Visual Language I
Fall 2006, Massart


Jane D. Marsching email
office 3rd floor south 309 , hours: Mon 1:30-3 Tue 2-3:30 signup sheet is on the door

 

PROJECT: IMAGERY DEVELOPMENT

 

syllabus monday

syllabus tuesday

projects

requirements

vocabulary

tools

critique

help

email info

links


TOYS, KNICKKNACKS, THINGUMABOBBIES
Project: Imagery Development
Five weeks

OBJECTIVES:
Learn how to generate imagery over time through research, studies, progressive works
Express ideas through choosing and manipulating the visual vocabulary fundamentals

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Choose an object from which you will generate a lot of images over the course of 5 weeks
Select an object that you are strongly connected to and that will hold
your interest (toy, nick-knack, family air loom). Your selected object
will be the reference from which you will generate imagery through a
series of four consecutive assignments. The object must be portable so
you can bring it to class and have enough visual interest

VOCABULARY:
Form, point, line, shape, space, value, texture, composition, unity/variety, weight/gravity, balance, scale/proportion, emphasis, movement , depth

TECHNIQUES: Digital imaging and all 2D media

READING: Chapters 1-6,8 Art Fundamentals
The Critique Handbook, chapters 1-2


Project 1 Self Portrait in toy Week 1/2

Using 2D design elements make a self portrait of you and your object

Objectives:
Learn to compose in a 2D rectilinear and curvilinear format using 2D elements with the principles of organic unity of form, subject, and content.

Formal 2D Design Development:
Subject, Form, Content (organic unity)
Abstraction, representation, nonobjectivity
Perception (optical, conceptual, subjective)
Medium
Picture plane/picture frame/positive/negative

Process:
1. Find: Choose a toy/knick knack from your life that is very important to you and your life
2. Identify: 10 reasons why the object interests you Submit this list in typed form
Research: imagery that relates to the above concerns you have isolated about your object. Scan, xerox or trace 10 images from books, magazines, or the web. Submit these on 8.5” x 11” paper
3. Purchase and read Art Fundamentals, Chapter 1 (Introduction)
4. Purchase materials for collage (sketchbook, drawing paper, glue stick, xacto knife and extra blades, steel ruler, push pins)
5 Make: a composition on 8 x 10 paper (minimum size) using collage techniques. Use a good glue stick or archival glues exacto knife, steel ruler, good quality drawing paper for base, etc.
A. Make an abstract version of yourself using collage elements from your research
Include your entire body in the collage.
B. Place a version of your toy/knickknack into this composition. You can use other collage elements than the ones you found in your research
Consider the following:
a. The shape of your picture plane (is it tall and narrow or short and wide) and how does that shape reflect something about your content
b. How the positive and negative areas emphasize or deemphasize elements and why
c. How abstract or representational is your collage and why
6 bring your storage device (hard drive, laptop, ipod, etc.) to class next week with the required firewire or USB cables you will need to connect it to our computers
7. check the yahoo group periodically during the week



Project 2 Six studies, growing up and your world week 2/3
Explore the associations your object has in our culture in a series of six studies

Objectives:
explore the process of creating studies as a imagery development tool
Introduction to photoshop drawing and photograph layering
Develop understanding of relationships of subject/form/content

Formal 2D Design Development:
Line: shape/value/texture/color/weight/actual/implied/networks/contour/gesture/calligraphic
Texture: Actual/simulated/abstract/invented
Dominance/movement/psychological
Tactile/visual/illusory/trompe l’oeil

1. Research 10 associations the object has in the world (do this in a variety of ways: ask your friends/family, google the object, find out its origins and history, go to a toy store). Type the list and hand in with your work
5. Read: Art Fundamentals Chapter 3, 6 (Line & Texture)
6. Make: a series of six studies that explore 2 contrasting associations the object has in the world.
a. use the principles discussed in the reading, each study should express one quality of line or texture to communicate your association
b. use the one image of your toy as your constant in all the six studies--you may bring in other images if you want. For example you might put your toy in different places, or with other objects, but you always use the same image of the toy as your base
c. use photoshop to create your series of six images
1. use the paint tool to draw in photoshop
2. shoot an image of your object and incorporate it in the composition
3. download an image from the web that has significance to your associations and incorporate it in the composition
c. burn the six images on a cd as minimum 300 dpi, 8 x 10 images


Project 3 Images and Ideology week 3-5
Make a mugshot, crime scene photo, or front page journalism photo of your object

Objectives:
explore the process of creating studies as a imagery development tool
explore how the meaning of images is produced within dynamics of social power and ideology
Develop understanding of relationships of subject/form/content
Work on photoshop skills, particularly printing

Formal 2D Design Development:
Shape: balance/direction/dominance/harmony/variety/space
Value: relationships/expressive use of/ chirascuro
inherent/invented/shadows/lighting

Read: Marita Sturken and Lisa Cartwright, Practices of Looking Chapter 1
Art Fundamentals Chapter 4 & 5(shape & value)

Make: 3 versions of your documentary image
1. create an image that shows your object in a position of guilt/violence/partisanship / power/victimization
a. research the look of your type of image (size, quality, formal considerations, etc.)
b. use the digital camera to shoot your object out in the world somewhere for all three versions of this project
d. format your photoshop document to mimic the exact look of your type of image (format, proportion of image, resolution, color space, etc.)
e. feel free to use text to support the image (choose the font/size/color/placement that supports your interpretation of the content)
2. then create an image that shows your object in the opposite viewpoint
consider the following:
a. how the properties of shape affect the viewpoint or ideology
b. how value affects the quality or affect of the image
3. finally, choose one of the two versions and develop it more fully
print it on good quality paper (not Xerox quality) at least 300 dpi 8” x 10” thinking about good color correcting and sharpening



Project 4 All about you week 5/6
Make an image that elaborates one focused idea that relates to your object or its associations as you have explored in the previous four projects. Image should be not smaller than 16 x 20”

Objectives:
Make one work that integrated form/subject/content and builds on the previous month of work
Learn tiling techniques, experiment with scale in 2D
Formal 2D Design Development:
Form/composition

Read Art Fundamentals Chapters 2 & 8 (Form & Space)

1. learn tiling in class
2. buy good quality printing paper (share with a friend?)
3. create a document in photoshop that is at least 16” x 20”, 180 dpi, RGB—before you choose the size of your document, think about how large it should be, what its appropriate scale is to convey the content of your subject. Think about issues relating to scale in our world such as intimacy, social space, body image, etc.
4. Think about how your toy sits in its space, both the space of its place or site and the space of the picture plane. All the elements of composition and form should be considered to convey your idea.
5. print your image well before class, giving yourself at least 2-3 hours to figure it out and make beautiful prints
6. cut and glue your prints into one print—use high quality glues. If your print is billboard sized, you can skip this step.
7. Read: The Critique Handbook, chapters 1-2 to prepare for critique
Bring in food for critique