Learning Objectives
– Students will demonstrate variation in value, shape and texture.
– Students will demonstrate creative problem solving to connect imagery through abstraction.
– Students will demonstrate understanding of Gestalt theory to create a unified composition.
Materials
– Black and white photographs
– 18″x24″ paper
– Scissors
– Graphite, charcoal, eraser, brushes, ink
Project
Mount two small fragments of black and white photographs at opposite ends of a large sheet of paper and find a way to imaginatively connect them, making a complete drawing in the process.
The first stage of the process is to gather a number of interesting photos that will subsequently be torn or cut. Some of these will have evidence of objective images, and the others will be completely non-objective. You will then collage the two fragments to a large sheet of drawing paper. Place the two photos fairly far apart on the picture plane. These fragments represent two different kinds of reality. It will be up to you to connect the fragments with imagery of your own making.
Camouflage the two fragments using the value range, shapes, and textures suggested by the photo-collage elements. In essence, you will be extending the information in the fragments through your own imagination. Objective imagery can be continued from one fragment, and the use of abstraction should also be an important consideration.
Begin by working lightly in pencil, planning a strong general composition. Then work in more detail with graphite, charcoal, and erasers, or use brushes with pen and ink. Plan your piece so that it reflects a full range of value. Use the entire picture plane, letting the composition go off on all four sides of the paper. Think about light sources and methods of showing depth, texture, and detail.
When your drawing is finished, the original photographic fragments should completely disappear into a composition of your own making. The goals of the problem are to camouflage the original elements through drawing techniques and value matching, as well as extend them into an overall drawing which richly reflects your own personal imagery. The final image should have a rich and detailed composition that invites the viewer to explore at length.
