Research – Lew Min Hui

Project 3 Colouring my Life

Process

Many questions and thoughts pop up during the initial idealization of my project.

What colour are you? Which colour do i want to be?

How do i view myself? What do other people think of me?

After much consideration, i decided with the following equations:

Insecurity + Neat and concise = ME

Stepping out of Comfort zone – Rigidity = A BETTER ME

Imaginative x playful = AN IDEAL ME

versatile + spontaneous = ME IN 5 YEARS

Insecurity + Neat and concise

The first square depicts the many insecurities i have when faced with new challenges. I tend to have many worries and thoughts when doing things, To express this, i created uneven, bumpy and rough textures using impasto. Paint is squeezed onto the surface of the canvas, then spread with spoons to create messy swirls that represents my inner turmoil.

Also, i created 2 layers. The first layer is a coloured layer that depicts my inner thoughts. Red represents my anxiety. Yellow represents instability of my thoughts, Orange shows my frustration with things and blue depicts my over seriousness with work. The above layer over is a black surface that suggests the negative impact it has on my actions. The black layer does not totally over the coloured layer below. The coloured layers can be seen through the little holes of the black layer to suggest how my inner worries can be seen through my actions.

The second composition shows that i am a neat and concise person. To portray that, i decided to with a clean and orderly design that emphasis on geometry.

Horizontal and vertical lines of equal thickness are arranged systematically to suggest my hate for messiness. Also, primary colours like red, yellow and blue are used to suggest the harmony and orderliness.

The last square shows that my neat and concise personality is caused by my insecurities. If you look at the work above, you see the overall structure first then you see the colours. The structure represents my neat and concise personality and the colours are my insecurities.

The work is created by building up many layers of coloured grid squares to the extent it looks black. The layers of square grids are constructed by taping on the canvas with masking tape then painting over with acrylic paint. Each layer of square grid is positioned differently and painted with different hues of colours.

A BETTER ME

Stepping out of Comfort zone – Rigidity

As a neat person, i always keep my drawings within its boundaries. It is never messy. However, this caused my work to be stiff, rigid and somewhat lacking in expressiveness and style. For this equation, i decided to use flowers to represent a better me as they are very natural life form.

Thus, in the first composition, i depicted a better me to be someone who steps out of her comfort zone. The comfort zone is the orange, green coloured area bounded within the 3 white corners. The purple flowers are not bounded within the coloured region but grows slightly outside the borders naturally.

To become a better artist , i really need to get rid of the rigidity and stiffness in my work that constrain my development. Here, rigidity is represented by the intertwined plants in a overall square format, somewhat reminding you of a cut up bush of plants.

A better me is someone who is more expressive. Thus, i depicted a close up of a blooming sunflower that focuses on the natural and rhythmic curves of the petals. Warm colours like red, yellow and orange are employed to show the positive and energetic expression.

AN IDEAL ME

Imaginative x playful

An ideal me would be someone imaginative as i find it hard to generate ideas. To me an imaginative person is someone who sees the world beyond the actual reality and challenges the boundaries of reality. To portray this, i referenced to Alice in the wonderland. Elements and characters are placed on the extending hair to show the limitless imaginations. Also, the added tint of purple gives a mysterious touch to the composition.

An ideal me is also someone who is fun and playful. I find myself to be a boring person as i am work oriented. So i wish to become someone who is more fun loving and not overly concerned with work.

For this square, i decided to use cats,who have no worries in life and are not bounded by commitments, to be an ideal me. I wanted create a light background wash to the subjects to suggest the overall mood. So I experimented with various colours using the wet on wet watercolour technique. After trying out many combinations i decided to go with the pink, yellow and light blue combination that gives a childlike and lighthearted atmosphere.

For the last composition is a surreal setting of the cats’ imagination. The subjects used in the composition are painted individually, then digitally manipulated together, Pattern and variety is created with the fishes dropping from the sky. Similar to the first one, a purple gradient is added to the skies and cloths to create a mysterious and foreign feel to the setting.

ME IN 5 YEARS

versatile + spontaneous

In 5 years, i see myself as a more spontaneous artist, someone whose artwork is influenced more by emotions rather than logical thinking, Thus, i did an unplanned and all over composition for the first square, I played around with the paints by splashing, dripping and flinging them onto the paper. After much experimentation, i overlaid them in Photoshop. Initially the composition only had blues and greens as i wanted to portray the idea of working spontaneously and at the same time with control. But later on, i added hints of orange and yellow to suggest the energy of a spontaneous action.

