PART 1
NegativeComposite Shapes/ Positive/Negative
Part I: Make a silhouette comprised of two or more overlapping objects to create a unified, single, composite shape. Reduce elements to shape and value. Think positive and negative shapes and composition! Ink or acrylic will produce a crisp shape, charcoal creates a more dense mass and a more indefinite edge or use cut paper. Pay attention to the negative shapes. Composite shapes should depend on negative shapes to define them. Place the composite shape crop to the edge on at least two sides. Do not use a centralized shape completely surrounded by negative space. Not all shapes in drawing need to be immediately recognizable as objects from the real world. 18 x 24.
PartII: After you create one and submit to the discussion, enter a critique of a fellow students work by hitting reply to their work. Tell them what’s working in terms of balance, positive negative space, shapes and creativity. Examples: Is there too little or too much negative space or is it working well? Does it feel balanced or is it unbalanced? Which type of balance of the 4 types apply? What kind of shapes are they using?
PART 2-
SquareExpansion of a Square
Part I: Expansion of the Square
Notan is a Japanese design concept involving the play and placement of the light and dark elements as they are placed next to the other in the composition of art and imagery. Create from the square by expansion, a design of positive and negative twin shapes that reflect on another.
The mechanics of the assignment can best be understood by studying the two examples of symmetrical and asymmetrical designs. Each cutout of the design taken from the dark paper is folded outward ( or reversed) and pasted on the white paper along the base of its negative shape. The piece cut out remains in contact with its former space. You chose whether your square will be an Asymmetrical or Symmetrical design!
It will be impossible to cut a positive shape and ignore its negative twin. Do not cut into the corners of the square, but maintain the order of its shape. Consider the following steps:
- Establish a movement
- Find a pattern that you like and repeat it.
- Let one element predominate.
- Consider secondary movements, accents.
- Then watch what is left over.
Part II:
After you create one and submit to the discussion, enter a critique of at least 2 fellow students work by hitting reply to their work. Tell them what’s working in terms of balance, positive negative space and creativity. Examples: Is there too little or too much negative space or is it working well? Does it feel balanced or is it unbalanced? Which type of balance of the 4 types apply? What kind of shapes and or lines are being used?
PART 3
PlaneShape of Picture Plane
Choose a leaf.
On three different picture planes-so 3 finished designs;
- a 6″ square,
- a 4.5″ by 9″ rectangle,
- and an 9″ diameter circle-
draw or cut the leaf out of paper. Your goal is to fit the image into the confines of the three different planes. Distortion, exaggeration, and cropping will help determine your compositional choices.
Example- Do not copy:
PART 4-
MeaningDiscussion Four: Visual Meaning
Visual Meaning
There are three main strategies for analyzing works of art: contextual theory, formal theory, and expressive theory. Last week you used expressive theory to discuss a work of art by relating it to the life of the artist. This week you will discuss a painting in terms of formal theory; in other words, you will analyze how the meaning a work of art is shaped by its visual characteristics.
In your post, please focus on a work of art by an artist discussed in this week’s reading. You can pick a work that is shown in your textbook or you can do a little research and choose something different. As you analyze the piece, please pay close attention to the formal choices made by the artist and consider the following questions:
- How is color used? What is the visual impact of the color? Does it seem to have visual or psychological meaning?
- What types of forms are evident in the work (organic, geometric, smooth, jagged, etc.)? How does this affect the way you experience the piece?
- Is there a visual rhythm created by the repetition of forms and lines? How would you describe it?
- Consider the composition: how does your eye move through the piece? What do you think is the focal point? How does the focal point relate to the meaning of the work as you interpret it?
This week I am not giving you a list of artists or specific works of art, but I encourage you to focus on a work that is associated with , Expressionism ( or ), or early abstraction. Your post should be about two paragraphs and should be submitted by Monday 3/2 at 11:59 PM. Two responses to other students should be submitted by Wednesday 3/4 at 11:59 PM. Once again, please include a picture in your post and links to your sources!
Requirements: Please place each part in a different attachment. These are hand sketched assignments. NO AI USE.

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