Exercise 3.1: Illustrating visual space

This exercise continues on in the study and understanding of composition and viewpoint.

The task was to create an image that included a tree, a child running/walking and a building and to arrange these in different scales, sizes in a square frame and then comment on the following:

a. )How does your sense of the image and it's meaning change when the figure is smaller then the other elements?
b. )If the elements are at differing angles to each other and at an angle to the frame, what dynamic is suggested?
c. )If all the elements are completely horizontal and vertical in relation to the frame what dynamic is suggested? What is your opinion about this image and what sensation does it communicate?
d. )Which is your favourite composition? Explain why you feel it is the most successful.

I have done ten variations to comment on and use as examples.

a.) The smaller figure: 

Fig 1

Fig 2

Fig 3

Fig 4

In the examples above I have varied the size of all the elements but ensured that the figure is essentially smaller then one or both other elements in the composition. 

I feel that when the figure is smaller then the other elements, there is almost instantaneously a narrative that is created simply by virtue of the scale. The figure is a living object and therefore our eye is naturally drawn to it despite the fact that it is smaller then the other elements. As such, when the figure is smaller it can creates a feeling of adventure or curiosity. Also the small figure helps to emphasise the largeness of the surrounding objects which makes the figure seem even smaller and the intrigue even greater.  

Fig 5

Fig 6

Fig 7

When the running child is at an angle a strong sense of movement is created, especially when part of the figure is outside of the frame. 

Fig 8

When the elements are at different angels to each other, there is a sense of unease on the eye and a sense of chaos. In this image the stationary elements e.g.: the tree which is a stationary element rooted in the ground, usually vertical and representing stability is at and angle compared to the running child who is so vertical it looks like she is coming to an abrupt halt. All is not ordered. Because of the angles, there is still a sense of movement.

Fig 9

Fig 10

This image feels particularly stable with the horizontal horizon, vertical house and tree and almost vertical running chile. The scale of the child makes it appear they the child is in the foreground and the house and tree are in the background. 

My favourite compositions are fig 1 and fig 3 as they seem to have a natural narrative within them...and I love a good story!

RSA Animate - Re-Imagining Work

My tutor Christian encouraged me to have a look at Auralab and live drawing and I found this fantastic animation company and both their work and what they say speak volumes to me. Definitely bringing art to the real world!

Reflection Assignment 2

Composition and visual space

Composition is certainly an area that I need to learn more about.

To help me gain a greater  understanding of some of the basic/foundational principles of composition I have taken a few rough notes from The Drawing Handbook by Stuart Purser, to try and make it clearer in my own mind. ......I hope it makes sense to others! ; )

drawing journal : be an imperfectionist....this definitely spoke to me!

Draw-24 Brighton

Following advice from my tutor about drawing from life and live drawing, I decided to be brave and take part in our local 'Draw-24' event in Brighton. Draw-24 was organised by a local drawing group aptly called 'DRAW' run by Jake Spicer. (see http://www.draw-brighton.co.uk)

It was organised as a result of the BIG DRAW group who have inspired countries all over the world to get back to drawing!

The blurb on their website (http://www.campaignfordrawing.org/bigdraw/) reads like this:

It’s Big Draw Time!

The 2013 Big Draw runs from 1 October to 3 November in fifteen countries, with more than 200,000 people of all ages expected to take part in 1000+ events. Hundreds of new and enjoyable drawing activities connect people of all ages with museums, outdoor spaces, artists - and each other. These events are for those who love to draw, and those who think they can't.

Back in Brighton we were invited to drop in for slots or if you were able to, to stay for the whole 24hours! I unfortunately was not able to commit 24 hours but managed to join for the 1st slot that started at 11:00 this morning.

We were going to be drawing in charcoal, which I am new to using. I had some anxiety about drawing in public, despite the fact that everyone was totally focused on their own drawings, as well as using charcoal. With some encouragement from the organisers I quickly got into it and forgot myself in the motion of drawing. I really enjoyed working on a larger scale as well as collaborating with others to form a doodle-like visual representation of symbols of Brighton. I found myself becoming more and more relaxed without the fear of 'end-product-failure', and I don't think I was alone in this. At the end of it we had a slightly random collection of drawings which echoed the energy and fun-loving randomness that Brighton offers.

 Overall view of our images as the group to start Draw 24 off

 My contribution is the seagull and text "This is my hood"..aimed at echoing Brighton's street art and of course the seagulls who run the place; as well as the beach huts top right corner, representing Hove...where I live!... and an inaccurate map in the centre whih forms more of a pattern then anything else!

Left of the image my contribution is really only the coffee cup, text and pebbles.

 This was a really great way to spend 2 hours and by the end of it all three of us had lost all performance anxiety and were simply going with the flow! 

I think the final large scale doodle of brighton is effective especially as it echoes the fun that we were having and has has three quite different styles of drawing combined in one image. I think that on this scale it also worked that it was a tonal drawing on the brown paper i.e.: using charcoal, white chalk, and white and greeny-grey acrylic paint as it may have got a little too overwhelming for the viewer if there was colour as well.

The final 24hours looked like this:
                                         

With walls and floors and tables now decorated, Draw 24 was a great success!

Sidewalk Scribble: What I call sketching from life and then bringing those sketches to life...