DESIGN PRINCIPLES - FINAL PROJECT (VISUAL ANALYSIS)
26.10.21 - 23.11.21 (Week 10 - Week 14)
Christie Angelica Bakhary (0350655)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Design Principles
Final Project - Visual Analysis
LECTURES
What is Visual Analysis ?
- Is a design approach that emphasizes visual elements and concepts.
- It is a description and explanation of visual structure for the sake of it in its most basic form.
- Visual analysis, on the other hand, may be used to better understand how the formal aspects of a design transfer ideas, information, or meaning, as well as to recognize the design decisions made by the designer.
- Visual literacy, or the capacity to interpret and critically assess images at a museum, on social media, in entertainment, advertising, or the news, includes visual analysis.
How does visual analysis work?
Phase 1: Observation
INSTRUCTIONS
- Observation is the process of attentively observing and recognizing the visual characteristics of a design in order to correctly describe them. To put it another way: Before you go, don't read anything about it.
- The observation step includes seeing, thinking, and choosing appropriate words to communicate what you've noticed.
- Analysis necessitates thinking about your observations and attempting to create assertions about the work based on the evidence of your observations.
- Consider how the many visual elements you've discovered fit together to make a whole, as well as how that whole affects the viewer.
- What is it about the work that catches your attention, and why? Use everything you've learned about Design Principles over the previous several weeks to create something new
- In this last step, you integrate your observations, descriptions, and analyses of the work with information about the design work (and, in some cases, the designer) and historical context that you find in credible public sources.
- What is the significance of the design? What was the point of making it in the first place?
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Visual Analysis
- Select a design of your choice (poster/billboard/illustration/etc).
- Conduct a visual analysis of the design in about 500 words.
2. Design
- Produce a work of design, in A4 or in A3 size, inspired/influenced by the design you have analysed, or as a reaction to it.
- Write a 150-200 word rationale for your design.
PRACTICAL
Visual Analysis
In this final project, I wanted to analyzed and recreate one of Mark Ryden's work, which as we know was the representative of the Lombrow art movement and the king of pop surrealism. All of his works were done traditionally with mostly using oil on canvas medium. I've many favorites from all of his works, where it is quite hard to choose one. Here's my top 4 favorites:
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| Fig. 3.1 : Personal favorites Mark Ryden's paintings (Source : Mark Ryden's website) |
Chosen artwork #! :
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| Fig. 3.2 : "The Ecstasy of Cecelia" by Mark Ryden (Source : Mark Ryden's website) |
1. Observation
Judging from the title, this work pretty much tells us about the girl's, Cecelia, happiness. Ecstasy itself means an overwhelming joyful feeling and happiness that a person has/experienced.
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| Fig. 3.3 : Meaning of ecstasy from google |
In this painting, he uses pastel and vintage looking color schemes, which is unique as some of surrealism arts use a more darker tone. Many symbols and elements are put together to deliver certain meanings and some of them may also have a personal meaning for Mark Ryden himself.
Some character like Abraham Lincoln and the baby had been used in his other works too.
2. Analysis
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| Fig. 3.3 : Details found (Planet symbols image source : Web) |
Despite the meaning of its title, I think that this painting portray the male gaze towards women, in which shown by all the characters that are looking/staring at the girl. Male gaze itself is how men see/stare women in a kind of way and as an 'object'.
Chosen artwork #2 :
Because I got stuck with idea while looking on the previous artwork, I decided to choose another one with a very different style, from Morgan Nicolette. This painting of her is beautifully and creatively made that I am very inspired to do one with a similar concept.
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| Fig. 3.3 : A painting by Morgan Nicolette (Source : Pinterest) |
1. Observation
This painting has a very unique idea because it uses a 3D concept in it uses a very good design principle of balance and movement, which can be seen on the use of flowers and branches that flow beautifully on the canvas. The color blends and compliments each other really well, although it may not be contrasting enough. A black woman as the main focal point with all the leaves and flowers surrounding her
2. Analysis
3. Interpretation
Design
In response of "The Ecstasy of Cecelia", I decided to create something kind of similar to it with the same concept, which I will also uses woman as the main element and theme. I also decided to do this task traditionally with oil on canvas as the medium. For the theme I will be doing a women/female empowerment concept, with a bright color schemes that are related to it.
To coordinate with the theme I've chosen, I searched for feminism color palette, which is purple and followed with pink.
References :
- Kind of abstract
- Use flowers as symbolization of feminism
- Attach artificial flower to the canvas for a 3D looking just like what Morgan Nicolette does
- For the skin tone, rather than choosing one color for it, I decided to chose an abstract yet colorful vibrant color to portray that all skin tone are beautiful.
Sketch :
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| Fig. 3.4 : Rough sketch |
At the time I was painting this piece, my mental state is kind of deteriorating to the point I'm feeling worthless, depressed and stuffs, that's why the painting also came out badly and very messy. I also realized that my painting skills are actually kind of sucks :D. But then, I just decided to cheer myself up a little bit and start re-doing a new one.
Although I'll not draw too many details in my painting, I still want the deliver a strong meaning in it by seeing in a bigger picture/perspective of the painting.
Medium :
Watercolor on A3 paper
Title :
"Strong"
Rationale :
FEEDBACKS
General Feedback :
Dr. Charles asked us not to just thinking on how to remake or do the same style/works as what we've analyzed, but instead focused to see the artworks and ask ourselves on how can we do better than it and how can we compose and adapt it into our own style. Also, try to focus on the subject matter.
REFLECTION
It was actually quite hard for me to really interpret the meaning behind Mark Ryden's painting because I can say that mostly his works adapt a kind of abstract and mysterious ideas, so the analysis thing itself take much more time than what I expected. Then in this task I also quite struggle in finding references (which I ended up to change the main references several times) that really match what I want and my style. The other reason for this is also because I got too intimidated by the word "Final Project", which make me wanted the work to be as perfect as possible:)) As I have also said in the post that my mental are not that good while working on this, I really am, and I just be hoping that the final submission I made is positive enough (as the massage were meant to be about feminism and women empowerment) although I'm at my worst. Aside all of that, I have fun doing researches, looking on different artworks, and also painting this work. I also wanted to thank Dr. Charles for being a very kindhearted and understanding person all the time (although I always submitted late, but I'll prolly improving more better in the future!) and also for making the class really fun<3
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