AYAD  ALMISSOURI

Visual Foundations & Design

Course Syllabus and Supply List 

Mathematically speaking, the Golden Ratio is a ratio of 1 to 1.618, which is also known as the Golden Number in art and design, creating a aesthetically pleasing image through balance and harmony. Symmetry in art is a formal type of balance that consists of mirroring portions of an image. As a general rule, a symmetrical drawing has identical parts mirrored across the symmetry line, implied or actual. Asymmetry is often considered a type of symmetry, while it is actually the lack of it. We can find asymmetry in many natural objects, like trees, cloud shapes, natural water bodies, etc. Balance is the distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space.

Notan: is a Japanese term that means ‘light and dark harmony/balance.’ It’s a design concept that looks at how light and dark elements of a composition interact only using black and white. 

Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper according to precise patterns, in order to obtain a two-dimensional or three-dimensional paper sculpture that represents people, objects, plants and animals. Kirigami is a variation of origami, the Japanese art of folding paper. In kirigami, the paper is cut as well as being folded, resulting in a three-dimensional design that stands away from the page. Kirigami typically does not use glue. Space: Refers to the emptiness or area between, around, above, below, or within objects.

Linear perspective is a system of creating an illusion of depth on a flat surface. All parallel lines, also known as orthogonals, in a painting or drawing using this system converge in a single vanishing point on the composition’s horizon line. For this specific assignment students will be utilizing their environments around them to create a three-dimensional space onto a two-dimensional surface.

Student’s will explore one or two specific letters from the English alphabet, as a starting point; to investigate each letters symbolical meaning beyond its literal meaning. Students can use any font type, style, standard or cursive text to create their individual works of art. Using your 14in x 17in Vellum Bristol Pad drawing paper, students may select any scale of their choosing. Students have the opportunity to use both the Sharpie Twin and Tip Black Sharpies, a Graphite Pencil and a Helix Locking Compass to create their work of art. Keep in mind to incorporate images and/or references used to complement or balance your letter.

Artists create focal points and emphasis to give their work visual and conceptual impact. For this assignment students will be researching a collection of black and white photographic references as a starting off point, in order to create their Texture, Pattern, Emphasis and Focal Point project. When researching, think about textures and patterns from your interests, be creative and think outside the box.

Key Design Terms:
Line is the most basic design 'tool' on which almost every piece of art relies. A line has length, width, tone, and texture. It may divide space, define a form, describe contour, or
suggest direction. Linear Perspective is a system of creating an illusion of depth on a flat surface. All parallel
lines (Orthogonals) in a painting or drawing using this system converge in a single vanishing point on the composition’s horizon line.
Atmospheric Perspective, also called aerial perspective is the effect you get when far away objects take on the colors of atmospheric haze.

For this assignment students will be responsible for researching their own photographic references for their designs (abstract or geometric shapes) to create their Notan project. When they're constructing and developing your ideas, students must consider using all four sides of your black sheet of paper (scale: 5inx5in). When researching, think about subjects from your interests, be creative and think outside the box. Students must also complete the Kirigami design cut from paper project, provided under the assignment tab, onto your black sheet of paper.

Emphasis or Focal Point simply means the place the eye naturally travels to in a work of art. It can also be described as the focus or center of interest. Focal Point can be created by light, color, or line and movement in a work of art. Texture is an element of design that defines the surfaces of shapes and forms. Texture that you feel with your fingers is called tactile while texture that the artist recreates on a flat surface is called visual texture. Tactile texture is three-dimensional because it has height, width and depth. Visual texture is two-dimensional because it lacks actual depth. Pattern a repeated form or design especially that is used to decorate something.