Welcome to Early Calendar Visual Arts I Module 8: Composition Instructor: Brenda Taylor

In this module you will learn about composition In this module you will learn about composition. This module will explore the properties that make a great composition. A composition is the arrangement of the elements of art. When composing a work of art the artist needs to see the artwork as a "whole unit". (Image Source: Susan M. Hopkins, Photograph, 2011. Canon Rebel T 2i, Private Collection, Colorado)

Preview it 8.1.1 What Is Composition? Composition is the arrangement of the elements of art.

A well-designed painting or drawing grabs your attention from a distance—even before you can see the details. In comparison, a weak composition is less visually appealing at any range. Good composition results in a harmony of shapes, colors, and values. The viewer's eyes stay interested long enough to take it all in, rather than becoming bored and wandering off.

8.2.1 Warm Up with Danny Page Danny Page is a professional cartoonist and illustrator. His work has been featured in many art galleries, exhibitions and conventions across the West Coast. Page has worked steadily over the years as a contributing artist on a wide variety of comic strips and children's literature. He currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. Please click on this link to watch the video about Composition with Danny Page: http://www.ehow.com/video_4950819_what- different-compositions-art.html Learn more about composition with this crash course:. http://www.howcast.com/videos/314209-How-To- Understand-Composition-in-Art

Warm up continued… Read the information in section 8.2.2 about Find Composition. You will learn how to make and use a viewfinder, and then you will have an assignment to do using the viewfinder.

8.3 Explore It Read the information about the principles of design from the San Diego Jewish Academy. What are the principles of design? They are the rules we use to create art. The elements of design are the tools.

The Rule of Thirds You will learn what the rule of thirds consists of and how to use it.

The Rule of Thirds continued… The rule of thirds states that the centers of interest for any rectangle lie somewhere along those lines. By aligning an image with these lines or by placing our focal points near the power points we can give balance to a composition while simultaneously making it more engaging to the eye.

Wayne Thiebaud (1920 - ) A sign-painter, illustrator, and cartoonist in New York and Hollywood, Wayne Thiebaud was associated with Pop Art. As a predecessor of photorealism, Thiebaud found his signature style with brightly colored still- life paintings of food and other objects, shown against neutral backgrounds. Learn more about this artist (painter, printmaker) in this section.

8.3.4a Assignment Now you will tell me something interesting that you have learned about composition from our featured artist, Wayne Thiebaud. You may want to do a little more research on him. Type it in a Word document and then email it to me. This counts as a grade.

8.4 Connect It You will learn what Rabatment is and how to use it in this section. Artists rely on an array of methods for finding the best placement of their subjects within a picture plane. One of the easiest methods to use and understand is to place the subject within the rabatment of the rectangle. What is the rabatment of a rectangle? Simply put, it’s the perfect square found inside any rectangle (the rabatment’s sides are all equal to the short side of the rectangle).

More about rabatment… You will find more examples and further explanation by reading the article found here: http://moodle.ncvps.org/mod/url/view.php?i d=60759 Next, in this section, you will learn about symmetry and asymmetry and how to use it in your artwork.

Connect it continued… Ways to create visual interest and emphasis will be discussed in the articles linked in this section. Be sure to read the articles and complete the next assignment. 8.4.5 Pick An Image Assignment: Pick one of your favorite images. Save it in your computer and write about the image as it relates to composition in a work of art. Upload the image and your writing to me so I can see what you are talking about

8.5 Create it 8.5.1 Composition Assignment Think about why some American pop artists chose to depict typical American objects as symbols representing American consumerism of the 1960’s. Create your own Wayne Thiebaud composition using colorful donuts, cupcakes or other colorful interesting subjects (they do not have to be food related) that are repetitious. Be creative!! YOU ARE submitting photographs here... Photograph your objects from many varied perspectives and compositions. Choose your favorite three images and post them on the composition forum . Check out those of your classmates too, for the next assignment, which is in the Critique It section.

Critique it 8.6.1 Critique Assignment: For the composition assignment that was done in the Create it section - Critique your work by answering the following questions: Which elements of art have I used to create a strong composition? Was I successful in using the Rule of Thirds? Does the work demonstrate skills in problem solving by the exploration of several choices and ideas? Was the assignment carefully planned out showing awareness of the elements and principles of design? Was the color scheme and use of space effective? This assignment is extra credit, if you choose to do it. Post it in the critique forum for this assignment.

Imagine it Extra Credit Assignment: Download GIMP, and look at some tutorials to learn how to use this software. Here is the website that contains the assignment: How to Create a Digital Painting in GIMP: http://emptyeasel.com/2008/08/15/how-to-create- digital-paintings-in-gimp/ Following the directions in the web link "How to Create a Digital Painting In GIMP," create a digital painting based on one of your warm up studies. Post your digital painting in the extra credit forum. Let me know if you choose to do this so I can be sure and give you the extra credit points.

Review it Did you… Read all the information about composition, the rule of thirds, and rabatment? Did you read about Danny Page and Wayne Thiebaud? Do the assignment about Wayne Thiebaud? Make a viewfinder and do that assignment? Do the “pick an image” assignment? Do the composition assignment and critique it for extra credit? Do the extra credit GIMP assignment? Take the test on composition as many times as you needed to?

Have a great week! THE END Next week, we be learn about types of visual rhythm and movement, practice using them in art compositions, create projects using them, meet famous artists, & critique art. Have a great week!