Samantha Oppenheimer

Composition & ColorFall 2011Laguna College of Art + Design

Instructor/ Dana HerkelrathTA/ Kate Urschel

Prenso the Magician

Prenso is a character of mine I created. He’s a magical greyhound wear-ing a wolf pelt. He is a shaman of sorts and is in tune with nature.

Table of Contents

By Order of Appearance:

1. Five Letter Composition

2. Black Square Problem

3. Principles of Design

4. Mood and Meaning

5. Line Characteristics

6. Elements

7. Shape Relationships

8. Composition Analysis

9. Atmospheric Perspective

10. Color Theory

11. Color Mood and Meaning

12. Targeted Focal Point

1Five Letter Composition

Objective:

To use 5 letterforms to

create a unique and

interesting composition

that demonstrates

positive/negative

(figure/ground)

reversal.

S A M I T L

2Black Square Problem

Objective:

Create a composition

that best explains the

meaning of the words

given.

Order Increase

Bold Congested

Tension Playful

3Principles of Design

Objective:

Arrange physical objects to

demonstrate the principles

of design and photograph

the arrangement.

(listed from left to right):

repetition, proportion,

movement,

asymmetrical balance,

contrast, simplicity, space,

symmetrical balance,

emphasis, unity.

4Mood and Meaning

Objective:

Using only circles,

triangles, or squares,

arrange the shapes

to express the six

different given

meanings.

The idea is not to

convey the given word

literally, but rather

through composition

and arrangement.

Succ

ess

Puni

shm

ent

Dis

tres

s

Fear

Reje

ctio

n

Gen

tle

5Line Characteristics

Objective:

For each word, draw

lines that best relate to

the word. The idea is

to suggest the meaning

of the word through

the qualities of the

line, not by illustrating

an object.

6Elements

Objective:

Using the elements of

design (shape, value,

texture, form and line)

take pictures on campus

of objects that emulate

these principles.

Line Color

Shape Texture

Value Form

7Shape Relationships

Objective:

Using triangles,

squares and circles,

create a composition

that expresses the

given meanings.

8Composition Analysis

Objective:

Analyze a variety of

compositions by artists

and designers.

Observe aspects of

the compositions,

principles guiding

the viewer’s eye

and arranging the

elements. Indicate the

focal point and

sub-dominant focal

point and use lines to

indicate movement in

the picture.

Supernatural - Eric Kripke Supernatural - Eric Kripke

1. Is the composition balanced? Yes it is, it is balanced in a fairly symmetrical way. Which is dominant, the �gure or the ground? I’d say the central �gure is the most dominant.

2. What visual properties (elements) lead your eye to the dominant focal point? The size of the central form helps because he is bigger than everyone else. Also the lines and shape of the grave provide a sort of frame.

3. What principals of design are at work in this composition. Balance, because the 3 �gures work together. Emphasis,because the central �gure is most dominant. Space, the space is used well.

4. Do you feel like the compositional choices help to convey the mood indicated by the subject or implied situation, or do they work against the mood? I feel that it conveys the mood just �ne. It looks like a serious show andI feel that this poster conveys the seriousness of it.

5. Is there anything that leads the viewer’s eye to exit the composition or pulls the eye o� the page? I have no idea. I guess not.

9Atmospheric Perspective

Objective:

Create a

photomontage that

employs atmospheric

perspective. Three

different sources for

the imagery including an element of fine

art, must be used to

create a foreground,

middleground and

background.

Using your knowledge

of these principles,

color and design the

goal is to give a

convincing

illusion of deep space

10Color Theory

Objective:

Create four color

wheels; analogous,

primary, secondary,

and tertiary colors.

Create color swatches

from each color to

create a gradient of

each color

11Color Mood and Meaning

Objective:

Taking the five letter

composition from the

first assignment,

create three different

images utilizing three

color schemes, warm,

cool, and gray scale.

Warm colors give the

impression of vividness

and energy; cooler

colors are more calm

and soothing; white,

black and gray are

considered to be true

neutral.

Letters

Cool

Monochromatic

Warm

5 Letter Designs In Various Color Types

12Targeted Focal Point

Objective:

To create an image of any medium that

can portray a main focal point, a sense of

movement and gives the appearance of a

story.

Let’s Go On An Adventure!

In this final image we have the characters of Guavo; the panda-bear hamster, Raven; the black teddy-bear hamster and Castiel; the fancy rat. The trio are

about to head off on another crazy adventure. Little do they know, they are being watched.

Mediums used: Illustrator for the lineart.

Photoshop for the coloring.

This was the original sketch for my image.

This is the inked lineart version.