Today's Class- The focus of today's class was on some basic design principles, specifically the ideas of symmetry and balance. I showed 15 to 20 slides of random three dimensional artworks, representing a variety of mediums and historical periods, and we discussed whether each was symmetrical and/or balanced in its design and composition.
How to make this up- Students started by doing several simple memory sketches of three dimensional objects that displayed some form of symmetry, either bilateral or radial. Then they chose one such object to be the starting point of a three dimensional composition made from bristol board and a base. The composition was to include at least one symmetrical object (above the flower and leaves are examples), but the overall composition would be asymmetrical, either by distortions to the object or placement on the base. Consider how your composition looks from different points of view; we see two different views of the flower piece above, and several students today found more interesting results in viewing from a different position than the one they had originally planned. Below is an example of one completed in class today. Additional examples and more complete instructions can be found here.
This is a portfolio exercise and can be made up for full credit any time before the end of the semester, but I recommend that you get to it sooner rather than later, as you may be able to apply some of the ideas to future projects.
Homework- Nothing new from today, but the Make 100 module project started last week is due at the beginning of class next week, September 22, 2015.
For next class 9/22/15- We will open with a critique of the module projects, then start a new graded project involving low relief sculpture, in this case assembled from foam core. You will need the equivalent of 4 pieces of 12" square foam core, an x-acto knife and some replacement blades (sharp blades cut much better than dull ones), white glue, paper for sketching, and pencil and eraser.
