Student work from Design Fundamentals

               Black and white  cut paper exercises from
                                                                  Notan: The dark-light principle in design
 
 

 Less is more (adapted from an assignment in Visual Literacy by Judith and Richard Wilde)
This project is about simplifying a three dimensional object into flat negative and positive shapes. The students look at art examples of multiple images that have been abstracted from one common object. They begin to understand that a reductive approach-eliminating color and cropping opens up many possibilities for design. They select their own common object and record it using a digital camera and software. They proceed by translating the image into black and white only, and experiment with mutltiple croppings. After selecting a favorite, they hand paint it with a simple palette.

   
stemware                                                      pumpkin

   
watch                                                             eggbeater

    Painting chiaroscuro (adapted from an assignment by Richard Nierwerth)
This project is about translating the observed light of a three dimensional form into a two dimensional progression of value steps. The students study the use of photography in the photomontage process of Gilbert and George and painting process of Chuck Close. They observe techniques in how to break down a seemingly complex form-the human figure- into simple flat shapes. The students are introduced to digital photography, photo editing software, and copier/printer as basic design tools. Using these tools, the students trace a simplified black and white self portrait onto white paper for painting. The students are encouraged to explore beyond the typical monochromatic or tonal painting using tints and shades of one color. They do some preliminary color studies such as replacing white with yellow for light values, or replacing “out of the tube” colors with tertiary mixtures. This results in more subjective and refined color choices. Many students continue to expand upon the techniques they have learned in working with the figure as subject matter.