UMA-CBOOK: January 2011

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Emphasis Assignment

The Assignment

Create two 7” x 7” compositions using only black or white circles to define relationships within the frame. Each of the compositions should focus on two or more elements of design

Principals of design

Emphasis - What element(s) you focus on and how (aka Leading the eye)

Balance/ Symmetry - Distribution of emphasis or weight in a composition

Proportion/ Scale - The relative size of elements within a design

Rhythm/ Repetition - A pattern created by numerous elements

Contrast -Differing object-characteristics within a composition

Unity - The grouping of elements within a composition and how they relate to each other

Variety - Amount of differing compositional objects within a composition

Emphasis 1

In this composition I focused the Emphasis on the center by using Symmetrical circles Scaled down 1 inch at a time. Starting with largest 7 inch circle a Rhythmic pattern of Contrasting circles draws ones eyes to the center in a Unified manner without any Variation. :)

Emphasis 2

In this composition I focused the Emphasis on the upper left by using Symmetrical circles Scaled down 1 inch at a time. Starting with largest 7 inch circle a Rhythmic pattern of Contrasting circles draws ones eyes to the upper left in a Unified manner without any Variation.

On the other hand, maybe it draws your attention from the upper left down to the lower right?

I'm getting dizzy. :)

My Comments

A well thought out design will have more impact on what you are trying to covey. Employing specific design principles allows you to control the intent and the viewers focus on elements within the project.

Both compositions were created with Gimp for which I now have about two hours of experience. I found Gimp very frustrating because of my lack of knowledge on how to work the tools in the program. Specifically, I could not figure out how to select the circles after I created them. I ended up creating the circles on separate layers and then scaling them to end up with this design. My lack of experience with Gimp definitely hindered my creativeness. Remember when programs were more user friendly? I just need to spend a few hours learning the basics and I'm sure I'll get the knack of it.
That aside, I personally do not like these compositions; they both hurt my eyes. :(

Criticism - Katrina Chronicles Excerpt

The Katrina Chronicles: Volume I & II is a collection of art created by Peter Precourt, who is a Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Maine at Augusta. Peter's collaboration of art tells a story of his move from Houstin, Texas on July 30th, 2005 to Gulfport, Mississippi to work as an Art Professor for a small college overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. On August 23rd, 2005 Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas and would ultimately wreck havoc on Peter's life along with so many others. Peter's description of the works creation as told in his own words, " Ultimatley, it made sense to me to tell the Katrina Chronicles in a form that embraces the stepchild nature of Mississippi and the leveling power of Katrina. Chronicles is told in a visual form that hovers somewhere between a graphic novel, a diary entry, a painting, a memoir, a testimony and a flippant conversation. It is pieced together on the most delicate of surfaces, paper. Sharpie and sumi-e, acrylic and encaustic, Mylar and rice paper,and text and image are fused without hierarchy.".

Taking any one piece of the art by itself is visually appealing. Viewing the collection as a whole, one is drawn into the art, following the story line in eager anticipation from one panel to the next.

Panel # 12 is one that might stand by itself alone; unlike it's other 22 counter parts, which have allot of comic style balloons containing the passages of the storyline. This is a enlarged thumbprint with a white background. By itself what message does it convey? I dare not say. One could only speculate what the artist was trying to tell the people who glance upon it. In the end the only question is, what does it mean for you, the viewer?

Now put panel # 11 in front of # 12 along with the other 21 and you get a bigger picture and understanding.

The thumbprint refers to the opponents in a poker game. Although all the opponents are all similar in the fact that they are all poker players in a game, it is the unique characteristics of each player that sets them apart. Identify the patterns and connect them with the way you play in a similar way a detective would link a criminal to their print.

Peter did a great job with the Katrina Chronicles. I look forward to reading/viewing the completed version in what I've been told we will printed in a graphic novel fashion.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Peter Precourt - Katrina Chronicles: Volumes I & II

Today I attended Peter's Closing Artist Talk session for his Katrina Chronicles exhibit at the Danforth Gallery located in Jewett Hall on the UMA campus. This exhibit is about Peter's recollections of and reflections on the events leading up to his experience with Hurricane Katrina while living in Coastal Mississippi.

The event was informal and small with about twenty people attending (Give or Take). Peter led the session more as a informal discussion, with him centered and guests surrounded, in the recessed area of the gallery. During the hour, Peter talked of the exhibit and some of the events that had transpired. Meeting Peter in person connects the comical satire in his work with his personality and in turn gives you a better appreciation of it as a whole. Thirty or so minutes in, Peter opened the floor for questions of which I personally asked two.

The first asked him if he could change anything about his exhibit what would it be? After a short pause, Peter begin to refer to disliking the magnetic tags and then changed to discussing the size of his studio. Apparently his studio is small and so, when creating it, he used small thumbnails of the frames to try and get an idea of how things would flow in the actual presentation. He finished by saying that overall he was quite happy with the way work was put together.

Towards the end I asked a second question. Stating that Jane (his wife) seemed to be a big influence on his work, did she ever disagree with any of the story line art and not allow him to use it? Peter smiled this time with a little chuckle. He commented on the frame of the two fighting and sleeping back to back. He suggested that issues arose about that and carefully ended with a compliment to his wife about her intricate role in putting the work all together. He believes his wife to truly be a heroin in the whole project.

Over all I liked the work and was entertained by the story.

I recommend viewing this exhibit. For more info view the links below.

http://www.uma.edu/danforthgallery.html

http://www.peterprecourt.com/