ART 111 COLOR AND DESIGN Instructor Pat DeCaro
COLOR
ASSIGNMENTS
Be sure you know all the particulars of an
assignment before completing it for a critique or grade. Always write the
number of the project on the back. In complex assignments also write down the
specific hues used, perhaps the brand of paint used too. Make yur own notations as a record for remembering how you
created colors.
A major objective of all assignments
throughout the quarter is presentation. This includes proper use of materials
and a clean, clear, well-balanced appearance to the design. It needs to be
well-crafted and have unity. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on its
given date. However, towards the middle into end of the
quarter, there may be an overlapping of projects.
Most assignments require a border.
Generally, you could apply a 2² to the top and sides and a 2.5² border
at the bottom for all design projects that are not just charts or scales.
Project #1- COLOR WHEEL
Design a 12-part conventional color wheel which
represents the idea of the primaries, secondaries, and tertiary colors. You should be creative
with your design, however,
it is very important that it have both clarity and unity, the relationship of the
hues to the idea of the color wheel.
Make sure you are using a subtractive color wheel
for your idea.
Format:
1)
9"x 12"
illustration board
2)
Gouache (I like it painted directly on board, or you may use swatches
from
3)
6"circle circumference for the wheel (approximately)
4) label at the bottom centered- COLOR WHEEL. Use pencil first to place
letters. DonΉt mess up this final
part by being hasty. Do not let the label overwhelm the presentation.
Goals: First step in recognizing specific spectrum hues.
Project
#2 VALUE CHART
Design the following as described below.
Your goal is to see value independent of color. You are asked to
correspondence the values from the color wheel to a 9 step black and white
value scale. Mix a black and white value scale and match the 12 hues in value
(by their placement )
to the gray values.
Format:
1)
9"x 12" illustration board
2) gouache paint - use
3/4"x 1 1/4" color
chips from
Mix a value scale of white and black in 9
even steps. White is the first step and black the last ( use
chips). Place the
values in a vertical row on the left side of illustration board. Use all 12
hues from the color wheel and match the B & W scale on the right side
according by placement to their shared common value. This also means you must
see the difference of value among all the hues as well.
You may create two or three vertical rows of
hues to accomplish the assignment. Allow unity in the design so we read
it with clarity. Center your label at the bottom VALUE SCALE. Do not let the label overwhelm the design
presentation.
Goals: Recognize the contrast between
differences of hue and value.
Project #3
-TINTS AND SHADES
Create an original radial design that employs a shade
scale and a tint scale. Half of the design will be used to create a tint scale
in 9 steps, the remaining half will be a
shade scale 9 steps .The overall
design radiates from the center in 18 steps.
1. Choose only one hue from either the three
primaries or
three secondaries to make both a a
tint scale in 9 steps (pure hue to white) and also a shade scale in 9 steps.
Hues which have an extreme light-dark value, such as yellow or violet, would be
the most difficult to use for this project.
2.
Decide how best to organize the conjunction and interaction of the two scales
within the design. Each radial design may require a different logic. The pure hue will be included
for both the shade scale and tint scale.
3. Your change of value and saturation should
reflect a feeling of visual movement and depth in the design.
Format:
1)
9"x 12"
illustration board
2) A
radial design, approximately 9 inch circumference. Intervals change in value
and saturation (in 18 steps. Paint directly onto illustration board.
3)
Center your label at the bottom Tints and Shades.
Goals:Introduction to change of saturation of hue. Use of orignal design work.
Project
#4 - COMPLEMENTARY
PAIRS
A.
Create three complement scales, each scale consisting of nine equal
steps.
Use yellow, red, and blue with their complements, start each
scale
with the primaries at the top:
1. yellow to violet
2. red to green
3. blue to orange
Format:
9"x 12" illustration board. Use chips that are about
3/4"x 1", use painted gouache on
As you have already done in your other experience with
scales, create even intervals between each step. It can get a little tricky because the
combinations sometimes turn dark and murky. You may "tweak" colors in the
middle of the scale with the addition of white. However, make sure not to
create a dramatic value contrast with the rest of the scale.
Mount on illustration borad to create your 3 vertical
scales. Leave a wide margin around sides about 1.5". Also allow a margin at the bottom with
enough room to label in small letters
COMPLEMENTARY PAIRS
Goals: develop the mixtures of chromatic
grays from a pair of complements, experience the changes of color intensity, develop
less saturated hues without losing too much color identity.
Project
#5- COLLAGED PAPER PROJECT
On black mat board (minimum size of 8 x 10),
create a full color image with a minimum of 5 value steps from a painting of a portrait, still life, or a
landscape, or interior architectural space.
Use only collaged paper taken from magazines. Match hue, saturation and
value changes to original as closely as possible. Pay attention to subtle
transitions in form. There should be no recognizable forms from the cut out
pieces from magazines ( No cut eyes, for examples, to
make a collated eye).
Goals: learning to recognize specific
saturation and value steps outside original context. Understand the color
experience of building
mass and form.
Project
#6 -COLOR SCHEMES
Make four different color schemes as
described below. Use one consistent hue to build the four schemes. Choose either a primary or
secondary hue. Extreme contrast of value choices such as yellow and violet would be a
more difficult choice.
Create the following four schemes:
Split complement, Double Complement scheme, Analogous
and Triad scheme.
The schemes need to appear difference from
one another.
In each scheme seek to create contrast of
hue and a large value range. Seek to create a contrast of saturation and warm/cool
contrast as well.
Format:
1) Mount on illustration board 9 x 12. ( 2 schemes on each
board )
2) Base each scheme on an one inch grid
which measures 5 x 4
(20 colors).
Five rows across width and four rows vertical.
3) Under each grid carefully label in small letters the name of the
scheme.
Evaluation based on: Variety and richness of
color depth expanding well beyond basic tints, tones or shades; organization and layout of board.
Goals:
Understanding color arrangements, learning to expand a full color knowledge
and recognize mixtures within a color scheme.
Project
# 7-SPATIAL DEPTH
Format: Use gouache painted on illustration
board.
Size of design is 12 x 12 inches. Add
additional border around design. Use an appropriate color scheme to best
express depth.
Plan:
Convey an illusion of spatial depth in a composition
that imposes the idea of foreground, middle ground and background. Do not make
a landscape.
Keep your design simple. The use of overlapping, diminishing size, and placement on the
page are a few factors that would
definitely help convey an illusion of
depth. The use of volumetric forms and the use of light and shadow are
important too. Use the entire page
space.
While the basic ideas explored in 2-D Design work are important for this project,
do not ignore the importance of color changes as discussed in class. Consider how color
effects form. Use diminishing saturation and value.
To help consistency with your design
decisions, follow this process:
1) line drawing and
plan
2) b & w
painting study in gouache 4 x 4 inches
3) color study in gouache
4 x 4 inches
4) final project in
illustration board
Evaluation based on: 1) design and, 2) use
of color and clarity of scheme.
PROJECT
#8 COLOR EXTENSION
Format: Use gouache painted directly on
illustration board. Size
of design area is 9" x12", then add appropriate margin.
Description
Create a design based on a still life (fruit, small
objects okay). Design should be a simplified,
slightly abstracted version with a strong sense of unity. Do two versions of
this design.
In each version allow one color from the triad to be the dominant color. How
does this change the drama of the expression? Try to use 6-7 value steps (as if
from a black and white gradient).
Use of color:
Use triad scheme such as R/ B/Y or V/G/O.
Some tints and tones/shades are okay but do not use any neutral or broken
colors. The triad color scheme should
have great clarity. One color from the triad should occupy a greater proportion
of space in the design
*Extra credit- do a
third version.