the … .

10. Which makes the viewer want to touch it:

a. Pattern

b. Texture

Class project