Typography

Using the graph paper provided in class, we are to construct a typeface of our names in any form of design we like.

Design Using Principles and Elements

This design was done by me using the design principles such as balance, harmony, unity and variety. 

This design gives a sense of balance whereby both sides are at equilibrium and harmony is achieved as there is a repetition of patterns. Unity gives this design a more organized look and variety because it consisted of differences which gives it a more enhancement to the design.

Design elements used were lines, shapes, texture and colour.

The lines elements can be seen in the top left and bottom right corner whereby it goes in a zig-zag pattern while the shapes used were circles to form a bubble shape. The texture of this shape is seen to be shiny and smooth like bubbles. The colour used are mainly secondary colours.

National art gallery

Upon visiting the National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, the paintings that caught my eyes are located at the Absurd[c]ity section where it consists of arts and paintings of the modern age or the 21st century.

The first painting I saw was designed by Muhd Sarip Abd Rahman and was completed in the year 2010. The title of it is R.I.P and it is 305 x 152cm big.
my first impression of this design is that it takes up a form or a shape of a standing human being (man). However, it has a body that is made of machinery parts like a robot. It is very similar to the robot in the movie Transformers by the name of Optimus Prime as it is blue and red in color. Besides that, it is wearing a pair of grey croc shoes with a Superman shoe accessory on it and a real silver tie was placed on his neck. Above its head consists of helium balloons and this man looks weak or dead by his facial expression.
So, this painting tells me that technology has been advancing in the recent years and it is taking over mankind's life as we know it. We can tell that this man was once human as he is wearing a tie and a pair of croc shoes, however he is trapped inside a robot's body. By his facial expression, he is dying in the hands of technology as the title says "R.I.P". The helium balloons symbolizes that this man wants to be free and not wanting techonogy to take over him. There is also a price tag on his left ear which gives the impression that he has to pay a price for every wrong move.
We as human beings should not depend on technology so much and instead, backtrack our traditional way of life in order to see the beauty of the world. Our world does not only consist of machines and technologies. Yes, the new medias have become a part of our lives but let us not forget our true identity and the purpose of living.

Art Movement

Source : www.sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net

There are many types of art movement existing since the 19th century and has evolve to the 21st century. An art movement is the tendency in the visual arts with a specific common style approach. These styles are used to describe a group of artists within the same period or time. Art movement involve by the influence of other art movement and such examples of art movement would be modernism, conceptual art, pop art, abstract art, impressionism, environmental art, graffiti art, abstract expressionism and many more.

The Mona Lisa is an art of Renaissance and it is under the classical realism.

Source : www.arthistorylibrary.com

Van Gogh's art of Post Impressionism as below.

Source : www.culturevulture.net

This picture below is an example of Pop Art.

source : www.osnatfineart.com

Example of Futurism

Source : www.italianfuturism.org

The art movement I am interested in is Graffiti Art which was developed since in the 1980s. Graffiti Art is writings or drawings of that are sprayed or scribbled or scrapped on public walls and it was named after a spray. It is very popular especially in New York subway stations and other cities. This art movement may express artistic messages. For example, it has evolve with music culture like hip-hop and b-boying. People in gang also uses this type of art movement to mark their own territory or serve as a symbol as gang related activities. The two most successful and famous graffiti artist are Jean- Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring.

Source : www.archeront.deviantart.com

Reference :

http://www.osnatfineart.com/art-movement.jsp

http://www.wikipedia.org

 

Describing Pictures

Source : tumblr.com

This picture merely describes a man to be an explorer and adventurous in situations. The man is rocking climbing at a high up place with his rock climbing equipment unhooked from himself. As in the picture, he is topless, not carrying any ropes, grip saver gloves and not even wearing a helmet. He is very courageous and full of bravery to do so knowing his life is at risk. We all have to learn to take risks in life in order to gain new experience because if you will never know if you never try.

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly" - Robert F. Kennedy.

