September 30, 2015

Materials Need for This Class:

• Sketchbook
• Pencils (wide range from 4h to 4B)
• A song or piece of music that you like

Discussion (15 min)

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

1. Line: An series of points, which has length and direction. It can be the connection between two points, the space between shapes, or the path of a moving point. A closed line creates a shape.

The Principles: basic assumptions that guide the design practice.

1. Rhythm: Is a repeated pattern, such as what we hear in music. In different art forms, it can be a very complex interrelationship or a regular, steady beat.
   1. Repetition: Repeating a sequence; occurring more than a few times. In design, repetition can create visual consistency and a sense of unity.
   2. Pattern: Unbroken repetition, the repeating of an line, object or symbol.
   3. Variety: Visual rhythm is often punctuated with variations or changes in color, texture, or form. Creating variety is easy. Too much variety can lead to chaos and confusion for the viewer. A designer must effectively use pace and spacing to create rhythm and achieve unity in a composition.
   4. Monotony: Without variety or change, excessive repetition can lead to boredom and uninteresting compositions.

References:

• Pattern and Rhythm in Nature
• Pattern and Rhythm in Art and Design:

Lab 1: Project #2 | Sound Visualizations

Line Networks : Monotony and Variety

Create two types of pencil drawings in your sketchbook.

The first drawing will demonstrate a lack of variety or monotony by visualizing a piece of music with very little variety and contrast. The second drawing will visualize a song or series of songs that have variety and obvious changes in meter, pitch, and volume. Both drawings will use a network of repeated horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines to demonstrate visual pattern, repetition and rhythm. If the music ends before your drawing is finished — REPEAT.

Monotony Line Network (LISTEN MP3): 

• To begin this drawing, simply create a freehand line from top edge of the page to bottom or in whatever direction you “hear”.
• Continue creating the “vibrations” of this line until the entire page is filled with lines eminating off of this original line. Once you get to the edge of the paper, turn the paper 90 degrees and create a grid– drawing intersecting lines across the same page.
• Working slowly, with intention, try to keep your lines consistent, close together, and evenly spaced (this is hard– nearly impossible, actually). Create several versions of this drawing in your sketchbook, using one type of pencil for the whole drawing- perhaps a soft pencil (2B or 4B).
• Your final drawing should look like a grid, woven fabric, or network of lines.

Variety Line Network (LISTEN MP3): 

• As soon as you hear the music, consider the sound you hear and visualize it as a line.
• Choose a pencil (hard or soft) and start drawing lines– don’t draw anything recognizable.
• Let your pencil move in one direction, until you hear the sound change. At that moment, change the direction/angle/length/weight of your line.
• Notice how easy it is to create variety and how quickly your drawing become cluttered, chaotic, and confused. Let this happen.
• Create several versions of this drawing in your sketchbook, using a variety of line weights and styles (thick, thin, medium, short, long, broken). Choose to make a mark based what you “hear”.  For example, if you hear a low tone, perhaps your marks should become thicker, denser or darker.
• In some parts of your drawing you may make lines so dense that groups of lines become solid shapes. In other areas, your lines may be light, thin, and sparse.
• Take the entire page into consideration– observing figure/ground, unity, and economy, even if these principles are lacking.

In your sketchbook you should complete at least:

• 2 Monotony Line Networks
• 2 Variety Line Networks

Lab 2

Staccato / Legato Pattern Mashup PREP

• Take out a soft pencil #3B and your sketchbook.
• Rhythmic Line Test 1: Listen to this song: Another One Bites the Dust and draw a line representing its rhythm across your first sheet of paper. Repeat and refine until you get a variety of interesting lines. How would you describe these lines?
• Rhythmic Line Test 2: Listen to this song: Summertime and draw a line representing its rhythm across your second sheet paper.Repeat and refine until you get a variety of interesting lines. How would you describe these lines?
• Patterns: Now create at least 12 thumbnails: 6 for Staccato and 6 for Legato. Using your rhythmic line tests as a guide, create 6 patterns that represents STACCATO and 6 patterns that represents LEGATO.  Continue to refine these patterns. Try varying the line weight (thick and thin) and the spacing (tight and wide) between the lines. Let the rhythm of the music dictate the look and feel of your patterns.

Homework

1. Post your Phase 1 of Project #2 writing to the class blog, describing the pattern, repetition, line, shapes you “hear” in your favorite song. Comment on at least 3 other students posts.
2. Complete Staccato / Legato Pattern Mashup PREP (See Lab 1 above).
3. Post an image or image gallery of your Humument pages.
   • Post title: Humument #1
   • Category: Humument
   • Tags (some or all, depending on your compositions): Organic Shape, Geometric Shape, Frame, Figure-Ground, Obvious, Ambiguous, Positive Space, Negative Space, Unity, Economy
4. Materials Needed: Sketchbook with and variety of pencils — plus inking pens, 9×12″ bristol.

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