Due:  Monday, 1/30

Category: figure-ground sketch

To Do

1. 1. sketch
   2. watch
   3. bring your supplies

 

A.  Sketch: create figure-ground studies

1. Figure-Ground

Requirements

• • • • • have equal black and white
        • must be square
        • must not be symmetrical
        • must have shape, no line
          
          
        • Choose any letterform from any language, it doesn’t have to be a Latin/European letter
        • Keep in mind, the letter must be very bold or heavy to create a figure/ground relationship. example Helvetica Black or Heavy
          Light linear letters will look like lines instead of forms
        • Figure/ground compositions: Use letters with “mass”
          Avoid symmetrical letters like i, I, l,L, O
        • Experiment with cropping: choose several different letters, crop as much as possible
        • Sketch only, No computer!

***** See examples at the bottom of this page

Process

1. 1. 1. 1. On tracing paper, create a 2″ square. Position the square over a letter.
            
         2. Select an area with equal black and white, and just a hint of the letter’s identity. Trace using a THICK black marker. Use solid form, no outline. One letter per square.
            
            
         3. Create 20 more quick sketches using different letters. Crop some that you think are too close.
            
            
         4. Select 4 sketches that have an equal amount of black and white area.
            Using a thick black marker, enlarge 3 to a 4″ square sketch
            
            
         5. Create a border for these and make sure to leave white space around them. Sketch only, No computer!

 

TEST YOUR COMPOSITION

Now that you have a positive and negative version, compare your results.

example of 2 images: one positive and one negative:

***Comparing the positive and negative image will give you a better sense of your figure-ground composition. 

Both positive and negative images should feel like they have equal foreground and background.

If your test reveals that you need to alter your images,
return to your work and re-crop

 

B.  Watch one video

• • • Watch the video: gestalt principles of design:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk7cXdjX2Ys
    • Watch the video about how we communicate?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn8oxWEtJE4&t=159s

 

*extra Reference: writing systems 

Video: Saki Mafundikwa: The Intricate World of African Writing Systems

Examples: Writing systems of the world

 

 

 

 

C.  Supplies:

Bring to every class

• • • Bring all sketches to class
    • Roll or a pad of tracing paper 
    • Black markers: 1 wide & 1 fine point
    • Masking tape

 

 

   ****Figure-ground Examples

Figure-ground and cropped letterform examples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

figure-ground examples: