Project Overview

Theme: Discover, define, and visualize the importance of Texture and Value for all areas of design, while creating a digitally collaged composition using Adobe Illustrator.

Problem: Create one Monochrome Value/Texture collage using digital media/print, photo-based visual textures, and a gradation of values from light to dark and high to low intensity in a choice of Monochrome palette. Collages will show an understanding of Monochromatic Value range from Dark to Light, Chromatic gradation from High to Low Intensity, and dynamic use of TEXTURE and MOTION in your composition.

Limits: You’re not using distinct shapes or representational forms, only the surface of a form’s texture to reveal its identity.

Materials: Magazine photos, Adobe Photoshop, camera/phone, Sketchbook, pencils, colored pencils, 1 sheet Bristol Board 9×12″, ruler/t-square.

Concepts: Value, Texture, Actual texture, Visual Texture, grayscale, achromatic, Monochrome, gradation, contrast, narrow value, broad value, high key, low key, Color Attributes: Hue, Value, Chroma.

Technical Skills: mind map, thumbnail sketching, measuring with ruler, inking.

Learning Outcomes

For the successful completion of this project, you should be able to: 

  • Practice visual thinking using your own photography to identify textures and color palettes in the physical world.
  • Discover and communicate abstract concepts through visual means and writing.
  • Demonstrate an understanding the basic principles of composition.
  • Demonstrate comfort in basic levels of Photoshop methods
  • Study Texture using hand drawing approaches and rubbings.
  • Share each phase of the design process by posting to the class site and providing critical supportive feedback to classmates.

Grading Rubric

Each project will be graded using the Project Rubric. Complete each part of the design process, following the due dates provided in each class meeting agenda.

Design Process

  1. Discover: Study Color interaction Principles and Color Wheels, and take Photos focusing on your color of choice.
  2. Define: Create Value Scales, Study Vocabulary, and begin the college process
  3. Develop: Create Digital Collage:
  4. Deliver: Post and Comment

1. Discover

  • Research Anne Ryan, Kurt Schwitters, and other college approaches
  • Photograph:
    • Choose one Hue to create your Monochrome Value/Texture Collage from Primary or Secondary Palette.

Value:

  • Write a list of words that represent all of the textures you’ve found, such as smooth, soft, prickly, sharp, rough etc.
  • Find the Lightest tints to tones and shades of that Hue.
  • Chroma or Intensity
    • Pure vibrant
    • Muted neutral
  • Photograph Textured objects (10-15) in your color range
    • Nature, fruits, liquids, wrappers, fabrics, hair, etc.

2. Define

Study DESIGN Vocabulary:

VALUE- Design Element; the degree of lightness or darkness in a color (hue) or the steps from white to black in an achromatic (no color) scale or palette.

MONOCHROME PALETTE: One hue from the color wheel

A photograph or picture developed or executed in black and white or in varying tones of only one color.

CHROMATIC GRAYS- gray tones that have some neutral color. In paint, chromatic grays are made using complementary color pairs mixed plus white.

TONE: colors plus gray (mix of black and white) to create neutrals.

TEXTURE— Design Element: the feel of things, the surface tactile sensation; such as roughness, smoothness, gritty, silky etc. ACTUAL texture is a real material surface that has tactile sensation such as sandpaper, cotton ball,  vs VISUAL texture, which is a picture – photo or illustration OF a textured surface.

DESIGN PRINCIPLES:

GRADATION- slow incremental change between two elements (dark to light, color to color, big to small shape etc)

CONTRAST: large change in element – big/small, dark/light, long/short etc

TEXTURE — also look for as much contrast in TEXTURE in your photographs. Natural textures, human, manmade etc etc.

3. Develop

TO CREATE A DIGITAL COLLAGE

Adobe Photoshop.

Helpful link

  • Open one new document entitled Texture Value Collage, Letter Size, 300 dpi, CMYK (for printing)
  • Upload 5-10 texture photos into Photoshop
    • You can drag images into New Doc from your folder of images and name each layer, or open images as separate documents
  • Use the marquee tool to cut and paste small sections of individual texture photos to build your Collage.
  • Use Value, Hue, and Intensity to organize and arrange textures.
  • Collage pieces using GRADATION  as your dominant compositional movement. CONTRASTs will develop through textures and rhythms.
  • Create Rhythm and Movement through repetitions,
    • Scale change to create Flow. control of transitions, and interesting JUXTAPOSITION of textures.
    • In Photoshop use Edit-Transform-scale to change the size of the Selection
    • Use the Opacity option to create transparency
  • You may use the Quick Selection tool layer masks to create a more complex interweaving of textures.
  • Be aware of your Layers
    • Select the layer you want to work on
    • Use the Eye icon to turn off viewing of layers not needed or to
      locate pieces.
  • Continue until the composition is covered, has flow, rhythm, and movement, gradation of hues, values, and intensities, and really has a strong sense of FEEL AND SENSE OF TOUCH THROUGH TEXTURE.

Texture/Value Continued: Drawings and Rubbings

Final outcome with 3 colors of your choice:

  • Create two-three sheets of Textures, the first one with rubbings
  • Rubbings: Tracing paper and pencil, 9 patches per page until you get 1 good page of large patch-shaped rubbings where you can clearly see patterns/textures. You may lightly write underneath what surface you used-optional.
    • Using a soft graphite pencil, go around your apartment or out into the world and create rubbings of different textures hand-drawn textures from objects. examples; metal gratings, stone, wood, bottoms of shoes, rubber raised surfaces, coins, etc.
  • Hand Drawn Texture Grid: Sketch paper, create a grid, 5″x5″ with 1″ border around. (you can trim you sketch book page to make 1″ border around the 5″ x 5″. Fill each square with a different type of drawn texture using your 3 colored pencils to create your Monochrome palette.
  • View Link for ideas. Don’t copy others’ drawings-but analyze and try your own. Image below is for color inspiration only:

  • Use areas of your magazine collage images, other photo sources, and real objects with compelling textures. View close-up in light to see lights and darks and use value range in pencil, pen to, and colored pencil to imitate textural effects.
  • Experiment with pencils and pens-stippling, scratching, variety of mark-making to create an area of textural feel

4. Deliver

Submitting in your work

  • Follow the Submitting Your Work guidelines and include the project-specific details below:
  • Post Title: Texture Collage and Drawings/Rubbings
  • Images: Upload two images (Digital Collage and Texture Rubbings)
    • Organize your post to include all content from the three other Design Process phases for this project. Create headings for each phase and include images or a gallery, where appropriate:
      • Discover: Read through the Project description; Discover what patterns you see in your surrounding
      • Define: Rubbings and Texture Drawings
      • Develop: Create Collage
      • Deliver: Post and Critique
  • Written Project Reflection: In the Deliver section of your post, document your thoughts about this project. Think about what you learned, what you could have done better (planning, material use, craft), and how you will apply what you learned to your next project. Consider and respond to the comments made in class during the critique.
  • Category and Tags:
    • Category = COMD1100 Project #4
  • Providing Feedback
  • Part of your Project grade is leaving well-written comments for at least one of your peers. Follow the Providing Feedback for specific guidelines for leaving constructive feedback. Search for:
  • CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE
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