Ms.Kane's: Studio Art Course: Intro to the Principles of Design: Abstract Collage

What are qualities of an excellent Artist?

Whether you value realism, abstracts or something all together new it is without question that the Artists who prosper do so because of their patience, determination, energy and unique vision.

However, how can someone create their own point of view within limitations?

Graphic Designers and commercial artists deal with this problem every day with restrictions such as subject matter, material even concept imposed upon them!

COMPOSITIONthe arrangement of visual elements (or + and - space) in a 2d or 3d space.

BALANCE is used to give works a sense of stability, it focuses on the distribution of visual weight.

Generally speaking their are two different kinds of balanced compositions

SYMMETRY distributes visual weight in a way that is exactly the same on both sides

ASYMMETRY distributes visual weight in a way that is BALANCED but different.

Task: Create SYMMETRICAL cut paper collages of their own design that balance the + and - space

Collage by Joe Asher

Collage by Angela Bombara

Collage by Taylor Palma

Collage by Casey Wood

Collage by Kelly Corrado

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Rhythm: a visual tempo or beat created through repeating elements...

Creating a sense of rhythm helps to keep an underlying structure and unity to their works.

Task: Create a Tessellation that:

- Equally balances both + and - space.

- Uses the negative spaces of repeating shapes to create a rhythmic pattern.

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Emphasis: a focal point; an area that stands out, usually the main idea in a work.

Rule of 1/3's: Intersections where an image is best suited for a focal point in most 2/d works of art.

Having an emphasis helps lead the viewer in to the more important areas of the painting, keeping the focal point along the rule of 1/3's helps lead the viewers eye to other key supporting elements in the page as opposed to being stuck or exiting in corners.

Task: Create a collage that:

- Balances both its + and - space

- Uses repeating elements to create rhythm, movement and unity.

- Directs the viewers eye to an emphasis along the rule of 1/3's

Collage by Mike Caruso

Collage by Nicole Castaldo

Collage by Dan Rozansky

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Below are quality examples of Studio Artists completed, Triptychs mounted for presentation.

Each collage uses their own visual language to interpret + and - space while exemplifying the 3 principles of design reviewed in class: Balance, Rhythm and Emphasis

Click to Enlarge Images