Part ONE
Objectives + Goals
Students will create a non-objective, abstract design using India ink on paper.
Through the image distribution across the pictorial plane, students will recognize the value of placement perspective, while making use of Gestalt theory.
Students will create a dynamic abstract work that is driven by wet material and their experimental mark making to imply a highly textural driven design.
Students will activate negative space by making use of a variety of scale, value, pattern, and rhythm in the creation of a non-objective composition.
The completed designs will emphasize:
Placement Perspective
Variation of value
Spatial relations
Full value range and Mark Making variety
Paper Orientation =
Vertical with interior image area floated
Process:
Methods for creating and making a non-objective mark
i. Using your compass, string and yarn, draw a number of circles in varying sizes no smaller than 2" to fill one piece of paper
ii. Experiment with different marking devices using India Ink on dry / semi-dry / dry media using different tools
iii. Towel up some areas with newsprint or paper towels, mask other areas with paper cement that is removed when ink + H20 solution has dried
iv. When dry, cut out each of your circles carefully
v. Make sure you have an excellent variation of VALUE and PATTERN... trade with your colleagues
Process
Design Composition
Do the Math:
Bristol or Drawing pad 18 x 24"
You need an image window that is 12" x 9" floating in the center of your paper substrate
i. Experiment with different values of India Ink in your circles
ii. Add salt for variation and organic effects
iii. Mask off gutter with painters' blue tape -- the outside border beyond the image window with tape - only if you add a value to your background
iv. Make use of one of your favorite ink variations as the background for this design. It should be a light value (below a middle grey)
v. Arrange cut circles on the second Bristol page making use of a variety of VALUE, SCALE and PATTERN VARIATIONS
vi. Activate NEGATIVE SPACE, allowing for VARIED SPACING between objects
vii. Experiment with OVERLAPPING and CROPPING of your figures on the edges of your image
viii. When you have found the most varied composition that describes the criteria of this assignment best, glue thoroughly down with paper cement (glue neatly to the edge).
Materials
14" x 11" Bristol or watercolor paper
salt and dish detergent
compass
string or yarn
India ink
scissors
paper cement
Variety of mark making tools including masking tape, brushes, chopsticks, typeface, screws, twigs, et al.
WARNING
Pay close attention to the CRAFT of your design
Title on left lower edge Abstract Variation and Placement Perspective
Date and sign on the right lower edge
INSPIRATIONAL RESOURCES
The surface of the Moon and other lunar planets
oil slicks on roadways
organic textures
water patterns
Previous Student Work Examples