Audio Visual Design Assignment

The Assignment

Many terms of visual design can be used to describe other creative constructs. Architecture, moving image narrative, and music being examples of this. Terms such as balance, harmony, rhythm etc, are often used across creative disciplines.

Create two compositions from a complete piece of music without lyrics.

-One composition will use color, the other will be in gray scale.
-The gray scale composition should be a different composition than the color design. NOT a desaturated version of the color design.
-Compositions can be made up of numerous pieces if you choose.

1. Select a song. Listen to a number of musical compositions and select one that you will enjoy working with. Listen carefully and make sure you can distinguish tempo, rhythm, number of instruments, kind of instrumentation, etc in the song you select. Being able to identify these things will help in your reinterpretation.

2. Define the 'feel' of the piece. Think about how the music makes you feel. Think about what design elements will convey the mood of the song and how they would best be manifested.

3. Think about the design principles that are expressed through the music. Elements to consider could be rhythm, pattern, balance, contrast, value, focal points, movement, variety, unity, emphasis, leading the eye (ear), etc.

4. Assign design elements to elements of the music. Think about motion and shape associated with the sounds, and how they may change over the duration of the song. Think about how a piece of music can be represented in a piece of graphic design.

5. Create two visual designs based on the one piece of audio.

6. Mount your work so it can be presented.

7. Write on your blog a statement between 500 and 1000 words relating to your process and the success of the compositions.

8. Be prepared to present your work to class during your design process. There will be three opportunities to discuss your progress.

• April 13, Have your song identified, share song with class, share general impressions about choosing it, share preliminary ideas about the direction your designs will take, get feedback from class (you will have about 10 minutes).
• April 20, Have your song selected, share your design concepts with the class (be prepared to talk about points 1,2,3,4), explain your choices, identify materials and processes you would like to use in your final composition, talk about the scale of your compositions, etc (you will have about 10 minutes).
• April 27, Half the class will present final compositions (you will have about 20 minutes). All written statements are due on this day.
• May 2, Half the class will present final compositions (you will have about 20 minutes)

This assignment will get 3 grades. (one for Process, one for the Composition itself, and one for the live Presentation and documentation of the work. )

Some of the evaluation criteria include but may not be limited to:

• Your participation in discussions
• Your ability to follow directions
• Your ability to create good compositions
• Your ability to present and speak about your work in an interesting way
• Your justification and explanation of choices
• Your use of terminology and design language
• Proper documentation on your blog
• Ability to keep to the presentation timetables

Selecting the Song

Pink Floyd Instrumental Songs

Careful with that Axe Eugene -Ummagumma
Interstellar overdrive - piper at the gates of dawn
One of these days - Meddle
Cluster 1 - Division Bell
Signs of life - Momentary Lapse of Reason 
Terminal Frost- as above
Any Colour You Like - DSOTM
Atom Heart Mother- Atom Heart Mother
A Saucerful of Secrets- A Saucerful of Secrets
On The Run- DSOTM

First Choice
One of these days - Meddle

I downloaded a program called Audacity to make a this visual wave form of the song.

I love this song, but under advise of my instructor I will have to scrap it because there is one lyric about three quarters the way into the song.
"One of these days I'm going to rip you into little pieces!"
My instructor, Kirsten felt that this lyric might influence the art.
He's probably right.
And so the.....

Final Choice

Tommy Emmanuel - Endless Road

Track 7 - Windy and Warm

Again, I used Audacity to make a visual wave form .jpg

I made a movie using Windows Movie Maker that combined the image and the Windy and Warm .mp3

'Feel' of the piece

When I listen to the song I feel a connection to life, a heartbeat that celebrates the fun of it all.

Gray scale composition

Representational design elements to include:
 Timeline = The Length of the Canvas
White noise = Background
Music(Guitar) = Visual wave form
Human Scale/ Relatedness = Life

The process begins.......

 Visual wave form cut in half

 1/8 "Hard board cut (18"x48")

Ripped and crumbled paper glued.

Charcoal lines create the visual wave.

A dusting with black chalk.
  
Life starts.

 

Drawing life.

 More life.

 Life progresses.

Finished piece 


Color composition
Representational design elements to include:

 Timeline = The Length of the Canvas

White noise = Background

Music(Guitar) =Pattern Elements with Energy Wave

 A
"Less is More"
Approach

The process begins.......

 

1/8 "Hard board cut (18"x48")

Stipped and crumbled paper glued.

Background emerges

Blue powdered chalk

Rubbed In

Energy Wave

Balancing Energy Wave

Finished piece

Together 

Are the two compositions successful?
Yes, how could they not be? It's a individual interpretation. 
Music and Art alike reflect a emotional response
that is a unique experience to each and every person.

 There is no right or wrong.


Artist Statement

Sow It Begins

This artwork is a glimpse of life in the beginning from a point of view unique to the environment for which it was created. Initially inspired by a song of Tommy Emmanuel's, Windy and Warm, the piece represents the heartbeat of joy one can find in the world if conditions are right. When life first starts these conditions are pure and unsoiled, peaceful and warm, and untouched by all other possibly less appealing elements of life.

The art first came to be with some basic design elements in mind. I assigned the 18” x 48” canvas, made from 1/8” hardboard, to represent the time line. The white noise becomes the background. Next the music is represented by a visual digital wave length. And last I assigned life to the human element of the piece. The actual process I took manifests itself visually on my blog at www.uma-cbook.blogspot.com. The piece reads from left to right starting with the conception of a sperm and egg and staging up to a child ready to be born.

I believe the piece to be successful solely based on reaction that it has received when I have shown it. I being my own worst critic was uncertain of my accomplishment at first. There was nothing specific I could say that was wrong with the piece, it was more of a feeling of uncertainty of the arts worth. This was soon overcome as the people who viewed it gazed in awe and began to compliment it's merit and sincerely ask questions due to interest in a deeper understanding. I have to tell you this is a good feeling to have, even if on a small scale.

When life first starts we are like sponges soaking information up in the world we live in. This is the age of innocence. We build a knowledge base through our experiences that eventually, for most of us, turn into a desire to please others or maybe just ourselves. We seek reward in this way. What are we forgetting?