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Today in class we discussed the Principles of Design and the Japanese concept of Notan. The "take-away" for the day was the rule of composition: one large shape (dominant), a few medium shapes and one or small shapes.  Examples of the today's project are below. The powerpoint and directions for this project as well as the powerpoint for the Principles of Design are located on the class Canvas page.  This design has a powerful central shape fringed with medium shapes that enclose the smaller shapes.  This design effectively uses repletion with all the rectilinear elements.  This design reveals strong adherence to the rule of composition. Of particular note are the small jagged shapes.  The mask-like arrangement of shapes presents a strong sense of "unity." This design effectively uses diagonals. The image is reminiscent of a figure doing jumping-jacks.

On Wednesday we discussed the five Art Elements and The Principles of Design ( click above for details ). Our project was one that explored the relationship of light and dark and more importantly Positive and Negative areas. Students began with a 5 in. square. The objective was to create a symmetrical design where the white areas mirror the black. The design was to consist of one large (dominant) shape, some medium sized shapes and a few small shapes. Aidan  Aidan's design exhibits a strong and visually interesting dominant shape flanked by spiral linear elements and minimal speech bubble-like shapes at the top and bottom. Alex Alex has created an insect-like design with a large, central, dominant diamond shape reminiscent of a mouth. The variously sized teeth shapes re-enforce this appearance. The medium sized shapes on the left and right are similar to insect arms and legs including a single claw.  Jordan  Jordan has created a design with many repeating triangles. Mo...

Brendan Powers On Tuesday the class visited the gallery to see the current Abstract Mix exhibition. The remaining time in class was devoted to completing the next Notan project. Remember to achieve Notan, the positive and negative areas must 1. be able to exchange value, 2. negative areas must be sufficiently enclosed and 3. the positive and negative areas must be able to exchange roles (i.e. positive becomes negative; negative becomes positive). Brendan has very skillfully met all three requirements. The sequence of the distortions is gradual and varied. In addition, his handling of the materials has created very fluid and viscous lines and shapes.

This two part project addresses the balance and reversability of the positive and negative areas. In the first part, students create a composition of rectangular compartments (no squares) using three colors in a 2, 2, 1 combination. In the second part, students choose a tool (ex. key) and modify and distort the tool so that the shape not only fits the space but achieves the primary requirement of Notan; positive and negative areas must be able to reverse roles (i.e. positive areas may be viewed as negative areas and negative areas may be viewed as positive).

Emily Riordan Jessi Davis Sophia Wiley Spacing, tension and balance must be given total focus when developing a composition. Last night's collage addressed these three aspects. Students made a design of repeating primary and secondary elements moving down columns. The objective was to achieve total balance between the positive and negative areas without one dominating the other. In all three compositions above , the black and white areas are able to exchange roles. It is possible to see the black areas as positive and the white areas as negative and yet the white areas could also be seen as positive and the black areas negative. Great consideration must be given to the tension and spacing between the columns. In addition, the types of shapes (curves, angles, etc) as well as whether a shape is concave or convex profoundly affects the balance between the dark and light areas.

Bettina Schoefer Gordon Katelynn Pizzio Vicotria Le Last Thursday the class continued exploring positive and negative relationships. Working with a 5 in. square the class made symmetrical compositions by cutting and flipping the pieces without destroying the square or having any waste. The real challenge was creating a composition with a strong central, dominant shape. Bettina's design has a spider-like quality with arcing diagonals and a bold, convex central shape. The outside curvature is a good contrast to the straight lines of the square. Katelynn has skillfully introduced a circular shape into the design. The protruding linear elements imply diagonals again in contrast to the square. Victoria has created a very dynamic design with diagonals inside the the square. Again, the central shape is convex with elements shooting outward from the core.

Chani Spitzer-Christenson Circe Ament Friday morning began with a collage controlling the tension in the positive and negative areas. Notan was the final objective. In order for the collage to be successful, the positive and negative areas must be able to reverse rolls. On the one hand the white areas are seen as positive and on the other hand the black areas must be seen as positive with white negatives. In Chani's collage we are initially drawn to the convex white shapes before moving to the black strips. In Circe's collage we notice the animated arms of the white areas and there potential to reach and grab. The strength of the black strips lies within their interior cuts and strong sense of weight. The afternoon project was twofold 1. make a grid of rectangles using three contrasting values 2. place distorted shapes of an original form (the fork) striving to achieve Notan.

Scott Russell Yesterday the class explored the relationships between positive and negative areas of a composition. The project ( Expansion of the Square ) forces the artist to address both positive and negative areas by cutting shapes from a square and reversing them creating mirror images in white and black. There is no waste or left over pieces. Scott's design above is a very dynamic and rhythmic composition. The shapes appear to twist and form a circle within the square. Rukhsana Kamal Rukhsana's design illustrates the concept of NOTAN (the perfect balance between dark and light, neither shape trying to dominate the other). There are three criteria for Notan 1. The negative area must be enclosed creating an interesting shape. 2. The image must be reversible; the black and white areas my swap values without changing the balance. 3. The positive and negative areas must be able to trade roles; positive seen as negative and negative seen as positive. In the design above, the fl...

Monica Contreras Monday began with a lecture on Shape. We discussed the differences between geometric and organic shapes, positive and negative, shape and form  as well as the affects of shape on content. The project involved cutting linear and shape elements from a 5 inch square of black paper and flipping them over to create a symmetrically balanced design.