Another prescription this picture tells me is about fear. The man in the picture knows no fear, he is not afraid that he would fall nor afraid of death. He is ready to take that chance to achieve his dream and to feel that satisfaction of climbing and making it to the top. Do not be afraid of anything, do not be afraid to dream big. This is because fear is mainly just a thought in our minds that kept us from running away or avoiding situations. Fear is a vital response we ourselves create and it is not real. However, danger is very real but fear is a choice. 

Therefore, this picture tells me to be an adventurous person and appreciate nature by enjoying outdoor activities. Besides that, it teaches me to be brave and take risks with the absence of fear.

Design Principles and Elements

Design principles are rules we have to follow in order to design anything whereas design elements are the fundamentals in helping us to create and make a design.

Some examples of the principles in designing are balance, perspective, harmony, unity and variety.

- Balance gives a sense of equilibrium to a design work. It can be classified into formal balance whereby it focuses more on arrangement and informal balance where it keeps the attention focused on its visual message instead of the arrangement. There are three main types of balance which are the horizontal balance, vertical balance and radial balance.

- Perspective gives a mental view and it is how our brain interpret the way we see things. It adds realism to the visual images and it can be achieved through the use of the size of objects, overlapping objects and the sharpness of objects.

- Harmony helps to keep a visual image together and complement parts of it together It can be achieve through repetition and rhythm. Harmony can create feelings with the help of colours, shapes and contrasting elements.

- Unity presents oneness to create a meaning in a visual image. With it, images will be more organized and understandable. It can be achieve through common shapes, patterns, background and the use of space.

- Variety provides contrast to harmony and unity. It consist of differences to enhance on and another. However, too much variety may lead to confusion and too little will lead to boredom.

Design elements consist of point, line, shape, texture and color and it is the basic units in creating a visual image.

- A point gives focus and draws attention of a visual image. Many consistent aligned points will draw more attention when they are closely together.

- Lines can be straight as in vertically or horizontally or it can also be curved in any direction. It can also direct people’s attention as it can show movement, rhythm, textural and emotional effects.

- Shape in 3 dimensional form is called a form. Shapes are created when a line encloses an area and it can consist of complex and simple shapes.

- Texture gives an object a surface that can be felt or seen. Rough, smooth, spiky, soft are examples of textures.

- Color is a spectrum of light and it consists of primary colors (red, yellow, blue), secondary colors (orange, green, purple) and tertiary colors which are the mixture of the 3 primary colours. Each color has its own function and meaning and it gives images value, feel, intensity, shades, temperature etc.

Source :

http://www.canleyvale.hs.education.nsw.gov.au/Winning%20websites/art/eod.htm

http://www.educ.kent.edu/community/vlo/design/elements/color/index.html

Colour

Colour is a form of non verbal communication and each colour has its own symbol and meanings to it. 

Orange is one of the colour I would be researching about. It is the combination of the energy or red and the happiness of yellow. It has a characteristic of curiosity and with it comes to exploring into new things. It is said that orange helps to increase creativity and relief a serious and stressful person.  

Source : www.color-wheel-artist.com

Orange gives people a positive outlook in tough times and also helps us to look more towards the bright side. It is also a very hopeful, uplifting colour and rejuvenating our spirits. For example, the sky of sunsets and sunrises are orange and it symbolizes a new beginning of the day to look forward to or the end of a tough or a happy day. 

 Source : http://www.sunsetwatchers.com

Orange is also one of the colour that stimulates appetite as it is associated with need and hunger. It is very effective in promoting food as orange also catches people’s attention. Orange also helps to get people talking and thinking therefore making it a mentally stimulating and sociable colour. That is why it is often used in restaurant logos as the examples below.

Source : http://www.logocompanymarket.com

Source : www.imgfave.com

A person who like orange represents his or her personality as a fun and loving person who likes to social around with others. They are generally good-natured and popular. They try to be agreeable and more assertive when dealing with people. Even if they dislike carrying out a task, they will tend to make it more enjoyable and see things more positively and optimistically.