BALANCE PROJECT

MATERIALS:

Acrylic paints (black & white), brushes, palette, palette knife, Scotch Magic Tape, pencil, circle template, ruler, artists tape, matte medium, illustration board, transfer & tracing paper (provided by instructor)

REVIEW:

“BALANCE {principle of design}”, “VALUE {element of design}”, and “SHAPE {element of design}” on 2ddesignnscc.blogspot.com

OBJECTIVE:

1 painted composition utilizing symmetry & asymmetry, where each type makes up half the design and flows into one another

Rules

- use only geometric shapes (squares, circles, triangles, etc)

- symmetrical half: choose either vertical or horizontal symmetry

- asymmetrical half should be flowing out of the symmetrical half

- use multiple values from your value scales to paint your composition

- at least one area should use gradation (gradual transition from light to dark)

To Consider

- overlap shapes to create a dynamic composition and a sense of depth                 

- vary the size of your shapes to achieve interest

- use areas of high contrast (light next to dark) and areas of low contrast (similar values) to move the eye around the composition and create a sense of pictorial space (**remember: high contrast comes forward, low contrast recedes**)

- try to achieve a focal point in your composition (hint: use high contrast)

PREPARATION:

Create two 8” x 8” draft compositions in sketchbook with pencils, transfer to 1 final 8” x 16” composition on your illustration board, with an unbroken flow between the two halves

PRESENTATION:

One 8” X 16” composition painted directly on 11” x 18” illustration board, with 1” x 9” Value Scale mounted ½” below it, and 1” border on the top, right and left sides (see below)

Written assessment should be taped to the back of your finished illustration board

WRITTEN ASSESSMENT:

How would you describe the difference between the symmetrical and asymmetrical sides of your composition?  Do the two flow easily into one another? What parts of the design seem to come forward and what parts seem to recede?  Where is your eye drawn to?  How did your choices of values, shapes, and gradations affect the overall balance of the design?

DATES (subject to change):

Studio time: Introduce Wed 4/23, Mon 4/28 (Value Scale Project due), Wed 4/30

Due: Mon 5/5

SAMPLE IMAGES:

To be used ONLY as reference; you should come up with your own unique solutions/designs