Creating Compositions
Working from photographs taken
three-dimensional form incorporating Students will make personal choices
in and around their local envi-
crosshatching and pointillism tech-
with ink applications and color
ronments, students will create
niques.
schemes. Background washes may be
compositions made up of natu-
applied with gradations from light
ral forms. After initial practice
Inventing Symbols
to dark values to suggest a feeling of
sketches, selected designs are
Next, students will visualize and
depth. The ink washes in both posi-
reproduced on large cold press
select symbolic objects to enhance the tive and negative spaces are applied to
watercolor paper. Both the
negative spaces of their compositions. create three-dimensional form using
positive and negative spaces of
They can incor-
the contrast of
the composition should allow
porate a variety of
Foliage, tree roots,
dark values along
ample space for development
themes, includ-
the object’s edges
of patterns, symbols, and
ing figurative and
branches, and flowering
to lighter values
invented forms, emphasizing
biomorphic forms. in the center. plants provide opportunities
balance and tension.
Original shapes
The use of to study spaces and shapes
of the negative
complementary as well as offer connections
Practicing Techniques
spaces may need
colors in adjacent to interdisciplinary study
Traditional pen and ink
to be adapted to
techniques are introduced
more accurately
positive and nega- and environmental concerns.
tive spaces will
and practiced, as well as
represent cho-
create balance
invented designs. These
sen subjects. Details in the negative
and add tension to the composition.
techniques will occupy the spaces should be kept to a minimum
Remind students to dampen water-
positive shapes in the com- to enhance contrast and a sublimi-
color paper before adding ink washes
position. Encourage experi- nal effect. Crosshatching the outer
to create soft edges and to blend val-
mentation with a variety
edges of the invented objects will help ues. Some students may choose to
of line—both curvilinear emphasize form and depth.
leave their positive areas black and
white and use color only in the background and negative spaces.
Assessment
Each student:
•;created;a;balanced;composition
that incorporated both positive and
negative space.
•;incorporated;a;variety;of;pen;and
ink techniques that developed positive spaces and related to forms.
•;invented;images;and;symbolic
objects to develop negative spaces.
•;applied;chosen;color;scheme;with
acrylic ink washes that created
three-dimensional form with highlights and shadows.
Debra Lott is visual art chair at Assumption High School in Louisville, Kentucky.
b.lott@insightbb.com
NATIONAL STANDARD
Students apply media, techniques,
and processes with sufficient skill,
confidence, and sensitivity that their
intentions are carried out in their artworks.
Anna Beilman, grade eleven.
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