Also, in 5 years, i imagine myself as someone who is versatile. I used 2 elements to represent adaptability: water and chameleon. In the second composition, the chameleon hides itself in the waters.

Final Project

Overall, i had fun experimenting with colours. It is quite an interesting project. I have come to understand myself better and what i hope to expect from myself in the next few years.

Project 3 Research

Colour schemes/ Colour Palettes/ Colour Harmonies

Monochromatic Harmony

Monochromatic harmony uses various values (tints, tones, and shades) of the same colour.

Analogous Harmony

Analogous harmony employs colours that are next to each other on the color wheel. These colours match well and create serene and comfortable designs.

Complementary colours

Complementary colours are colours that appear opposite of each other on the colour wheel. The high contrast of complementary colors creates a vibrant look especially when used at full saturation.

Split complementary

Split complementary happens when one color paired with two colors on either side of the original color’s direct complement creating a scheme containing three colors.

Triad Colours

Triad colours are three colors equally spaced from one another, creating an equilateral triangle on the color wheel. Primary and secondary colours are examples of triad colours.

Tetrad Harmony

Tetrad harmony consist of 2 sets of complementary colours with equal distance from each other.

PROJECT 3 Research

Colour Theory

RED
Positive: power, strength, warmth, energy, desire, passion, love
Negative: Danger, Aggression, visual impact,

Red is an emotionally intense color. It is visually striking and brings text and images to the foreground.

BLUE
Positive: serenity coolness, reflection, calm
Negative: Cold, emotionless

Blue is the colour that gives a soothing and relax feel. Also, Blue has the the tendency to cause things to recede to the background, as a result blue objects to not appear as close to red objects.

YELLOW
Positive: Optimism, confidence, self-esteem
Negative: Irrationality, fear, anxiety

Yellow is effective for attracting attention as it highlight the most important elements of your design. Lighter shades gives off happiness, reminding people of summer and the sun. Darker shades like gold, add more weight to the subject, giving a sense of antiquity.

GREEN
Positive: Harmony, balance, environmental awareness, equilibrium, peace
Negative: Boredom, stagnation, blandness

VIOLET
Positive: luxury, authenticity, truth, royalty
Negative: Introversion, decadence, suppression, inferiority

Purple is often associated with royalty and usually communicates the finest possible quality as well as time, space and cosmos. However, excessive use of purple can suggest introspection and the wrong tone of purple causes the subject to come across as cheap and nasty faster than other colours.

ORANGE
Positive: Physical comfort, food, warmth, fun
Negative: Deprivation, frustration

PINK.
Positive: Femininity, love, sexuality
Negative: Inhibition, emotional claustrophobia

GREY.
Positive: Psychological neutrality
Negative: Lack of confidence, dampness, depression, lack of energy

Pure grey has no direct psychological properties.

BLACK.
Positive: Sophistication, substance
Negative: Oppression, coldness, menace, heaviness.

PROJECT 2 Documentation

Process

HUMPTY DUMPTY SAT ON THE WALL

In this composition, i am challenging the perception of whether Humpty Dumpty is seated. The hole on the wall creates an imaginary legs for Humpty, who is seated.

HUMPTY DUMPTY HAD A GREAT FALL

The above are different design variations that captures the motion of Humpty’s fall from great height. Here i applied the principles of design: variety, scale, rhythm and pattern.

Scale: The wall is shown taller than the houses to suggest the scale of the wall being monumental as compared to the houses.

Variety, Pattern: Variety and pattern is also created in through the repeated Humpty of various sizes.

Rhythm: In the first composition, a sense of motion is created by the layers of consistently repeated Humpty Dumpty. This repeated layers create an overwhelming effect that reminds us of droplets of rain falling from the sky. The second one shows Humpty dropping in a diagonal direction, lending dynamism to the composition. The last one depicts Humpty dropping in different rotations placed at one -third of the composition.

ALL THE KING’S HORSES AND ALL THE KING’S MEN

Here i placed the rhyme in the context of the traditional chess play. However, a slice of fantasy is added into the game where you observe actually men and horses engaged in battle from the composition. The first composition shows men on horses patrolling the area. The second one shows the Black vs White battle from the swords crossing each other. In the above, the principles: pattern, balance and rhythm is created.

Pattern: Pattern is created with repetition of men on horses.

