Assignment 03: ART 141f (Spring 2015)

Cracker Interpretation Part I

Vocabulary:

Point - A point is an element that has position, but no extension. It is a single mark in space with a precise, but limited location. Alone it can provide a powerful relation between negative and positive space, but when grouped with other points the Gestalt grouping principle of closure activates, and the brain connects the points together. Line or form is a natural result of multiple points in space.

Value - The lightness or darkness of an object, regardless of color

Stippling - A drawing technique where tone and texture is applied in small dots (points) … The depth of tone and the roughness of texture can be adjusted by varying the density and distribution of the dots. When using a pen or marker, use a straight up and down motion to make the dots. Use a pencil to very lightly draw the basic outline of the shape. Look for smaller value shapes within the outline. Begin making dots to fill in the value shapes. Where the tones are darkest, make the dots close together; where light reflects off the item, use very few or no dots at all. For areas that gradually turn from dark to light, your dots should gradually get farther apart. Continue making dots until your item looks realistically rendered. Take your time. Do not rush or make haphazard dots that don’t add up to anything. Look carefully and relax as you interpret the surface of the cracker. 

Specifications:

Draw the cracker life size within a 4” square. Suggestion: Experiment with making a value scale in your sketchbook using stippling prior to beginning the drawing. Lightly outline the value shapes if that helps give definition to where to put the dots. 

Supplies Needed:

Two sheets of Bristol board

Pencil and eraser

Pen

X-acto Knife

Ruler

Cracker

Project Goals:

To understand the attributes of points and how to use them to translate a 3-D object into 2-D space. The design/drawing should convey careful observation and appreciation of the subject matter. Use value (in this case tones made by dots) to express the extraordinary character of an ordinary object. Line should not be used in the form at all except for the initial outline, which should disappear in the end.

Cracker Interpretation Part II

Vocabulary:

Texture - an element of art used to describe either the way a 3D object actually feels when touched or, the visual "feel" of a 2D work. 

Outside Assignment: Smash a cracker and arrange the crumbs and pieces on a 4" x 4" square. Extend the arrangment off all four sides of the square. 

Do a second cracker interpretation using stippling on a 4" x 4" square of Bristol Board. You do not have to draw the whole arrangment; decide which parts are important and how much information is needed to convey the idea of a broken cracker being spread across a surface. Consider the flow or passages of light and dark across the page; the passages will be more assymetrical, lyrical and dynamic than the symmetrical version of the whole cracker.  

Mount the two cracker studies vertically on a sheet of Bristol Board with a one inch space between top to bottom. Leave an even white border around the two studies.

DUE: WEDNESDAY January 28th!