1011 Homework: Project 2

Your homework for the weekend is to complete part 1 of Project 2. In this part, you will be using your camera to come up with a photograph that is both a well-balanced composition (think about the elements of the Form chapter) and is interesting in terms of value. It may be that the image contains a particularly wide value range, deep value contrasts, or uses value compositionally. Remember, on Tuesday YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPH AVAILABLE either on disc or printed out. If you print it out yourself, go ahead and convert it to black and white if possible. This is a wide open assigment; so the pressure's on you to come up with something great! Good Luck!

1847 Homework

Your homework assignment (which we will look at on Tuesday, Feb 13) is to create a small still life similar to the one we drew at the end of class on Thursday. Use dimensions of/or around 8" x 12" on your Strathmore. Construct the still life with three objects. Remember, they should be a combination of natural forms and manmade forms. Also, think about how you may want to use a different approach for each type of object; depending on if it is an irregular form or it is a complex form made of smaller geometric components.

1011 Form Quiz

As mentioned in class, the point of this quiz is to get you to write an extended piece on one work of art. Remember to describe specific characteristics of the work in terms of form. How does the composition achieve balance? What elements are at play? Write around 300 words on one of the following works and turn it in on Thursday.

1. John Frederick Peto, Office Board for the Smith Bros. Coal Co, 1879
2. Lucian Freud, Reflection, 1985
3. Piet Mondrian, New York City 1, 1942

1847: Two Point Perspective

As I mentioned in class, two point perspective is often times more useful to consider when drawing from life because our picture plane is not usually perfectly parellel to the object we are observing (the conditions necessary to draw in one point perspective). There are many different ways to approach two point perspective. Here is one brief explanation from studiochalkboard.evansville.edu that helps again to explain the process we have been practicing in class:

When using two point linear perspective, one must look carefully at the placement of the object. If the object is not perpendicular and parallel to you and you are looking at it's corner, then you probably want to work in two point. Sometimes when working in two point perspective one of the vanishing points is not on the page. You then must approximate where the point falls by looking at the angles of the object which you are drawing. The best way to approximate an angle and find a vanishing point in two point perspective is to first find your horizon line. This is a level line. By using this level and placing it next to the front corner of the object one can then see the angle and continue this angle out until it intersects with the horizon line. After you have found this intersection, then you have established your vanishing point for all the planes that are parallel and recede the same direction. Repeat this process for the other side of your object and all convergence lines will be established. Use the font edge of an object in two point perspective when you want to scale it. This is the only constant line in two point because there are no horizontals on the object to work from. Verticals are always at a 90 degree angle to the horizon line in one and two point perspective.

Hint: Find your horizon line first. Then find out how much distance in proportion to the object's height there is between the horizon line and the front vertical edge of the object. This will help eliminate distortions.

1847: Examples of One Point Perspective

1. School of Athens by Raphael, 1518
2. The Disputation of St. Stephen by Carpaccio, 1514

1847 Homework: 2 Pt. Perspective

Your assignment for Tuesday, Feb. 6 is to construct something using the 2 point perspective method we practiced in class. Remember these elements: horizon line, two vanishing points, the station point. It can be anything, small or large, simple or complex; but whatever the case, really try to make it have a convincing sense of space based on this method.

1011: Project 1 due Tues, Feb 6

Your first project (both parts 1 & 2) will be due on Tuesday, February 6. Come to class with the project totally completed and be ready to talk about it. Specifically, be ready to tell the class about your formal decisions for part 2. Which elements of form were you considering when constructing the image? What steps did you take to assure it would be a balanced and harmonious composition? Did it ultimately work or do you have reservations about the outcome? You will turn the project in to be graded after the critique.