Shape and Closed Compositions Discussion

When you send me over the initial post, I will send you the 4 students to answer the response questions on. Please sign “Cameron L Gray” on all of the drawings.

This drawing brings together the use of silhouette, space and composition. You will create dynamic relationships between negative and positive space, using areas of flat value.

Materials Needed

• 1 sheet 14″ x 17″ drawing paper
• Charcoal
• Kneaded eraser
• White eraser

Initial Post

Your initial post will be a posted jpeg of your finished drawing. Complete the following steps to create your drawing:

• Refer back to your shape inventory from Sketchbook 2.
• Pick 3 -5 of these objects with interesting contours
• In your sketchbook, fill 1-2 pages with thumbnails in preparation for you final drawing. Superimpose your objects on top of each other, playing with the scale and proportions of each, and how they overlap one another. (You can do these preparatory steps in pen or graphite to eliminate the mess of charcoal in your sketchbook.)
• Pick the most dynamic of these compositions for your final drawing. Make sure you have a closed composition, with your objects extending to each edge of the page.
• Your final drawing should have your objects layered on top of one another, using only flat negative and positive space, in black, white, and tones of gray. You can decide in which places you invert positive and negative space, creating the most interesting edge qualities possible. Use only the white of the page, flat black, and tones of flat gray to differentiate between the shapes.
• There should be no hard outlines, and no illusion of volume or surface decoration. Refer to the student examples from this project as a resource.
• Your finished drawing may feel abstract, but there should be some sense of the object as a recognizable shape.
• Post your finished final drawing to the discussion board.

Response Post

Respond to at least 4 peers, answering the following questions:

• Is the composition dynamic? What adds to the quality of the composition?
• What are the qualities of the shapes? Do the edges feel sharp and defined? Are the silhouettes flat without outlines?
• What is the most successful component of the drawing? Where is an area that you are particularly intrigued by? What is the visual quality that creates or adds to that component? Use appropriate visual vocabulary.
• What area could be improved? What visual quality detracts from the overall drawing? Use appropriate visual vocabulary.