Negative and Positive Spaces

Week 2.

Whenever you think of drawing an object, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Do you focus on the object, or the spaces around it? For me, like many others I suppose, my mind is preoccupied with the object, not the spaces around it. For class in week 2, we were taught how to look at objects from the perspective of the spaces around them (negative spaces). Instead of giving our full attention to the objects themselves, we were enlightened to give our thoughts to the spaces around them, and fill them up with uniform black calligraphy ink.

Week 2 - In Class Assignment 1
In-class assignment one
Week 2 - In class assignment 2
In-class assignment two

For the first in-class assignment, we focused solely on the negative spaces surrounding the object. We observed the relationship between one object and another, how they overlap, and how they share spaces.

For the second in-class assignment, however, we added details to our negative space pieces. Key details. Details that would make the art piece look good overall.

One key takeaway from week 2’s tutorial: design and concept is essential. The best combination would be design and concept, and the technical skills of producing fine quality work.

Week 2 - Home Assignment 1
Assignment (to be brought home) #01
Week 2 - Home Assignment 2
Assignment (to be brought home) #02

Blind Contour I

The second part of our first lesson was to do a blind contour. We are to draw someone without looking at our paper until we’re done, and we aren’t allowed to leave our markers whilst drawing. The four in-class attempts, as shown below, are attempts of a blind contoured Adam.

Blind Contour I (In class) Attempt - 01
In-class Blind Contour I activity, Attempt #01
IMG_6981
In-class Blind Contour I activity, Attempt #02
In-class Blind Contour I activity, Attempt #03
In-class Blind Contour I activity, Attempt #03 (using a marker)
In-class Blind Contour I activity - Attempt #04
In-class Blind Contour I activity – Attempt #04 (using a marker)

Last but not least, the assignment for submission is a blind contour drawing of my Dad sitting whilst reading newspaper and using his tablet. Talk about multi-tasking!

Blind Contour I Assignment (for submission)
Blind Contour I – Assignment (for submission)

 

Intuitive Drawing

Intuitive Drawing - Class Work
‘Crunchy,’ with a tinge of nature’s scent. (In-class assignment, Intuitive Drawing.)

The day was 8th August 2016, Monday. The day before National day. We had our very first Art lesson – DA1000 Thinking and Communicating Visually I.  It was exciting. Intuitive drawing was our first assignment (to be brought home). We did a little exercise in class. We were told to put our hands inside a covered plastic bag with an unknown object, feel the object, think of a word, and draw to describe that feeling of ours. My word was ‘crunchy,’ and the picture on the left is a drawing of what I felt.


Intuitive Drawing Assignment - Make a drawing with marks that represent the feelings you get when you visit a hawker center.
Intuitive Drawing Assignment – Make a drawing with marks that represent the feelings you get when you visit a hawker center.

Moving on to the brought-home assignment. We were tasked to go to a hawker center of our choice, observe with our senses and reflect on what effects our senses the most. We had to name with one word or a sentence of what we enjoy, and another of what makes us uncomfortable. Thereafter, make a drawing with marks that represent those feelings.

I went to Tiong Bahru food market level 3 and the first sense that hit me was smell. A mash of different food fragrances. You might think I would choose smell as the sense that effects me the most. But, it was sound that became the protagonist of my assignment. Every few minutes, one would hear the sound of chopsticks dropping and touching. The clatter and rattle of sounds of plastic upon plastic were like repetitive melodies. Once periodically, you would hear the violent sounds of food trays on rollers being pushed. Agitated, harsh, and rushed. Not forgetting, the thunder-like roar of the closing of metal shutters. Stall-owners are eager to go home on this sweltering Sunday afternoon.