Thursday, 9/2/10. Reading Notes

GESTALT INTRO

Gestalt – entire figure or configuration 
   - Whole is different from sum of its parts 
   - high organization = good Gestalt (simple/regular)

Debate between philosophers and psychologists about validity or meaning of what we perceive 
   -objective or subjective?, innate or result of experience and environments?

4 aspects – help us understand form as a meaningful whole and not as isolated, unrelated parts
closure – can be perceived as whole
continuance – overlaps, flows
proximity – closer = appear related
similarity – holds together, create meaning

interactions of form
position – create focus, tension. (cropping method > movement extend beyond frame)
direction – course of movement, leads eye
space – (perhaps most important), can group, separate, emphasize. Figure/ground, negative space

elements of compositional intereraction
Depth – convey contrast, meaning, purpose. 2D – illusion 3D - physical
Perspective – linear( uses foreshortening – recede in space to common point)
   - western invention, refined during renaissance
   - eastern = lines parallel often, impression rather that optical description

Visual Weight – sum of forms components, perception, similar to mass/energy(influenced by color/size)
Visual Balance – degree of equilibrium, determined by arrangement of elements. Position dominant mean=symmetry/asymmetry

symmetry-can be divided and same on either side, balance
asymmetry- not^ (also called dynamic tension or equilibrium) can create active form


Formal Matters – HOW instead of what.

Formal/visual elements – line, scale, shape, size, composition, and color.

Content – That which is expressed or made manifest though form, or even as form (extreme>> abstract: form is content)

Form – the means by which one gives substance to an idea (weight, density, mass, proportion, shape, composition, texture, palette, line quality)

Formal critique ex: “The story that you present in this scene is interesting, but your figures are badly drawn.” or opposite...?

what about when qualities such as shape, color, and spatial relations are prime? (non or self referential)

formalism – approach to art and art making that emphasizes formal elements such as shape, color, materiality (often self-referential)

modernism – like their medium? Like purity.

Association>form>content (poetics of meaning/slippage of identity)

line - order/chaos
color - emotion
composition - balance, static/dynamic
field - imaginary space?

Physical stuff like edges, scale,and format also play a role.

modernist = improvisor(rather than mimesis/imitation)

process driven – paint as you go.

Surface – can convey information about artist/mood


Principles

Design – process of purposeful visual creation (painting and sculpture are realization of artists personal visions and dreams, design fills practical needs)

good design – the best possible visual expression of the essence of something

The 4 groups of elements:

conceptual
point – indicates position, does not occupy space
line – position and direction, no breadth
plane – has length, breadth, but no thickness.
volume – has position in space
^created by previous in motion. Also bound by previous

visual
shape- anything that can be seen has it, main identification in our perception
size- relative & physical, all shapes have
color- distinguishes shape from surrounding
texture- surface characteristics of a shape

relational
directional- depends on relation to observer, frame, and other shapes
position- judged by relationship to frame or structure
space- occupied/blank, flat/depth(illusion)
gravity- psychological. heaviness/lightness, stability/instability

practical
representation- derived. (can be realistic, stylized, near-abstract)
meaning- conveys message
function- serves a purpose

Frame of reference – limits and area where elements works together.
Picture plane (within ^) - surface

form – shape of definite size, color, and texture
structure – governs form

form as point
-should be comparatively small & rather simple

form as line
-narrow breadth, prominent length, thinness. Considerations: shape, body, extremities

form as plane
-formed by interrelationships of conceptual lines, variety of shapes
Classifications:
Geometric - constructed mathematically)
Organic - bound by free curves>fluidity and growth)
Rectilinear - bound by straight lines which are related to one another mathematically
Irregular - bound by straight and curved not related mathematically)
Hand-drawn - calligraphic or created with unaided hand
Accidental – determined by the effect of special processes or materials, or obtained accidentally

positive form – perceived as occupying space
negative form – perceived as black space surrounded by occupied space
(traditionally black = positive, white = negative)

ground – area surrounding form/figure

Interrelationships of forms:
detachment – forms remain separate
touching – no space between
overlapping – crosses over
interpenetration – both forms appear transparent. No obvious above-and-below relationship, contours remain visible
union – forms join to become bigger form, lose part of contour
subtraction – invisible form crosses over visible form (overlapping of neg. over pos., pos becomes neg)
intersection – (same as interpenetration, but only crossing form is visible > creates new form
coinciding – 2 become 1


Form/Composition

Harmony – what is sought in visual composition, indicates a grouping of related components that make sense together.
Simplicity – form with a limited number of simple elements, or unambiguous and easily understood message
proportion – the size relationship between parts of a form.
Focal point – dominant area
Rhythm – the movement from one idea/area/element to another. (result of hierarchy, contrast, and structure) (involves timing and spacing)

Attention created through hierarchy < both created through contrast:(differences among elements ad their degree of conflict or discord)

patterns – created by repetition
structure – the internal parts of a form that support and define its appearance and contribute to conveying its message


Piet Mondrian

Kind of hard to follow...

plastic expression = pure(st?)