Lecture

The Elements: basic components used as part of any composition, independent of the medium.

• Value:Signifies the relative differences of light and dark
  • Achromatic: Value with the absence of hue (color) and saturation (intensity).
  • Chromatic: Value demonstrated by a given hue.
  • Grayscale: The full range of values simplified into a graduated scale.
  • Low-Key: When the values of an image are predominately dark
  • High-Key: When the values of an image are predominately light
  • Narrow Range: When the values congregate around the dark, middle, or light part of the grayscale.
  • Broad Range: When the values are spread over the dark, middle, or light part of the grayscale.
  • Shadow: Dark area of an object as a result of a disruption of the light source.
  • Highlight: Portion of an object that receives the greatest amount of direct light
  • Chiaroscuro/Tenebrism: Forceful use of contrasting lights and darks, creating a dramatic mood.

The Principles: basic assumptions that guide the design practice.

• Emphasis:The special attention or importance given to one part of a composition. Emphasis can be achieved through placement, contrast, size, etc.
  • Dominance/Hierarchy: The expression of visual and conceptual order that communicates degrees of importance of the various parts of a composition. This can also be achieved through placement, contrast, size, etc.
  • Focal Point: The elements or objects on which the viewer’s attention is focused.
• Contrast: Occurs when elements are unrelated or dissimilar in value, size, shape, etc. Increasing contrasts can create dominance.

References:

Lab 1

Value-Added Portraits: Value Range Research

1. Take a 15 minute walk around City Tech.Using your camera or camera phone*, compose 2 photographs with the following qualities:
   • predominately within the high-key value range (2 examples)
   • predominately within the low-key value range (2 examples)
2. Designate a new section of your Creative Process Book and write ‘Value-Added Portraits’.
3. In your CPB compose a minimum 2-paragraph description, with specific references to the images, indicating how the key sets the mood of the composition. Also notice and report how the forms in the composition create highlight and shadow relationships, some may be abrupt other may have a gradation of value from light to dark. How does this contribute expressive quality (mystery, drama, success, joy, etc) of the compositions?

* If you don’t have a camera, please partner with another student who does.

Lab 2

Value-Added Portraits: Value Scale

• Create a Value Scale (a graduated scale of achromatic gray tones).
• On a piece of 9×12″ bristol, use this guide to create 4 scales starting with 2 steps and ending with 9 steps ranging from black to white in even, progressive increments.
• You may want to do a few practice runs on a piece of scrap bristol. Try mixing black and white in a variety of proportions until you get a progression from light to dark and the paint application is smooth and free of brushstrokes.
• Label (in good handwriting) your 9-step value scale with black, low dark, dark, high dark, mid-value, low light, high light, white.
• REMEMBER: That adding 50% black + 50% white may not get you a perfect middle value! All mediums are different, you need to experiment. Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it!
  

Painting Tips:

• Mix a very small amount of water thoroughly into the paint, for each value you create. The consistency should be like whole milk or cream. Before you apply paint to paper make sure it’s completely mixed in the palette to produce a flat consistent appearance. We want flat, blocks of paint with no streaks or brush marks.
• Wash your brush after each value is mixed and applied. Keep two containers of water, use 1 for washing your brushes and 1 for adding water to paint. Use a paper towel or rag to get excess paint and water off the brush before mixing a new value.
• Use non-stick tape along the edges of each square to create a sharp painted edge. Wait for the paint to dry completely before removing.
• If your completed scale is not accurate and does not produce even, progressive value increments, repeat the exercise.
• Escape Hatch: If your edges end up being very sloppy or uneven, you may also cut out and remount the value steps on a fresh piece of bristol.

Homework

1. Complete the Value Range Research:
   1. Post your paragraphs and 2 final images (high key and low key) to the OpenLab class discussion topic.
   2. Comment on at least 2 other student’s work. “I like it, it’s interesting”, “That chair looks like a dog!” or any other observations that do not directly relate to the design research problem will not count toward your grade.
      
2. Complete the Value Scale exercise.
   
3. Materials needed next class: CPB, 9×12″ Bristol, pencils, eraser, cutting mat, knife/scissors, ruler/T-square, tubes of black and white gouache, brushes, rag, palette, water container, drafting tape. (See supply list for details!!)

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