Design an abstract composition using the method of fragmentation.
Fragmentation is an image development strategy that splits or breaks up an image.
For this assignment you will select a detail out of a figurative painting.
For this assignment you will select a detail out of a figurative painting.
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PROCESS
Your entire process will be evaluated.
Process:
- composition assignments
- fragmentation sketches: compositions / use of colour / quality of sketches
Product:
- Execution, originality, uniqueness
- Elements and principles of design
- Craftmanship, technique
Process:
- composition assignments
- fragmentation sketches: compositions / use of colour / quality of sketches
Product:
- Execution, originality, uniqueness
- Elements and principles of design
- Craftmanship, technique
1 |
Look at the painting of figure 3 and its composition drawing on figure 4. Describe the composition. * |
2 |
Make a composition drawing of the painting in figure 5. * |
3 |
Select a detail out of a figurative painting. Cut two angles of 90º out of a piece of paper, and use these two angles as a viewfinder. The white paper helps to blot out anything which is beside your subject and gives you a clear outline. This simple viewfinder also helps you to arrange or position your subject in an interesting way. Draw the shape of the frame of your viewfinder on an A4-paper. Copy all the lines and shapes of this fragment of the painting. Decide for yourself which part of this abstract drawing is going to be your focal point. How are you going to emphasise the focal point? Which directional lines are going to be important? Which contrasts are you going to use? Make 3 interesting abstract composition designs on the A4-paper, using this method and your watercolour pencils. |
4 |
Choose one of your best designs and enlarge it on an A3-paper. Make sure you use the same shape of frame and work it out in poster paint. Keep in mind that you can use different techniques of painting as well, e.g. impasto or transparent. |
5 |
Basis critique questions Answer these questions really honestly, no need to impress. 1. Describe what you were asked to do. 2. What do you think was really succesful? Why? 3 What has been challenging or difficult? Why? 4 What would you do differently if you did this again? Why? |
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Print document |
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COMPOSITION
Composition means order. It’s about how different elements; line, colour, shape, etc. are ordered within a frame.
The term is more known as referring to music. It means the same thing, within music it concerns the order of the notes, instruments, etc. that constitute a whole.
Three aspects are very important for a composition:
focal point
A painting or drawing should have one main subject, a focal point to which the viewer’s eye is inevitably drawn. What does the painter Fragonard want to emphasise in the painting on figure 1?
He's stressing one element, the girl on the swing. The sunlight shines on her, through the trees, while the background is dark. She's also painted in warm red colours, while the rest is blue and green. Red and green form a complementary colour contrast, so he's using a complementary contrast as well. The background is less detailed and distinct than the foreground, in which we see more intense colours, contrasting shapes and tonal contrasts.
directional lines
When we look at a picture of any kind, we instinctively look for a visual pathway to guide us through the composition and make sense of it.
composition drawing
Figure 2 shows us the composition drawing of 'the Swing', the focal point and the conspicuous directions in the painting.
Which directional lines are important in this painting? The direction of light is forceful, from the left top corner to the right bottom corner. As well as the directions of the ropes of the swing. But there is more to see; the man in the left bottom corner is pointing at the woman on the swing. The angel on the pedestal is watching the woman, as well as the two playing kids in the background. These are the in-directional lines that emphasise the woman as the focal point.
The term is more known as referring to music. It means the same thing, within music it concerns the order of the notes, instruments, etc. that constitute a whole.
Three aspects are very important for a composition:
focal point
A painting or drawing should have one main subject, a focal point to which the viewer’s eye is inevitably drawn. What does the painter Fragonard want to emphasise in the painting on figure 1?
He's stressing one element, the girl on the swing. The sunlight shines on her, through the trees, while the background is dark. She's also painted in warm red colours, while the rest is blue and green. Red and green form a complementary colour contrast, so he's using a complementary contrast as well. The background is less detailed and distinct than the foreground, in which we see more intense colours, contrasting shapes and tonal contrasts.
directional lines
When we look at a picture of any kind, we instinctively look for a visual pathway to guide us through the composition and make sense of it.
composition drawing
Figure 2 shows us the composition drawing of 'the Swing', the focal point and the conspicuous directions in the painting.
Which directional lines are important in this painting? The direction of light is forceful, from the left top corner to the right bottom corner. As well as the directions of the ropes of the swing. But there is more to see; the man in the left bottom corner is pointing at the woman on the swing. The angel on the pedestal is watching the woman, as well as the two playing kids in the background. These are the in-directional lines that emphasise the woman as the focal point.
Composition summary
A composition is determined by:
-the shape of the frame
-the focal point
-conspicuous directions
Focal point
can be emphasised by :
-a tonal contrast, light and dark
-a colour contrast, warm and cool contrast
complementary contrast
pure and impure colours
-a contrast in technique impasto and transparent
drawing and painting
expressive and precise
-a contrast in shape geometric and organic
vague and detailed
-a contrast in directions horizontal, vertical and diagonal
Directional lines
can be:
-visible lines accents, limits of surfaces, lines
-invisible lines watching, walking and pointing directions
Basic composition shapes
CENTRAL, TRIANGLE, HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, DIAGONAL, OVER-ALL
A composition is determined by:
-the shape of the frame
-the focal point
-conspicuous directions
Focal point
can be emphasised by :
-a tonal contrast, light and dark
-a colour contrast, warm and cool contrast
complementary contrast
pure and impure colours
-a contrast in technique impasto and transparent
drawing and painting
expressive and precise
-a contrast in shape geometric and organic
vague and detailed
-a contrast in directions horizontal, vertical and diagonal
Directional lines
can be:
-visible lines accents, limits of surfaces, lines
-invisible lines watching, walking and pointing directions
Basic composition shapes
CENTRAL, TRIANGLE, HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, DIAGONAL, OVER-ALL
Character of a composition
A composition can give an image meaning (or effect, or suggestion, or intention, or atmosphere)
-a diagonal composition is: unbalanced
a-symmetrical
dynamic
-a central composition or pyramid composition is : orderly and balanced
symmetrical
static
A composition can give an image meaning (or effect, or suggestion, or intention, or atmosphere)
-a diagonal composition is: unbalanced
a-symmetrical
dynamic
-a central composition or pyramid composition is : orderly and balanced
symmetrical
static
composition
focal point directional lines cut of landscape format portrait format impasto transparent viewfinder pedestal fragmentation |
How things are ordered within a frame.
What pulls the viewer into the work of art, it's the centre of attention, even though it's not always in the centre. The main directions in a work of art, that lead the eye towards the focal point. Deliberately cropping the figures at the edges of a frame brings the viewer in close for more contact with the subject. The top of the page is one of the longer sides. The top of the page is one of the shorter sides. Involves applying the paint thickly and liberally, so that it retains the marks and ridges left by the brush. Involves painting with diluted paint, because the paint is transparent, the white reflective surface of the paper shines through the colours. A rectangular shape cut out of a piece of paper or cardboard: It helps you to arrange or position your subject in a more interesting way. The base that a column, a statue, ect rests on. Splitting or breaking up an image. |