Visual & Conceptual Organization

“If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got.”

“Good” art is a balance of technical skill (form) and quality idea (concept).

“Bad” art lacks the fundamentals.

Here is a point to focus on…

The goal is always to make “good"art with a balance of form and content.

So how do you do that?

It’s a shocking statement…

There is GOOD art and then there

is BAD art.

Start with the visual basics…

There are 7 basic principles in creating quality art: Unity/Harmony

Balance

Emphasis

Rhythm and Repetition, Pattern

Movement

Contrast

Proportion/Scale

&

There are 6 basic elements true of all art: Line, Shape, Color, Form, Texture, and Space

These principles are the rubric, the science to why we respond to the visuals of art.

Balance

Emphasis

Rhythm, Repetition, & Pattern

Movement

ContrastIn content and form

Proportion / Scale

Art ElementsThere are 6 basic elements of art:

Line, Shape, Color, form, Texture, and Space

The visual side of art (or form) basics are covered by considering those outlined principles. Now the next

step is to cover the ideas, or content.

Paradigm Shift

A change in the current mode or level of thinking concerning a particular topic, belief, system, or knowledge. This can be done on an individual basis, or as a whole in a society.

1959 1969 1989 1999

The societal role (or perception) of women in the United States

Paradigm Shifts & Art History

The fastest 3 minutes in art historyThe High Renaissance -

Late 1400’s(Classically themed) da Vinci/St. Peters

Baroque -Early 1600’s(Overly emotional narrative scenes) Bernini/Versailles

Neo-Classicism – Early 18th century

Jean-Leon Gerome/Rotunda UVA

Romanticism -early 1800’s

Idealistic & NostalgicDelacroix/Royal Pavillion

19th Century RealismSocial realism/photographyCourbet/Sullivan BLDG

(Buffalo)

SHIFTAdvent of PsychologyIndustrializationPhotography

Impressionism –Late 1800’s

Optical realism/lightDegas/Balzac

Post-Impressionism –late 1800’s

Bright color/Psychology(Outer becomes Inner)Munch

SHIFTWorld War ICultural InfluenceModern Industry

Art for Art’s Sake (Whistler)

Abstract to Non-Objective

Rapid artistic movements in succession

Late 1800’s to current period

Fauvism Matisse

Expressionism Kandinsky

Futurism Brancusi x2

Cubism Picasso

Architecture Wright

Dada Duchamp

Surrealism Magritte

Kahlo Moore

Regionalism Lawrence

Abstraction Steiglitz

Abstract ExpressionismPollock/DeKooning/Kline

Beyond

Pop/Op Art Warhol

Environmental Art Christo

Architecture Gehry

Performance Burden

Art has a well established history of challenging societal norms.

Every shift is soon challenged. This will make sense in discussing the 7 characteristics of creative thinking.

Chris Burden

Comics Definition

“Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to

convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer.”

(from Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud)

Read pgs 6-9 to see how he came to that definition

And why that is not all there is to a “comic”

Paradigm Shifts in Comics 1Batman

1940’s Bob Kane

1960’s Live

Action

1970’s Neil Adams

1980’s Frank Miller

1990’s Bruce Timm

2000’s Alex Ross

Paradigm Shifts in Comics 2

Captain

America

1960’s Kirby

1970 Steranko

1970’s Live Action

Paradigm Shifts in Comics

1900’s Greg & Tim Hildebrandt

2007 Death of Captain America

Paradigm Shifts in Comics 3

Real Drama

1940’s Crime

1960’s Horror

1970’s Lovein

Comics

1990’s Narrative

Theme

2000’s and beyond

Indies, story arcs

Personal note- that the idealism of the 60's culture, the all accepting- no good or bad, is

just plain faulty. Everything cannot be good art.

I operate on an eastern philosophy. In order to establish a

“good”, you also have to establish a “bad”- a yin and yang.

First with the visual (form) principles.

Then with a critical analysis of the concept (content).

Next- look at a LOT of art, all kinds, everywhere. You are NOT limited.

Please excuse the previous soapbox rant and probably the one coming up too... .

(Eastern) Criticism is not simply finding fault.

It is a balance of analyzing what is a strength, and what is a weakness, and then looking at how to improve. That said, improvement is a lot of work and knowledge…

How to know what is what?

Good thing I have this in a handout huh?

Ok...what?

A lot of art making is about Y-O-U.

It is a battle of skills that you are

developing, both material, and conceptual.

Art is a head game that you are playing by yourself.

That battle is about 20% hands on skill, and 75%

mental. And the other 5% is luck, or as

Bob Ross labeled that 5% “happy little accidents.”

