Color II - 3 Contrasts

The assignment was to create an image in a square format 3 different ways. First, using only contrast of value to create a focal point. Second, create a different focal point using only contrast of saturation. This one was a little trickier because you can't exclude value, but the contrast of saturation was supposed to overpower any contrast of value there might be. Third was to basically have no contrast of value or saturation, but of hue. So a "blue" object would be blue in all three, but the hues in the third would be grouped so closely it would seem like there is no contrast at all.

These are my revisions from my first go at the assignment. Sadly, I didn't get them printed today, so this beauty of a project probably won't see the Spori display wall. I'm happy with the first two pieces, but the hue exercise might still be a little too close to be discernible. No contrast, yet still discernible. What a challenge!

The process of production for this project was executing each painting in watercolor, scanning them, and manipulating them in photoshop. The hue exercise was the most heavily photoshopped because the watercolor paper had so much variation of value due to the tooth of the paper. Beautiful, but not appropriate to that specific exercise.

Spread2

This is the second spread of the Lithuanian fairy tale I've been working on for my BFA. This illustration has come so far! It wouldn't have been nearly as good without all of the wonderful critiques and advice I've received on it so far. Critiques, comments, and educated and explained opinions are so powerful in helping me improve in my work. I'd very much like to hear/read your thoughts about the basically finished product. My one disclaimer is that the spot illustration is only a rough place holder. I'd even like help on the text; design and writing. As far as the writing goes, I want it simple and to read like a classic fairy tale. I haven't addressed it much as far as the finished text goes. English majors, GO! :)

Thanks!

Wow, this washes out online. Going much more saturated in photoshop I'm going to melt my lappy from the radiation of the pixels, but it looks so blah here! Pixels, such defiant little creatures.

Color II - Analogous/Aaron Douglass Emulation

Prints Available

This assignment was an analogous color scheme. A simple assignment which gave lots of freedom for making the assignment fit the students' purposes. My purpose with this piece was to emulate Aaron Douglas' depression era/harlem renaissance style. Disney emulated his style also in the "Almost There" scene from "The Princess and the Frog." That scene made me so happy!

This piece also serves the purpose of illustrating how I sometimes feel as a art student and mother. It had potential of being a very emotional process, but I didn't cry at all over this piece. Which, if you know me, is a bit of a feat. Actually, this semester I have been tremendously blessed with answers to fervent prayer and aid in times when I do feel like this illustration. What you don't see in this illustration is the beautiful white ship that carries me through the turbulent waters that is the merciful, tender, and gracious love and power of my Savior.

Spread1 Critiques Please

Here is the first full illustration and text page for the Lithuanian fairy tale I'm illustrating for my BFA project. The spot illustration is still in progress. I plan for it to look like the sheaves of wheat in the illustration with color and line. I want the scythe to look sharp and metallic too. That will be the hard one for me I think. I made certain words colored to emulate illuminated texts that similarly colored important words in the text. The traditional color in illuminated manuscripts is red, but it didn't seem to harmonize very well with the yellow/purple of the illustration. But now I wonder if the purple is too harmonious and if a more red violet would work better. If I change the color of the colored text on this page to fit the illustration, I'll have to do the same for all the other illustrations, and it may not work as well. Should I stick with the traditional red? Or should I ditch the colored words all together? I think they're kind of fun myself, but I just want them to be a bit more varied.

Your comments and critiques on the illustration, the design of the text, the in progress spot, or anything else will be greatly appreciated.

Revised Monochromatic

Prints Available

Here is the revised version. I like it much better. Going back and revising helped me get more control over my values and saturations. I like it better without the hearts.  Thanks!