Balance: There is a symmetrical balance in the second composition with both sides of the scene being mirror images of inverted colours.

Rhythm: A diagonal relation is created in the first composition. Also, the repeated swords crossing by the men on horses in the second composition creates active space, where you get the feeling the blacks and whites are moving towards each other.

COULDN’T PUT HUMPTY TOGETHER AGAIN

The above composition show the attempt to put humpty together and the failure to match his features correctly. Inspired by the cubist movement, i placed the facial features like the eyes, mouth and nose of various perspective viewpoints on the cracked fragments. Here, i attempted to use the principles Dominance and Contrast.

Dominance: A single figure dominating the composition

Contrast: Strong contrast is created with the overlapping pure black and pure white with minimal use of gray tones.

THE COW JUMPED OVER THE MOON

From the next sentence of the rhyme ‘The little dog laughed to see such a sport’, Jumping over the moon is a sport. Crescent moons, representing hurdles on a running track, are placed in a directional s-curve to create depth and movement that leads your eye from the back star to the cow. The cow with elongated legs and the moons that float on the starry sky are inspired from the surrealist, Salvador Dali’s work. Here, the principle rhythm is created by the directional s curve. Also, a distortion to the cow is done to defy the true proportion.

AND THE DISH RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON

The ran away motion is illustrated. It shows the spoons jumping around and plates rolling off the table. The table is placed diagonally, suggesting dynamism and movement. In this composition, principles like variety, pattern , balance and contrast are applied.

Variety, Pattern: Variety and pattern are created with the varying sizes of repeated spoons and plates.

Balance: Asymmetrical balance is set with both sides of the diagonals looking rather similar, with a few items placed slightly different.

Contrast: The organised squares of the table and messy curvy plates and spoons create contrast in structure and shapes.

THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE

The above depicts the old woman’s daily life in a surreal and timeless setting. The old woman is illustrated as the only one living in the forest. The repeated figure throughout the setting shows an imprint of where she had been the day before. Here i have used the principle: Scale and Variety.

Scale: The scale of the tree and shoe house is monumental as compared to the human

Variety: Variety in design is depicted with the repetition of tree branches, shoe houses and old woman of various size.

In the first composition above, i explored the use of negative and positive space.

SHE HAD SO MANY CHILDREN SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO

The first one depicts an overwhelming number of children in a spiraling direction from the center of the canvas. The spiral is a notation/symbol of the uncertainty felt by the old woman when faced with so many children. Pattern, variety and rhythm is illustrated here.

Rhythm: The spiral creates a sense of movement that directs the eye inside out.

In the second composition, i am challenging the perception that the children are real human beings. The scene is depicted from the view of the old woman, whose hands are holding onto the dolls, unsure of what to do. The background shows a wooden table with numerous scattered dolls that extends backwards . The foreground hands and background table creates perspective and depth. Here, i used the principle pattern, contrast and variety.

Pattern: A overwhelming effect is created with the endless repeated dolls.

Variety: Variety is also created with the varying sizes and types of dolls.

Contrast: the big dolls in the foreground and miniature dolls in the background show contrast in size.

The last one shows an overcrowded table of little dolls that are her children. It shows the aftermath of the table after the old woman’s attempt to play with the dolls but in the end gave up, being unsure exactly what to do with them. Similar to the one above, it shows the principles: Variety and Pattern.

THEN WHIPPED THEM ALL SOUNDLY AND PUT THEM TO SLEEP

The composition exemplify the motion of whipping the children to sleep. In both compositions, the principles of design such as pattern and variety is used.

Pattern and variety: Its created by repeating the kids sleeping and whipping action in many sizes.

In the first composition, the children in bed are arranged in a diagonal position that lends dynamism to the composition.

Additionally, balance is created in the second one. Symmetrical balance is obtain with with both sides of the diagonal being mirror images. Also, the diagonal triangles that exemplify blankets is used.

Reflection

Through this project, i have learnt to experimented with various ways of interpreting a sentence, not just restricted to rhymes. Also, the various principles of design that i have researched and applied in my visual representations of the rhymes have certainly enlighten me in ways i should see things and plan my composition as an artist.

PROJECT 2 Research

The 9 Principles of Design

Scale
Variety
Balance
Contrast
Rhythm
Harmony
Dominance
Proportion
Pattern

1. Scale

Scale is the size of elements against each other. When describing scale, it should be in relation to something else (e.g. Reality, viewer)

Some words to describe scale:

Large, small, miniature, monumental

Ron Mueck, Boy, 1999, Mixed Media, 490 x 490 x 240 cm

Here, the humans are miniature in relation to the sculpture. And, the sculpture itself is monumental as compared to the humans.

