Part Two: Project 4 - Stage2

Looking for Shapes and Drawing 

In Stage 1 we learned to look at an image to see the different kinds of visual energy that was created by the placement of marks and lines.
Some were static arrangements, some were dynamic and full of energy.

In stage 2 we start to look through our collection of resource material to discover and develop our visual awareness.
We are asked to use a viewing frame to look for interesting arrangements of shapes.
We are asked to decide which of these arrangements are active and generate visual tension or energy; and which are dull and cluttered.

Instructions: 
Cut out a viewing frame, 5 x 5cm.
Choose two or three images from my collection of resource material.
Use the viewing frame to mask off areas to create different arrangements of shapes. 

Within the viewing frame we are to look at the important shapes, these may be:

• the edges of objects.
• the repetitions in the piece
• the negative shapes - the shapes around or in between things

I looked through my sketchbook and selected the following images:

This is a photograph taken in India, it is the railway museum at Ghum Station. 
Ghum is in the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region of West Bengal.

Ghum Railway Station, India

Image 1:
I chose this area because of the lines and shapes that are created by the beams of the roof.

Photograph of an Indian railway station

The image has intersecting diagonals and areas of contrast, making a dynamic arrangement.

Image 1: Line drawing

Image 2:
This area is similar to the first, but has a different arrangement of interesting shapes and lines.

Photograph of an Indian railway station 2

This image has strong diagonals and areas of contrast. A dynamic arrangement.

Image 2: line drawing

This is a sketchbook page which was used to see what would happen to inks when mixed with bleach.

Sketchbook page using bleach and ink

Image 3:
By masking off this area an interesting image begins to appear.

Sketchbook work: Playing with ink and bleach

There is a strong diagonal and contrasts of light and dark, another dynamic arrangement.

Image 3: Line drawing

I thought this sketchbook page had some interesting shapes, textures and contrasts.
I drew seashells and used pastel and charcoal on brown paper.

Sketchbook page: Seashells

Image 4:
This area has a diagonal line and areas of contrast, it is dynamic.

Charcoal and pastel sketch of shells

The line drawing became uninteresting once the areas of texture had been removed.

Image 4: line drawing

Image 5:
This area is from the same sketchbook page.

Charcoal and pastel sketch of shells

The lines spiralling from the centre give the appearance of a dynamic arrangement.
The linear drawing is not as interesting, it is missing the colour and texture of the original sketch.
If the aperture had been bigger, it may have been more interesting.

Image 5: line drawing

Image 6: Using a different area from the same sketchbook page:

Charcoal and pastel sketch of shells

Although a dynamic arrangement, the line drawing lacks the interest of the original sketch.

Image 6: line drawing

This was a sketch completed while staying in a holiday cottage last summer.
The sketch was drawn on an old brown paper bag.

Sketch: Vase of flowers

Image 7:
Using the viewing frame I masked off this area:

Section of the vase of flowers

I really liked the placement of the shapes and the diagonal line in this dynamic arrangement.

Image 7: line drawing

Image 8:
Using the same sketch, I chose another area:

Section of the vase of flowers

A dynamic arrangement which has intersecting diagonal lines.

Image 8: line drawing

In conclusion:
I was able to select dynamic arrangements from my collection resource material.

Some of the images that I drew out were immediately interesting to the eye, they were dynamic and full of energy; for example, Image 3.

Some of the images were less interesting when drawn in a linear way; for example, Image 5.

The following exercises in Stage 2 take the design and development of these images further.
                                                          -------------------------

Finished Pages: