ART TECHNOLOGIES 1201 UNIT 2 – LESSON 2

IN THIS LESSON YOU WILL LEARN… -What is meant by “fractals”, “animation”, “holograms” and “serial structures” -The relationship between “motion and time” and “motion and space” -How artists can suggest movement on flat, unmoving surfaces

Representation of motion has caused problems for artists in the past because the 2-dimensional surface is both flat and usually represents one image caught in time at a particular place. This photograph of boys jumping into water shows motion/movement frozen at a moment in time. We don’t see the splash, but we know where this image is going. We sense more of the movement than we actually see.

Movement can refer to movement in space (such as jumping from a swing) or movement in time (aging, growing). New technologies are breaking down barriers of space and time on flat surfaces, and simulating motion in lots of new ways.

In the past, artists used various ‘clues’ to represent movement visually on a 2-D surface, such as body position, body gesture, dramatic lighting in an image, and lines which lead the eye around in a picture. In this image (“The Calling of St. Matthew” by Caravaggio, 1600), the lighting and various body positions direct the movement from the right to the left, aiming at the far left figure bent over the table.

Another way to show motion in time is through the use of serial structures. These are sequenced images (like a comic strip) trying to tell a story or explain something. Sometimes the “how-to) instructions that accompany products include line drawings showing the sequence to follow for the correct set-up procedure.

New technology, such as photography, motion pictures, and animation, make “motion” an easier concept to use. With movies and animated shows, we get a sequence of still images, with extremely slight differences between them, passing through a projector creating the illusion of motion. Although no actual motion exists, the illusion of motion is created. There are as many as 24 images for every one second being “flashed” before our eyes in a movie or cartoon. Newer digital animation software makes it possible for anyone to create simple animations.

How many pictures does it take to create a 30 second animated commercial? 24 pictures per second x 30 seconds = 720 pictures How about the number of images needed to make a 90 minute animated film? 24 pps x 60 s x 90 mins = 129,600 pictures No wonder it takes years to make really good animated movies!

Diptychs and triptychs in art are also serial structures. A diptych is a painting in TWO parts (or hinged pieces). A triptych has THREE.

Holograms create images using split laser beams and result in 3-D images which can be seen from more than one point. They appear to “move” as the viewer moves around them. Fractals are mathematical models based on fractal geometry expressed in a visual form. They often look like could patterns or seashells, and movement is suggested in curves, arcs and lines. They are visually rich patterns which go on into infinity.

UNIT 1 – LESSON 2 ASSIGNMENT Make a simple “flip booklet” animation containing 24 frames (remember: there are 24 “frames” in a good animated film per second). You will need to make 24 8cmx8cm pieces of paper. Stack them so that each piece of paper barely sticks out to the right of the piece under it. Staple twice on the left-hand side. Begin drawing the “action” of your animation on the inside-top of the last piece of paper. Let the next to last piece of paper cover the drawing and redraw the last picture, making slight changes in the direction of your movement… and so on, so that all 24 frames have a slightly different picture than the one they cover. Hold the booklet, face-up in your left hand, and use your left thumb to allow the pages to “flip” down to the table to see the “movement”.