Lesson 11: Research Project

Class# 11: Research Project                           Oct. 27-31, 2014              

Materials needed:  ?Internet?, Computer

Today we will begin class by learning about the principles of visual arts.   The principles of visual arts are a set of rules or guidelines of visual art that are to be considered when determining the impact of a piece of artwork.  The principles are movement, unity, harmony, variety, balance, emphasis, contrast, proportion, and pattern.

Movementshows actions, or alternatively, the path the viewer's eye follows throughout an artwork. Movement is caused by using elements under the rules of the principles in picture to give the feeling of action and to guide the viewer's eyes throughout the artwork. In movement your art should flow, because you are controlling the viewers eye. You control what they see and how they see it, much like a path leading across the page to the item you really want the viewer to see.

Here is an example of an artwork with movement:??http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/VanGogh-starry_night_ballance1.jpg

Unityis the wholeness that is achieved through the effective use of the elements and principles of art, the arrangement of elements and principles to create a feeling of completeness.  Below is an example of an artwork with unity by the artist M.C. Escher.  This work is unified by the consistent use of contrast, repetition and symmetry. ??http://designshack.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/art-vs-design-5.jpg

Harmonyis achieved in a body of work by using similar elements throughout the work.  Harmony gives an uncomplicated look to a piece of artwork.  Here is an example of a work that demonstrates harmony by the use of color, technique and composition by the artists Claude Monet:??http://watercolorjournal.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/claude_monet_impression_soleil_levan?t_1872.jpg?w=510&h=392

Variety(also known as alternation) is the quality or state of having different forms or types. The differences which give a design visual and conceptual interest: notably use of contrast, emphasis, difference in size and color.  In the image below, the artist Jasper F. Cropsey has used a tree on the right side of his painting to add variety in his composition and make it more interesting to his viewers’ eye.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Cropsey%2C_Jasper_Francis_-_Summer%2C_Lake_Ontario_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

Balanceis arranging elements so that no one part of a work overpowers, or seems heavier than any other part. The three different kinds of balance are symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial. Symmetrical (or formal) balance is when both sides of an artwork, if split down the middle, appear to be the same. The human body is an example of symmetrical balance. Asymmetrical balance is the balance that does not weigh equally on both sides. Radial balance is equal in length from the middle. An example is the sun.  Here are some examples of art with different kinds of balance. 

We already looked at this in class 8 about composition but to review again here are examples of art with different kinds of balance.

1. Although it is abstract, there is a sense of symmetrical balance to this painting by the artists Jackson Pollock:??http://classicaldiehard.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/jackson-pollock_number-81949_detail.jpg??Here is another painting with a symmetrical balance by Frida Kahlo??http://jamesbrantley.net/5%20kahlo%20two%20fridas.jpg

2.  Here is an example of an asymmetrical painting by the artists Salvador Dali: ??http://corynmaiden.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/surr.jpg

3.  This black and white drawing is an example of an artwork with a radial balance:??http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Lumens/uu267065?$Main%20Product%20Image$

Contrastis created by using elements that conflict with one another. Often, contrast is created using complementary colors or extremely light and dark values. Contrast creates interest in a piece and often draws the eye to certain areas.  We already reviewed contrast in art in our previous class.  Here are the examples we looked at again as a review:?Here are some examples of art with contrast:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/2/21/20050526200945!Adams_The?_Tetons_and_the_Snake_River.jpg

http://www.howardhallis.com/drstrange/originalart/frankbrunner.jpg

http://static.colourlovers.com/uploads/2007/09/the-great-wave-by-hokusai.jpg

http://zenwavearts.com/gallery/sketches/images/sandman6sq.jpg

Proportion is a measurement of the size and quantity of elements within a composition. In ancient arts, proportions of forms were enlarged to show importance. This is why Egyptian gods and political figures appear so much larger than common people. The ancient Greeks found fame with their accurately-proportioned sculptures of the human form. Beginning with the Renaissance, artists recognized the connection between proportion and the illusion of 3-dimensional space.  We reviewed proportion in our earlier class and how it relates to figure drawing.   Here is a link to a sculpture by the artist Michelangelo of a human figure that was done with proportion:??http://www.thehistoryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Michelangelos_David.jpg

Pattern and rhythm (also known as repetition) is showing consistency with colors or lines. Putting a red spiral at the bottom left and top right, for example, will cause the eye to move from one spiral, to the other, and everything in between. It is indicating movement by the repetition of elements. Rhythm can make an artwork seem active

Here are some examples of pattern in art:??http://popartmachine.com/artwork/25914%3A40%3A45%3A891756466/0/Chinese-Artwork-Patterns:-Asian-Pattern-gtgt-painting-artwork-print.jpg

http://popartmachine.com/artwork/25914%3A33%3A41%3A207529514/0/Chinese-Artwork-Patterns:-Asian-Pattern-Cheery-painting-artwork-print.jpg

Here are some examples of rhythm in art:??http://img.artknowledgenews.com/files2010mar/Edna-Andrade-Black-Dragons.jpg

Assignment:??Research project.  All of the principles of art that you learned about above have been developed by artists over thousands of years.  There are many different artists and each one used the principles in different ways to create art.  Artists are associated with an art movement or particular style.

Your project for this week is to research one artist of your choice and write and introduction as if this artist was your friend meeting your classmates.  Provide information on who the artist is, where the artist is from, what art movement the artist is associated with, and how the artists style uses the principles of art. You can include a photo of one work of art produced by the artist if you want.

Rather than using your Flickr account for this assignment, simply email it to your instructor here: art101@comfsm.fm??. Any assignment that is received after Oct. 31, will be marked down one letter grade for each week day it is late.  If you have any questions about this assignment email your instructor.?