COMMUNITY SHAPES
Students should note that this is a sample assignment. Instructors may alter its contents, and referring to the materials given directly by the instructor will always be the most accurate.
OBJECTIVES
- Gain a richer understanding of positive and negative shape relationships.
- Gain a deeper understanding of composition and symmetry.
- Further understanding of original imagery.
- Produce high crafted, hand generated & detailed design work.
Examples from Ellen Muller's student work.
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Kara Walker Slavery! Slavery! Presenting a GRAND
and LIFELIKE Panoramic Journey into
Picturesque Southern Slavery or
“Life at ‘Ol’ Virginny’s Hole’ ,
Cut Paper, 1997
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THE ASSIGNMENT
You will go out into your community and take a minimum of 20 photographs. These photographs should contain a successful relationship between positive and negative space, good weight distribution, and a relationship between nature and man-made structures. Make sure to take images from a variety of angles: some at a wide field-of-view and others zoomed into your environment.
You will choose three photographs to be printed. You will then create a simplified and balanced, B&W composition from each photograph. They should contain interesting figure/ground relationships, from these simplified forms. First draw these designs in your sketchbook, then transfer your design onto a 6 x 8–inch sheet of gessoed masonite. Make sure to use excellent craftsmanship in each step.
After your designs are neatly drawn on top of your gessoed masonite boards, carefully fill the areas with black and white acrylic paint.
You will go out into your community and take a minimum of 20 photographs. These photographs should contain a successful relationship between positive and negative space, good weight distribution, and a relationship between nature and man-made structures. Make sure to take images from a variety of angles: some at a wide field-of-view and others zoomed into your environment.
You will choose three photographs to be printed. You will then create a simplified and balanced, B&W composition from each photograph. They should contain interesting figure/ground relationships, from these simplified forms. First draw these designs in your sketchbook, then transfer your design onto a 6 x 8–inch sheet of gessoed masonite. Make sure to use excellent craftsmanship in each step.
After your designs are neatly drawn on top of your gessoed masonite boards, carefully fill the areas with black and white acrylic paint.
VOCABULARY
- Shape
- Unity
- Variety
- Negative and Positive Space
- Figure/Ground Relationships
- Balance (weight, symmetry)
MATERIALS
Bristol Paper, felt-tipped markers, Scissors, 8 x 8-inch wood panel, Graphite Pencil (2h or 4h), Gesso, Black and White Acrylic Paint
Bristol Paper, felt-tipped markers, Scissors, 8 x 8-inch wood panel, Graphite Pencil (2h or 4h), Gesso, Black and White Acrylic Paint
This assignment was adapted from Ellen Muller's Neighborhood Project.
