Value Scale and Composition

The process of making a ten step scale was an easy activity. I used prior knowledge to estimate how much I would have to adjust my sections in value so that I could evenly range from white to black. One thing I found difficult was to make each section look like a unified value that was both even and flat. Overall I think that I maybe could have been more creative with the shape of my scale.





When I was creating my drawing I made up each step as it came. I started with the overlapping circles in the middle and as I added other elements I kept in mind balance and composition. I think that value affects composition because it creates a balance that leads your eyes around a piece. Also it makes a piece interesting because it creates opportunities for colors to portray different feelings.

Value Composition (just picture)

Line/Shape Activity & String Activity

Line and Shape Activity:
I thought that the line and shape activity was interesting. I thought I would do it without thinking but as I started I tried to concentrate on composition. I was thinking about balance in the two line panels and in the shape panels I was thinking about negative space. Overall I thought that the activity was interesting even though it appeared simplistic.

String Activity:
I wasn't sure what the string activity was suppose to teach us. It was a fun activity overall and really had everyone interacting. I never thought about the composition of how the string was suppose to look or shapes that the negative spaces in the strings made. I really thought that the best thing about the activity was the team work it took to get it all untangled and the communication that we used.

Line and Shape

1. Which of the images a,b,c, or d are lines?
-All of them are lines, they can be considered lines of different thicknesses. A and B are lines that have varying thicknesses, C is a very thick short line, and D is a line that has an organic variation of thickness.
2. Which of the images a,b,c, or d are shapes?
-All of them are shapes because their thickness create edges that create lines. A has three lines that make up a triangular shape. B has two lines that are parallel in the middle and then slope to join at the ends. C has 4 lines that make up a parallelogram. D has one line that follows a random organic pattern.
3. What makes a line?
- A line is something that does not necessarily have a single plane that it sits on
4. What makes a shape?
-A shape is composed of lines and has a specific plane which it is on

Critique 1

Describe:
This is a vertical piece that has an area of light blue tones descending from the upper right hand corner of the piece. This blue toned area curves from left back to the right side of the piece as it moves downwards. The outline of this area is nonlinear and has an organic randomness to where it stops while still following a basic flow downward. The downward motion ends at the objects in the foreground. The horizon line is gives a feeling of great depth because it is less define than the objects in the foreground of the piece. The colors of the main part of the piece are browns while the color of a focal object in the foreground is bright. The darker figures that border the lighter areas have a glow around the edges. The movement is also slow.

Interpret:
The tone of the piece is very calm and tranquil. The characters in the foreground are very small compared to the rest of the painting. The bright colors and how the light illuminates them gives them importance as the focal point in such a vast looking landscape. There is a biblical theme with the Madonna and child surrounded by angels whose attention is on the child. How large the sky is shows the importance of what is above compared to the landscape that only takes up the bottom third of the page. The yellow, gold lighting makes the picture warm feeling. The movement not being fast makes the characters feel welcome in the environment.

Evaluate:
I like this piece because it gets the point across that the figures are important that are in the foreground without them having to be the biggest thing in the picture. The bright colors of the characters and the movement towards the characters shows that they are important to the entire piece since the background bends and points to them. The lighting also gives importance to the characters because of the contrast of shadows on the characters.