Principle

This is an abstraction of arranging objects in a representational picture, or, an exercise in visual texture.

Using lines of differing width and spacing, and of opposing value, explore "negative space." Try to control which color is seen as the ground and which color is seen as the figure. NOTE: The border color will influence the viewer's perception. Different values or optical color mixtures may appear in your compositions.

Classwork

Cut black paper strips of various widths and place them as parallel lines on a white groundsheet. Make it so the black areas and white areas alternately become "figure" or "ground".The emphasis should ebb and flow (shift predominance) from one to the other.

Now use white paper strips on black ground The rythmic shift from black to white may begin to suggest a pattern undulating in and out of space. Both black and white can either advance or recede depending on the visual cues that surround them

Homework

Repeat the exercise in the form of six small studies using carefully controlled marker lines, scribbly pencil lines, guache on heavy paper, Adobe Illustrator, brush and ink... surprise me!

Do 6 images, at least 3 x 3 inches, and 2 -6 to a page, use drawn formats to separate them.) When you feel like you have mastered the principle make a larger one on one page of paper with a drawn format.

NOTE: If you use pencil under your ink, erase the pencil if it detracts from the composition. If you use rubber cement, make sure the excess is rubbed away. If you use pencil, or other dusty media, make sure the image has been spray-fixed.

Mixing guache paint? Too much water and you get a "less than opaque" result. Too little water and you can see the marks of the brush. Guache, when applied correctly, is a medium with a suberb surface. Illustration board (smooth) is probably the finest surface for it.