Value, Form, Contrast and Emphasis are all valuable in the creation of movement and depth in a piece of work.  In this assignment you are going to be asked to use these concepts to create a non-objective representation of aspects of you.  While they will not be representational self-portraits, they should include elements that speak to some part of your characteristics (either hidden or overt) and preferences.  The purpose of this assignment is to be a cover for a class journal we will be creating.  In this journal you will be recording a host of information including written notes, interesting visuals and photographs and sketches for a variety of assignments throughout the remainder of the year.  It may be something that you carry with you to use as a traditional journal or diary if you so choose where you may record sensitive or very personal information.  None of this information will be shared with anyone in this class or beyond.  I will, however, collect these journals from time to time and will be reading their contents.  Please start with the following process:

1:  Go to your Unit 4 page and paste the contents of this page there.

2:  On that page I want you to generate a list of personal adjectives (descriptive words).  Be honest in your appraisal of  yourself even if some of your adjectives are not necessarily positive.  In my case I would start with Intense, Dedicated, Direct and Hard to get to know.  I could generate a ton more.  I want you to generate at least 20.

3:  Select no more than three colors from the colored pencil box plus white and black that you can connect in some way to as many adjectives as possible.  Explain your thinking.

4:  Pick one type of linear orientation from vertical, horizontal or diagonal that you think best describes the world in which you live and the circles in which you travel.  Why is this the case?

5:  Pick one type of linear orientation from vertical, horizontal or diagonal that you think best describes you.  Why is this the case?

6:  What shape best represents you?  (remember you may choose an organic shape)  Why is this the case?

Assignment Requirements:

8.5X11" rectangle vertical format

Must create a focal point of emphasis using the the concept of contrast (ie contrasting textures, colors, values, shapes etc.)

Must sketch three versions exhibiting three types of balance (asymmetry, symmetry and radial)

Must create a sense of movement and depth throughout the work

Must use previously covered information and concepts

Must be constrained by colors identified in the pre-writing plus white and black

Must use a variety of values to create the illusion of form.

Must be an open composition and break the edge of the format in all directions.

Emphasis:  Creation of an area of interest within a work of art by manipulating one or more elements of art.  This area of interest is called a focal point.

     Ways of creating a focal point:  Convergence:  Elements that move, reduce in size or point towards your intended focal point.

                                                     Isolation:  Drawing attention to an element or object by leaving ample negative or empty space around it.

                                                     Contrast:  Creating interest by making an object have a different color, value range or texture than the objects around it.

                                                     Anomaly:  Making an object or part of an object completely different than its surroundings.

Asymmetrical

Symmetrical

Radial

1.  In this assignment you were to have responded to the writing prompts above to direct your thinking as you created a series of designs.  While not literal (meaning having a recognizable image) your journal cover was supposed to illustrate a narrative that explores your characteristics, the characteristics of a particular group or environment in which you travel and your role within that community or group.  Writing in complete sentences I want you to tell your narrative, explaining who the group is, what the various elements (shapes, forms, colors, lines, values, textures, space)  within the design represent and how your design explains that narrative.  Make sure you use specific evidence from your work to illustrate your points and that evidence includes the ELEMENT and element type (ie not just line, but calligraphic line etc.)

2.  Using complete sentences please define the following concepts:

Balance:Balance is everything working together to make an equal and in sync picture.

Symmetrical balance: Symmetrical balance is when you could draw a line straight down the middle of your picture and everything on both sides will be equal and synchronized. 

Approximate Symmetry: Arrangement of elements that are similar on either side of a vertical axis. 

Radial Symmetry: Radial symmetry is when everything comes and centers around a center point in the middle of a picture.     

Asymmetrical balance: Asymmetrical balance is when everything isn't equal and it just has its own flow to everything.

3.  Which of type of balance does your design exhibit? My design exhibits asymmetrical balance.

4.  Why did you choose this type of balance over the other two designs?  How did the type of balance help you illustrate the narrative from above? I chose asymmetrical because its the best one i understand and the best one i can illustrate, it shows how everyone starts in a corner in early life and it shows how there's different paths everyone can go down and how every path has a consequence and every path also has side paths that lead to different endings and locations.

5.  Where is the focal point of your piece?  What is its significance and why did you put it there? My focal point is in the upper right hand corner and it shows how everyone no matter where your born or how your raised starts in a corner and we have paths to choose from on how our life turns goes and turns out.

6.  How did you create movement in your piece?  Where did you intend for the viewer to enter the piece and where did you want them to travel? I created movement through the lines and paths coming from my shape in the corner of the design.

7.  How did you create depth in your piece?  Which ELEMENTS did you manipulate to give the illusion of depth? I used light to make it look like my free formed shape is and the the paths are going back.