The formal study of fine art typically begins with a course in the basics of design to include the elements and principles of art/design. The 2D design foundations course I have been teaching introduces students to numerous processes, mediums, and tools as they seek to illustrate their understanding of the principles of composition through the arrangement of the elements of art. The majority of students have had little to no exposure to traditional fine art-making practices. Craftsmanship is also stressed as are presentation skills and professionalism and ethics in practice.
Text: Design Basics, 9th Ed., Stephen Pentak and David A. Lauer
Expression Through Line
The expressive qualities of LINE are emphasized in this project for first-semester art students in Design Foundations. After experimenting with a variety of mark-making materials, mediums, and substrates, students are challenged to create their own mark-making tools from found materials/objects and use their tool(s) to communicate emotion through gestural line work. Below are a few of the results:
Roget
Javid Edwards
Alexis Arias-Lozada
Alexis Williams
Ja'Kiria Bradford
Studio Activities
Artist-made brushes
Documenting progress
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A STUDY IN CONTRAST
In this assignment, students are introduced to the DSLR camera and Adobe Lightroom. They are challenged to capture low and high-contrast images, which they arrange in a grid.
Sophia Schallmo, High Contrast Grid
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Theoretically, It's Color!
Studies in color theory are an integral part of a Design Foundations course. First-year design students are introduced to the properties of color and its ability to communicate emotionally and intellectually. They hone their skills by duplicating color palettes, translating monochromatic work into primary, secondary, and tint-shade studies, and creating creative color wheels. The scientific properties of color are explored. And students are introduced to a variety of color-making tools and processes.
Color Replication Studies
Color Wheel Development
Primary and Secondary Studies
Tint and Shade Studies
Color Theory Studies
Color Matching Studies
Creative Colorwheel by Sophia Schallmo
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Collage Poem
A collage piece is a final project in Design Foundations. It brings together all of the processes, tools, and mediums the students have explored in their first design course. Students are challenged to apply their understanding of compositional principles through the elements of art. Furthermore, first-year art students often grapple with ways to translate conceptual ideas into visual, abstract forms. Using the metaphors presented through poetry, students develop formal abstract images in the form of collage.
Terrance Alexander
Krystal Welch
Johnnieangel Robinson
Practicing craftsmanship
