Assignment #4

Saturation Studies

Problem: Create simple compositions demonstrating an accurate understanding of saturation.

Limits: Compositions will fit within a 6×6″ area and will be realized with cut paper (saturation studies) and other chosen materials (free-studies).

Materials: Creative Process Book, pencils, Bristol Board 9×6″, gouache paints, brushes, palette, rags, water container, scissors, exacto knife, ruler/t-square, glue, misc. chosen materials.

Concepts: Hue, Saturation , Prismatic Color, Muted Color, Chromatic Gray, Achromatic Gray, Luminosity, Primary Colors, Secondary Colors, Complementary Colors, Warm, Cool.

Technical Skills: painting techniques, draughmanship with ruler/t-square, exacto knife and collage.

Procedure:

  1. Research / Inspiration
  2. Experimentation / Iteration
    Create the following Saturation studies: Chromatic Gray, Muted Color, Prismatic Color
    • Chromatic Gray Studies – Exercise #1:
      • Make a 6×6″ gouache, painted-paper collage using at least six shapes. All colors should be chromatic gray with a BROAD value range (light and dark) from a broad range of hues (colors). The white paper is not considered a color – the entire surface should be covered with paint.
      • Use scrap pieces of bristol to create your painted paper shapes. Cut these out with scissors or exacto knife.
      • Starting with a very small amount of a Prismatic Color (paint straight from the tube) add either the complementary color, white, or pre-mixed chromatic darks to achieve your range of chromatic grays. Adding white will create lighter value grays, adding pre-mixed chromatic darks or complementary colors will create darker value grays.
      • The grays should have a discernible hue, but should lie closer to the center of the saturation spectrum (achromatic gray) than the outside (prismatic color).
      • Arrange your shapes until you achieve a unified composition and then carefully glue down your pieces.
    • Chromatic Gray Studies – Exercise #2:
      • Make a 6×6″ gouache, painted-paper collage using at least six shapes. All colors should be chromatic gray with a NARROW value range from a broad range of hues (colors). The white paper is not considered a color – the entire surface should be covered with paint.
      • Use scrap pieces of bristol to create your painted paper shapes. Cut these out with scissors or exacto knife.
      • Starting with a very small amount of a Prismatic Color (paint straight from the tube) add either the complementary color, white, or pre-mixed chromatic darks to achieve your range of chromatic grays. Adding white will create lighter value grays, adding pre-mixed chromatic darks or complementary colors will create darker value grays.
      • The grays should have a discernible hue, but should lie closer to the center of the saturation spectrum (achromatic gray) than the outside (prismatic color).
      • Arrange your shapes until you achieve a unified composition and then carefully glue down your pieces.
    • Muted Color Studies – Exercise #1:
      • Make a 6×6″ gouache, painted-paper collage using at least six shapes. All colors should be MUTED with a BROAD value range (light and dark) from a BROAD range of hues (colors). The white paper is not considered a color – the entire surface should be covered with paint.Use scrap pieces of bristol to create your painted paper shapes. Cut these out with scissors or exacto knife.
      • Starting with a Prismatic Color (paint straight from the tube) add either the complementary color, white, or pre-mixed chromatic darks to achieve your range of muted colors. Adding white will create a lighter value, adding a pre-mixed chromatic dark or complementary color will create darker value.
      • Arrange your shapes until you achieve a unified composition and then carefully glue down your pieces.
    • Muted Color Studies – Exercise #2:
      • Make second 6×6″ gouache, painted-paper collage using at least six shapes. All colors should be MUTED with a NARROW value range (high, middle, or low key) from a broad range of hues (colors). The white paper is not considered a color – the entire surface should be covered with paint.IMPORTANT NOTES:
      • Yellow and its adjacent hues can be used to create high-key muted color compositions. They cannot be darkened enough to reach low-key without losing saturation and becoming Chromatic Grays.
      • Conversely, violet and its adjacent hues can not be lightened enough to reach the high-key value range without becoming Chromatic Grays.
      • Violet, Blue and Green can be used to create low-key muted colors compositions.
    • Prismatic Color Studies – Exercise #1:
      • Make a 6×6″ gouache, painted-paper collage using at least six shapes. All colors should be PRISMATIC with a BROAD value range (light and dark) from a BROAD range of hues (colors). The entire surface of your paper should be covered with paint.
      • Use scrap pieces of bristol to create your painted paper shapes. Cut these out with scissors or exacto knife.
      • Arrange your shapes until you achieve a unified composition and then carefully glue down your pieces.
    • Prismatic Color Studies – Exercise #2:
      • Make second 6×6″ gouache, painted-paper collage using at least six shapes. All colors should be PRISMATIC with a NARROW value range (high or low key). This means you will either create a composition with prismatic yellows (high) or prismatic violets (low). The entire surface of your paper should be covered with paint.
      • Use scrap pieces of bristol to create your painted paper shapes. Cut these out with scissors or exacto knife.
      • Arrange your shapes until you achieve a unified composition and then carefully glue down your pieces.
      • Make second 6×6″ gouache, painted-paper collage using at least six shapes. All colors should be chromatic gray with a NARROW value range (high, middle, or low key) from a broad range of hues (colors). The white paper is not considered a color – the entire surface should be covered with paint.
  3. Expression of Form, Emotions, or Concepts
    • Free-Study #1 – Combined Saturation
      • Using your box-o-scraps and/or gouache paint create a 9×12″ composition of your choice that demonstrates the concepts we covered in our Saturation Studies, using Saturation, Value and Temperature show some kind of spatial depth.
      • Use your own forms of expression and experiment with process: collage, stippling, tearing, cutting, direct painting, taping, stenciling, blotting.
    • Free-Study #2 – Ben Snead, Departures and Arrivals
      • Using any materials you like, create a Free-Study based on our field trip to see Ben’s pubic subway mosaic work. Your composition should reference the content, symmetry, saturation, and graphic, diagrammatic style demonstrated in the glass mosaic and ceramic tile artwork at Jay Street Station.
  4. Thoughtful Assessment (verbal and written)
    • Critique
      • Bring all assignment parts to class, protected in a portfolio case or protective paper or cardboard envelope.
      • Be prepared to present, discuss and analyze your finished work in terms of concept, craft, what you learned, and creative process.
      • State the following: your name, what you are presenting (title and design problem), which parts are successful and why, which parts are unsuccessful and why
    • Written Assessment
      • In your Creative Process Book, at the end of the Assignment #4 section, document your thoughts about this project. Think about what you learned, what you could have done better (planning, material use, craft), and how you will apply what you learned to your next project.
  5. Work Hour Tally
    • In your Creative Process Book, outline the hours committed for each portion of the assignment, including dates and times.