Non-Commercial Art

source: Modern Art, by Hunter, Jacobus, Wheeler, painting: by Picasso, 3 Musicians 

     This image is of 3 musicians all created of similarly square shapes and in close proximity. These characters are all contained in the dark background. And the bright colors in the middle create a strong focal point. 

Symbolic Colors

source: Modern Art, by: Hunter, Jacobus, Wheeler, painting: Jasper Johns

     This image uses red, white, and blue in an abstract three American flag layout. The colors are said to have no specific meaning but have been said to have many meanings by many artists, writers, songs, etc. Charles Thompson (Secretary of the Continental Congress) stated  "White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief." I have heard it called a symbol of freedom. Jasper Johns is quoted as saying the image describes "things the mind already knows," "utterly familiar."

Color Discord

source: Modern Art, by: Hunter, Jacobus, Wheeler, painting by: Karol Appel

          This painting uses color discord and aggressive stroke/mark making to create a chaotic image with lots of tension. The colors are highly saturated making each very vibrant. And they are placed next to white and black often enough to isolate them or disconnect them creating tension. On the color wheel these colors would be found far from each other.

Creativity

 

source: M. C. Escher: Visions of Symmetry, by: Doris Schattschneider

     These two images show the before process and final created image. To me this shows creativity. It shows some of the thoughts and experiments that came first and where then ended up. From concept art to final piece.

Color Harmony Rules

source: Rebus, by James Jean

Analogous Colors

source: Joseph Muller Brockmann Pioneer of Swiss Graphic Design, written by Lars Muller

Triadic color 

source: Joseph Muller Brockmann Pioneer of Swiss Graphic Design, written by Lars Muller

Complimentary Colors

source: Rebus, by James Jean

Monochromatic colors

source: Joseph Muller Brockmann Pioneer of Swiss Graphic Design, written by Lars Muller

Analogous Colors

Color Inspiration

  

            source: CMYK, issue 23, back cover, PeteMcArthur.com

     This photograph illustrates some examples of color theory quite well. First, the warm color of red hair or orange comes forward, while the blue/purple background recedes. The focal point of the yellow bow relates to the intensity and purity characteristic of the yellow hue. The middle ground uses blue, red, white and black, this creates a color interaction that recedes and advances. Overall the split color scheme creates a color environment and atmosphere. The light source creates an effect on the colors similar to that of the opponent theory of color giving this image an electric glow. The image has some whimsical harmonies that for me seem to resolve in tension, disharmony, or a veiled mystery, and that is why along with the vibrant colors is why I made this choice. 

Positive/Negative Space

source: artist: David de Ramon,  in Spectrum 13, edited by Cathy Fenner and Arnie Fenner

     The positive and negative space in this image work together. The positive space is filled with shapes that are mimicked in the negative space. The shapes in the foreground and background fit together like a puzzle at times creating a harmonious balance and rhythm to this design.

Making use of many design principles

Source: Kazumasa Nagai Poster Life 1957-2014, from 1973

     This image displays many of the design principles and concepts we have been learning about. Rhythm can be seen in the repetition and rate of change in the wavy lines. Gradation of the hot and cool colors creates an alternating rhythm. Balance is shown in the approximate symmetry displayed vertically. Emphasis on the circular shape based on warm color, overlap, and size. Depth is seen at the focal point of the circular shapes based on size, color, gradation of line weight. Overall this post makes little use of variety.

Depth

Source: Illustration by: Gustave Dore, The Giants, Nimrod, Dante's Divine Comedy

     This image shows depth in many ways. Contrast in size of foreground character vs. the background characters smaller stature. The lines and mark making in the foreground are thinner and more open, while the lines in the background are more crowded and close together creating a less clear and darker image. Detail is prominent in the foreground and fades very quickly creating a quick change from foreground to background while creating the illusion of space and distance. The illusion of light is used in the foreground while the background is darkly articulated.

Rhythm

source: Basic Design by Lauer and Pentak, photographer: Albert Renger-Patzsch, "Buchenwald in Fall," 1936, pg. 107

     This image shows natural rhythm. The trees themselves are like implied lines with their bark changing in tone across the photo. The repetition of the arc in the trees moves left to right and sways upward. Motion is created through the arcs and the gradation of tone directing our eyes around the photo.

Balance

source: 2018 calendar by: Paperpusher .CA, design by: J.P. King

     This design shows balance. A balance is created through the use of approximate radial symmetry. The shapes opposite each other do not mirror each other. But by having the same proportions, color and distance around the center octagon a balance is created.

Unity

source: "M.C. Escher: Visions of Symmetry," intarsia panel with fish, pg. 267

     Unity can be found throughout this image. Proximity and grouping can be seen through the interlocking of the recurring fish shape. The fish are contained in a rectangle. The rectangle is gradated and used equally in the different fish.

Unity

source: "Interaction of Color" by, Joseph Albers, back cover image

     This image is very unified. The repetition of red rectangles and their proximity to one another contained in the over all rectangular shape. The gradation of the of red and yellow into one another provides another element of unity, continuation. 

Unity

source: "The Push Pin Graphic," by: Chwast, pg. 127

     This image shows strong unity in many ways. Unity is shown through a repetition of the star shape and the three colors. Continuation, is also used in the continued growth of the star from the center. As the audience we believe the star shape continues beyond the outer rectangle containing the design.

Variety

source: Lurzer's Int'l Archive, Advertising Worldwide, 2012, pg.95

     This image shows a great deal of "variety" in its subject matter.  There are many different styles of fonts being used and an incredible amount of illustrations of all sorts of things.  The world created in this illustration reminds me of a chaotic black and white toontown.  The theme presented is of a commercial music wonderland, full of its trappings and cliches. It is very hard to find a focal point of the design.  However the theme of music and the coloring are unified throughout, and the script in the top left hand corner leads me to believe this is a search and find for Ozzy Osbourne. If that is the case this is fun and accomplishes its goal of hiding, Ozzy.