Local Art Supply Stores

Jerry’s Artaramas
Trail Plaza
1140 SW 67th Ave

Miami, FL 33144
(305) 262-0475

Artist Craftsman
701 Northwest 27th Avenue
Miami
(305) 817-5455

ID Art supply
1474 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL
(305) 375-0787

Blick
6250 South Dixie Highway

Miami, FL 33143

(305) 740-7077

Pearl Paint
6448 S Dixie Hwy

South Miami, FL 33143

(954) 462-2620

PROJECT 03: Grayscale

Description
Create 2 non-representational (abstract) compositions that show a wide rage of gray values using only pencil. You cannot use gradients within each shape. They must be continuous values of gray.
Apply more pressure to obtain darker grays and less pressure for lighter gray values. pay attention to detail and craft. Remember no smudging to get the gray.

Materials
• pencil (2H, HB, 2B, 4B,6B)
• 9x6in paper (2)

Process
• First practice your grayscale in your sketchbooks. there should be up to ten scales of gray from black
   gray to very light gray and all the values in-between.

• Once you adapt to using your pencil and it's various pressures, start doing thumbnails in your
   sketchbook, at least 3 for each composition (total 6 thumbnails on sketchbook.)

• Consult with your teacher; select the best pieces. Choose 2 final designs.

• Re-create them with pencil in your final format.

Due Dates
Samimy's class: Wed, September 25th
Lambert's class: Tue, October 1st

Students Samples
 

 

More Samples

PROJECT 02- Space is shape

Project Due Date

Samimy's Class: Wednesday, Sept 11th
Lambert's Class: Thursdsay, Sept 12th

Project Description

Create 3 abstract (non-representational) compositions using different shapes and value. Use the three types of figure/ground relationship to contrast forms against each other, as well as merge them together. Crop, combine, repeat, rotate, enlarge, and/or reduce the shapes. Think about the following concepts and relationships:

• Figure/ground relationship- stable/reversable/ambiguous
• Balance- symmetrical/asymmetrica/all-over, equalized tension
• Composition- dynamic/static
• Vertical/diagonal/horizontal
• Hierarchy (emphasis)
• Movement/directionality

The relationships between black and white must be as follow:

• Composition 1 with 25% black (whiter composition)
• Composition 2 with 50% black (balance between black and white)
• Composition 3 with 75% black (darker composition)

Materials

• black construction paper
• x-acto knife/scissors
• rubber cement
• 9inch x 9inch paper (3)

Process

1. Start doing thumbnails with pencil or black construction paper in your sketchbook, at least 3 for each composition (total 9 thumbnails on sketchbook.)
2. Consult with your teacher; select the best pieces. Choose 3 final designs that distribute positive and negative space into fluid, balanced compositions following the three required relationships. Explore enlarging the whole composition or some parts, cropping, adding or deleting shapes.
3. Re-create them with black and/or white construction paper. Use the same type of paper for your 3 compositions, so you do not have any change in white/black shades.

Students Samples

  
  

Working with Space: The Figure/Ground Relationship

Figure/Ground Relationship

The figure/Ground relationship is the most basic of all relationships in design. It refers to the relationship between positive and negative shapes, and is used as an aid in 2-D composition. 

In art/design, one way we define space is by placing objects in it. This creates a relationship (object-in-space). Something and nothing. Placing an object IN space, defines that space, and CREATES a Figure/Ground Relationship. The object becomes the figure, and the space becomes the ground. 

Here is another way to think about it: The part of a composition that we pay attention to is called figure.  Everything that is not figure is ground. As attention shifts an object can go from figure to ground and back. Positive/Negative shape are analogous terms for Figure/Ground. 

Types of Figure/Ground Relationships

The figure and ground are inseparable. The figure always defines the ground, and the ground defines the figure. If you draw the figure in a composition, you are drawing the ground at the same time.

Stable-  Unchanging. You know what the figure is, and what the ground is. The focus of our attention does not change. 

Reversible- The positive and negative space/elements attract our attention equally. Our attention is drawn back and forth between the two. 

Ambiguous: The positive and negative space/elements challenge the viewer to find a focal point. What is the figure? What is the ground? Figure is entangled with ground without dominance. Ambiguous f/g relationships are usually abstract. See example below.

Rubin vase—an ambiguous figure/ground illusion. When you see the faces as figure, the vase is the ground. When you see the vase as figure, the faces are the ground.
The viewer shifts from one figure to the other but do not to see both as figure at the same time.

Composition in F/G relationship

Active- group elements off-center (asymmetrical) to create visual movement. 

Neutral- centered compositions are stable, not dynamic. 

Bleeding - dynamic (it bleeds of the page, and can’t be contained)

Cropping- creates abstraction

Balance in F/G relationship 

In Stable relationship- balance (size/shape) = unified design.

In Reversible relationship-  balance (size/shape) = tension. which is which?

In Ambiguous relationship- balance (size/shape) = action. all space is active. 

Tips on working with figure/ground

• Balancing figure and ground make the composition more clear.
• Using unusual figure/ground relationships can add interest.
• Spaces whit convex (a), symmetric (b), smaller in area (c) or enclosed (d) shapes are “seen” as figure.
• An expressive use of white space requires an asymmetrical design. Centering kills the white space (dividing it into unusable emptiness). Asymmetrical design creates a NEED for interestingly shaped white space. 
• A deliberate use of white space creates + and - space that are equally important. 

Sample Figure/Ground Relationship Studies