Intro to Design Principles

1.    Describe several ways that artists unify their artwork. Find an example and describe how it is unified.

Artists have many tools to help them unify their artwork. Artists can use repetition of colors/objects, patterns, similar shapes and curves, and depth to make a unified representation. A circle is a commonly used shape to signify unity. A piece created out of all horizontal/vertical images or clumping figures together on a canvas are unifying techniques also.

The Starry Night

 Vincent Van Gogh's famous The Starry Night painting is a perfect example of an artist unifying a piece. The similar lyrical strokes used to create the larger picture bring out a feeling of togetherness. The similar yet diffierent shades of blue used for the houses signify unity. The yellow tones used for the stars and moon also signify unity. Even though the color schemes create a unifiying persona of their own the circular motion that is seen through out the entire piece unites it as a whole. 

2.    Describe how an artist creates asymmetrical balance- post an artwork of your choice and explain how it is balanced asymmetrically.

An example of an artist using asymmetrical balance is John Singer Sargent’s El Jaleo. The darkness of the men playing music and the dark floor in contrast to the lightness illuminating above them is a classic asymmetrical balance technique. Using color to create opposites on either side of an image drags our eyes around the whole piece of artwork. The bright white skirt of the dancer and the splash of red bring our attention there after surveying all the dark colors around it. The contrast of the white skirt and bright radiance on the walls also creates a balance of color.

El Jaleo

3.    How can scale change the meaning of an artwork? Use a visual example of your choice as an example and explain how the meaning is changed by scale.

The size a piece of art is has dramatic effects. Depending on the largeness or smallness of an image the audience might feel intimidated or in awe. In large real life structures a surreal feeling can be casted. In smaller pieces a sense of overpowering might be felt. Suggestions of individuality, personal space, vulnerability, and strength/weakness can be seen through scale of an artwork.

The EYE

The latest public art located in Chicago is a three story tall eye ball called the EYE. This is a perfect example of how scale affects the meaning of artwork. The EYE looks very realistic with red veins and other lifelike qualities of a human eye. It was designed by Tony Tasset and unveiled to the people on July 7^th. There are mixed reviews on this structure with some saying it is creepy because it evokes the feeling of being watched but enjoy looking at it. Some think it is overwhelming and do not consider it a piece of art. Whether people like it or not this huge eye ball has created a controversy and has become a destination spot.