How much you put in, is how much you get out.

The critical question to ask is:

What do I want out of this work?

Education Paradigm shiftsThe Sage on the stage vs. the Guide on the side.

Art Education

Art is NOT: step 1-2-3 ta-dah! …now it’s art for the ages.

True art, the art that effects the world- is skill and knowledge based, but most importantly it is reliant upon EXPERIENCE.

Overcoming the psychological self drama of skill-materials-concept-knowledge-education-competition…That is what builds an artist. A studio class is an introduction NOT a means to an end. The challenge and education begin after that introduction.

Sunday on the Pot with George(artist unknown) From the Museum of Bad Art

Do you want an architect to build your school who has very little real experience with building materials, planning, deadlines, or a confidence issue?

What about an unskilled plastic surgeon?

An unprepared firefighter?

An incompetent fashion designer?

If “Art” education is all lecture, books, educational standards and practices, and a cursory studio experience…How will ART advance? Art depends on the risk of

new ideas.

New ideas come from a mix of hard work & experience.

So, as a student…what do you focus on?

Visual Organization

Begin with:

• Big abstract shapes in sketches• Proper referencing

• Create a basic design approach• Consider both the positive & negative

spaces• Plan for emphasis, focal points, and

repetition• Push for a broad value range

• Step back and analyze as you work

Sketching & Planning

Sketches should have at least 3 main stages

1.Thumbnails and Brainstorming2.Research and Roughs

3.Final sketch

“Well begun is half done.” -Aristotle

1. Thumbnails & Brainstorming

These are small (1” or so), quick (30 seconds to a minute), more than 1 idea, and usually without references. Only you need to know

what is going on, this is the point -to come up with the idea, and work through clichés. This is not about drawing or skills. It is

about getting to an idea. Make notes, write important thoughts.

Questions to ask yourself: Is this original and interesting? What am I trying to say?

2. Research & Roughs

These vary with idea, and need. Sometimes this is subject sketching to get a “feel” for it, sometimes it is a quick color or marker study.

Usually a more rendered version of the best idea, with photo-references, size/cropping and material/technique/concept notes. At this point GO TO the library or on-line, or grab a camera for

references.

Questions to ask: Do I have the right photo-references? What design idea am I shooting for?

3. Final Sketch

Again they vary, clean, clear, and accurate. To size with cropping notes. SHOW THE

DIMENSIONS, don’t just have the drawing floating on the paper. The only element

left to focus on is material and technique.

Don’t TELL your ideas, SHOW your ideas. Questions to ask: How am I going to use materials? Artist

Influence

7 Characteristics of Creative Thinking

1. Receptivity Being open to new ideas (listening more & talking less)

2. Curiosity How does it work? How can it work better?

3. Wide range of interests A broad knowledge offers

a broad range of possibilities

4. Attentiveness Realize that every experience is potentially valuable,

Creative people pay attention to details that many others miss.

5. Connection seeking How all aspects can relate to one.

6. Conviction New ideas are derived from old ideas, only foolish people dismiss

the past. Ideas are critical to growth, Art is 99% ideas. Art has a

history of tenaciously valuing ideas and pursuing independence.

7. Complexity Combining the rational with the intuitive.

Lecture classes: Are about notes, facts, and analyzing data. Thinking is: Rational, clear, and in a linear progression

Studio classes:

Are about exploration, experimentation, and hands-on experience with

materials, and intuition. Thinking is: Emotional visual, perceptive, and non-linear.

Page Design Styles & Evolution

Thinking Rules of Thumb

• If you are in love with an idea, you are no judge of its beauty or value.

• It is difficult to see the whole picture when you are inside the frame.

• After learning the tricks of the trade, don’t think you know the trade.

• We hear and apprehend what we already know.

• The dog that stays on the porch, will find no bones.

• Never state a problem to yourself in the same terms that it was brought to you.

• If it’s offbeat or surprising, it’s probably useful.

• If you do not expect the unexpected, you will not find it.

• Don’t get too serious.

• If you hit the target every time, the bulls-eye is too near.

The most common complaints are:

1. Finding the time, “I don’t have enough time.”

1. I don’t have any ideas, “I can’t.” There is always time, you just need to sacrifice something. There are always ideas, but they are hard to come by. Starting anything with “I can’t…” automatically sets in motion a will to NOT do something. EXPLORE ideas.

• Even when there is no idea, keep doing SOMETHING.

• If you are going to spend time, make it worth it.

• You can make smart art.

• Sketch- and sketch more.

• And lastly, don’t lock into the first idea.

(toast art story)