10/24/13 2D Design

Today's Class- We opened with a slide presentation about the use of text (letters, numbers) as a visual element, looking at examples through art history, along with examples of propaganda and advertising.  Students then worked on two portfolio exercises related to this topic.  Meanwhile, I helped each student pull a print of their completed woodcut black and white composition assignment, all of which can be seen above. (click photo to enlarge)

How to make this up-  We looked at text and ways it has been used in fine art, including directly telling narrative, being part of the detail of a scene, and functioning just as shapes of value and color, among other things.  In the 1940's to 1960's propaganda and advertising images, the focus was more on how fonts, colors, and locations of text in the images influence the message.  Both exercises, using pencils and markers, had connections to the slides.  Specific directions, along with some student examples from previous semesters, can be found here.

These are portfolio exercises that must be made up by the end of the semester to receive full credit, but I recommend doing them before next week for two reasons.  One, this is the last week of the semester that there isn't one graded project assigned and/or due.  Two, text will play a factor in two projects coming up this semester, so it's good to get some practice and thought on the subject now.

Homework-  Nothing new this week, but some people still owe be stipple and plant drawings.  I won't be bringing in all the printing materials again, so when completed wood blocks arrive I'll just take them, print them in my studio, and return them the following week.

For next class 10/31/13-  Back to color, with a graded project about color temperature.  Bring all your paints and painting materials, 18" x 24" pad, pencil and eraser, scissors or x-acto knife, and either white glue or rubber cement.