Duane Hanson, Queenie II, 1988, Polychrome Bronze, with accessories, life-size

This hyper realist sculpture by Duane Hanson is life-size, creating an illusion of reality.

2. Variety

Variety is the individuality to arouse the viewer’s curiosity and hold one’s attention, visual contrast, isolation of elements and images.

Some words to describe variety is:

Visual interest is created by… or The change in texture creates variety…

Composition with Red, Yellow and Blue by Piet Mondrian, 1921, Oil on Canvas, 39 x 35 cm

For Mondrian, he used a variety of lines (horizontal and vertical), shapes (square and rectangle) and primary colours (red, blue and yellow) to create a visually appealing design.

3. Balance

Balance is the distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space.

Symmetrical balance – ‘mirror image’

Asymmetrical balance – different components positioned in the same manner on either sides of the axis

Radial balance – elements are arranged around a central point

M.C. Escher, Day and Night, 1938, Woodcut in two colours

In this work, the artist has employed approximate symmetrical balance, whereby there are different components positioned in the same manner on either sides of the axis.

Damien Hirst, A Thousand Years, 1990, Glass, Steel, Silicone, rubber, painted MDF, insect-o-cutter, cow’s head, blood, flies, maggots, 2075 x 4000 x 2150 mm

Here, the artist use asymmetrical balance, where different objects are placed in each panels.

4. Contrast

Contrast is the placing of elements with opposing characteristics, totally unrelated.

Space – filled vs empty, 2D vs 3D, Near vs Far

Pattern – Left vs Right, Isolated vs Grouped

Form – Single vs Complex, Whole vs Broken

Structure – Organised vs Chaotic, Mechanic vs Hand-drawn

Size – Big vs Small

Texture – Smooth vs Rough, Sharp vs Dull

Density – Transparent vs Opaque, Thick vs Thin

Pablo Picasso, Girl with a Boat, 1938, Oil on canvas

In this work, Picasso created contrast in forms with the use of geometric, angular shapes vs curves. Also, a contrast in colour with black and white.

5. Rhythm

Rhythm is the sense of movement created by repeating elements.

Katsushika Hokusai, Under the wave of Kanawaga, 1829-33, Coloured woodblock print, 26.7 x 38.1 cm

6. Harmony

Harmony is the feeling of unity between all parts of the work of art, which creates a sense of completeness.

Liu Kang, Artist and Model, 1954

Liu Kang created a harmonious atmosphere with use of light colours, with no or little dark colours.

7. Dominance

Dominance is the part of the design that catches the viewer’s attention.

Rene Magritte, The Treachery of Images, 1929

8. Proportion

Proportion is the unity created when all parts (sizes, amounts, or number) are in relation to each other.

Leonardo Da Vinci, Proportion of the Human Figure, 1485-90, Pen and ink

Mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci- Fibonacci series

Relationship of spiraling curve found in nature

9. Pattern

Pattern is created by repeating designs motifs or elements.

Chuck Close, Self-Portrait, 2004-2005

Patterns are created with the use of organic shapes within squares.

Rene Magritte, Golconda, 1953, Oil on canvas, 81 x 100 cm

By repeating the man, the artist creates an overwhelming feeling/ effect. There is also a sense of movement created with the dropping of the man as it reminds us of raindrops.

PROJECT 1 Documentation

Research

1 Fragile

The word ‘Fragile’ means something that is weak, brittle and breakable. For example glass. For this strip, i experimented with stamping crumpled newspaper and plastics to create to create the shattered/cracked glass effect.

2 Psychotic

According to the dictionary, ‘Psychotic’ means insane, mad and lunatic. Thus, i used repeated and intersecting curves in a messy and disorganized way to depict that mad state of mind.

3 Anxious

‘Anxious’ suggests nervousness and worry. When i feel anxious, i tend to move and touch things unconsciously. Therefore, i used my hands to create this work. For the first strip, it depicts the anxious heartbeat pattern.

The second one is created by stamping my fingerprints in different directions to show the unease mind when one is anxious.

Lastly, i stamped using the sides of my hands leaving spaces between each stamps to suggest the empty mind when one is anxious, being unable to think of anything.

Surprisingly, the lines on one’s hands have interesting curves and sudden intersecting lines, which depict that disrupted thought process.

