Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Abstracting from a Still-Life

Advanced Drawing and Painting


Notice how a portion of this photo was cropped to make an interesting composition.  When planning your abstract painting refer to the principles and elements of design.  Which principles and elements are you going to concentrate on? Look below at the caption under the abstract image to see how elements and principles of design are used to describe the work.  Create a thumbnail sketch of your abstract painting to work on the composition. 






Depth is created by having an object in the lower-left portion of the composition.  There are different values and lines on the garlic that help create the form of the garlic.  The lines on the garlic create a pattern and movement.    The negative space in the lower-right leads you into the center of the image.  There is a dark area of negative space in the background which adds interest and contrast again creating depth.   The different textures on the negative and postive space adds interest.  The cast shadow brings you into the center , meeting the light mass (hill-like shape), that leads your eye to the back...thus creating movement.
 

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Surrealism in Photoshop

Designing for the Web

Now that you have completed your research on Surrealism and are familiar with Photoshop, it is time for you to create your own unique work of art.  Your artwork could make a statement about a global issue or you could focus on something more personal.  Some students in the past have created light-hearted works of art and others delve into more somber issues...it is totally up to you.  We will be animating this photoshop image in Flash so think about ways you will add movement and sound in the future.  The images you see below all include the artist...you can be in your art as well. 
Please read the Surrealistic Lesson Document for more details on the assignment.

Jamie G 2011

Walter K 2011

Josh D 2010

Paintings in Progress

Advanced Drawing and Painting

Students have created a still-life by finding assorted objects they felt compelled to paint.  After setting up their objects in an arrangement they photographed the composition adding an artifical light source when needed.  They then completed a thumbnail sketch (to make sure they could accurately draw the objects in proportion).  Finally, they drew a light sketch on their watercolor paper and began to add the lightest values.