PROJECT 2 Documentation

Process

HUMPTY L1A

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 L2A

Humpty L2C

Humpty L2D

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.

 

HUMPTY L3A

HUMPTY L3B

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.

 

HUMPTY L4B

HUMPTY L4A

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.

 

FIDDLE CAT L2A

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.

 

DIDDLE L4A

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.

 

Old Woman L1b

OLD LAY L1A

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.

 

Old Woman L2B

OLD LADY L1 V2

OLD LADY L2C

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.

 

Old Woman L4A

Old Woman L4B

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

  1. Scale
  2. Variety
  3. Balance
  4. Contrast
  5. Rhythm
  6. Harmony
  7. Dominance
  8. Proportion
  9. 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

Boy by Ron Mueck

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_2

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…

Compostion with RYB by Piet Mondrian

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

Day and Night by M.C. Escher

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.

A Thousand Years by Damien Hirst

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

Girl with a Boat by Pablo Picasso

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.

Wave of Kanagawa by Katsushika

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.

Artist and Model by Liu Kang

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.

The Treachery of Images by Rene Magritte

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.

Proportion of Human, Da Vinci

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

Golden section

Mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci- Fibonacci series

Spiral Stair

Rose 3

Relationship of spiraling curve found in nature

9. Pattern

Pattern is created by repeating designs motifs or elements.

Self-Portrait by Chuck CLose

Chuck Close, Self-Portrait, 2004-2005

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

Golconda by Rene Magritte

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.