4 Lyrical

This emotion has the meaning lyrical, song-like and musical. To express this, i used the wet on wet technique of watercolours to allow the natural flow of the colours on water. For the first strip, i drew line strokes on the wet layer of plain water. The second one, i dip paints onto the wet layer, allowing a blooming effect.

5 Sensual

The emotion ‘sensual’ means arousing the gratification of senses and physicals. Some objects that have this ability are flowers, scented candles, perfumes and herbs. At first, i tried to draw flowers like lavender and lilies, but turned out being too representational. Thus, i simplified them into simple lines as branches and little squares and triangles as petals. The background is created by spraying paint, similar to the action of spraying perfume.

6 Ambiguous

The word ambiguous suggest a vague and unclear meaning. Something that is arguable and has more than one interpretation. For this strip, i used the salting technique. Salt is sprinkled onto the layer of watercolour while it is still wet. After the paint dried, simply sweep off the salt. Whats left is the textures shown below. The unclear and unpredictable movement of the water caused by the salt created a coral like textures with dots, a very cloudy and sparse effect.

7 Spontaneous

‘Spontaneous’ suggest energetic, active and play. Hence, i used lines and shapes to depict a sense of movement. For the first strip, i used a variety of shapes in different scales and directions to suggest spontaneity. For the second one, i used straight lines to create a sense of movement in space.

8 Nonsensical

This just means no meaning or sense, something that is illogical. I used the concept of automatism to create random scribbles. Also, i tried the drip and splash paint effect which was inspired by Jackson Pollack, whose artwork was based on element of chance and emotion at the point of work.

Jackson Pollock ‘Number 8’

9 Embarrassed

When i am ‘Embarrassed’ , i would naturally want to hide and leave as little trace as possible. Thus, for the first strip, i created little quotations, to show the little traces. Also, i drew springy lines that curl in, to suggest the mentality to hide.

10 Awkward

When one feels awkward, they are unsure what to do and have strings of overlapping thoughts. Thus, i i created strings of intersecting lines with shades in the shapes enclosed, to show the uncertainty as to what to do.

11 Indecisive

The word ‘indecisive’ suggest something that is inconclusive and undecided, being unable to arrive at a definite answer. Thus, i have used lines to create a maze-like structure to show the inner thought process of finding an answer. The second one depicts the layers of thoughts that one has when unable to arrive at a decision.

12 Systematic

‘Systematic’ means methodical and organised. To express this emotion, i referenced grids,maps and graphs. Also, i took inspiration from the artist Piet Mondrian, who strongly emphasize on geometry and orderly, clean design.

Piet Mondrian ‘Broadway Boogie Woogie’

13 Bizarre

‘Bizarre’ suggest something unconventional and strange. The first strip, i have created an impression of the internal organs, something really unexpected and disgusting. For the second one, i used a mixture of random curve, straight lines and variety of shapes to give a bizarre feel.

14 Aggressive

The word ‘Aggressive’ means forceful and assertive. Actions like cutting, stabbing, burning and bombing are aggressive actions. The first strip is created by aggressively drawing straight lines using charcoal.

The second one, i scraped out the paper first, then apply a layer of watercolours over.

The final one is created by rubbing ink onto paper with tissues then throwing lines of markers onto it.

15 Turbulent

‘Turbulent’ depicts conflict, disorder and confusion. Examples are tornado and tsunami. The first strip gives an impression of a tornado with the expanding and spiraling curves from a point as well as the dirtied background using charcoal. The second one shows a more abstract version of the violent movement during conflicts with the overlapping s and c curves.

16 Exhausted

The emotion ‘Exhausted’ means something that is used and worn out. Something that is spend or depleted. To present that meaning, the gauze is stretched, expanded and pulled into threads. The first sample was one with only holes on the gauze. The second with threads pulled out. To avoid a consistent and methodical pattern, the final strip has uneven holes on the left and slowly towards the right the pulled out threads appear.

17 Sloven

‘Sloven’ means untidy and careless. The first strip gives the impression of untidiness with random scribbles, The second one is created by smudging and rubbing the charcoal with hands.

18 Distracted

One is off focused when distracted. For this emotion i used a line or dot to represent the focus. The first one show dots slowly being disperse to suggest the wondering of thoughts. The second one depicts line off the dot, to show the sudden deviation from focus. The third one has a line of focus and waves of jagged and curves to suggest the surrounding distractions.