Assignment # 1:

​Please watch the video to the right about texture! Complete the google doc assignment on google classroom. 
Wassily Kandinsky (1866- 1944)

What does it mean when an artwork is abstract?  Abstract art portrays what an artist feels and thinks, rather than what he or she sees. An abstract artist uses colors and shapes to express his or her emotions and ideas. Just as we do not know other people’s thoughts, we do not always know what abstract art portrays but if you ask the artist, he or she can explain the painting to you.

Kandinsky was a Russian painter and art theorist. His is recognized as painting the first completely abstract work of art. 

Kandinsky was inspired by music to create his artwork because music itself is abstract.  You can't see music, you can't touch music, you can only hear it and then process it in your mind. Music describes inner feeling.

Kandinsky named his paintings "improvisations" and "compositions" both musical terms.  Kandinsky makes the unseen seen. His paintings describe visually what we cannot see visually. Abstract art can visually represent what we feel inside that cannot be seen with our eyes.

He was also a very important art theorist, arguing in his famous essay "On the Spiritual in Art" that all art forms (music, visual art, performance etc) can equally represent the spiritual realm. Art can visually represent what we as humanity have never seen with our own eyes but something which we say we have felt. 

Kandinsky uses lines, organic shapes and geometric shapes in his paintings. Organic shapes are shapes that have curves and bends and not perfectly formed. Geometric shapes are shapes like squares, perfect circles, rectangles, triangles etc. All the shapes you discuss in geometry. 

Kandinsky creates depth and space in his paintings. He does this by putting some shapes in front and some are in back by layering them and making some large and some small. This is called scale. Also, sometimes the shapes in front are darker and the shapes in the back are lighter.  This is called value. He overlaps these shapes just like we overlap using our layers in Photoshop. 
Balance
There are 3 types of balance in an artwork. 

Radial Balance: the elements (lines and shapes) are all arranged in a circular pattern. 
Symmetrical Balance: the elements (lines and shapes) are all arranged to mirror image each other on each side of the artwork. Its as if you could split the image in half. 
Asymmetrical Balance: the elements (lines and shapes) are balanced and follow the rule of thirds. 
The Rule of Thirds

In the rule of thirds, photos are divided into thirds with two imaginary lines vertically and two lines horizontally making three columns, three rows, and nine sections in the images. Important compositional elements and leading lines are placed on or near the imaginary lines and where the lines intersect.
When you are drawing and adding in your organic and geometric shapes into your compositions, it's important to consider the rule of thirds in order to create visual interest and a balanced composition. 
Assignment # 1
Google Doc on Google Classroom

IN COMPLETE SENTENCES!!
  1. What does it mean when an artwork is abstract?
  2. What inspired Kandinsky to create his artwork?
  3. Kandinsky paintings "make the unseen seen." What does that mean?
  4. How does Kandinsky create space and depth in his paintings? 
  5. ​What are the three kinds of balance in an artwork? Define them. 
  6. What kind of balance did Kandinsky use in the painting that you chose?
Assignment # 2

You are to create your own original unique abstract collage inspired by the work of Kandinsky and a nature habitat of your choice from the list below

​ It must include the following:
  1. There must be at least 5 different shapes included in your collage. 
  2. There must be a sense of balance to your composition. (think about the rule of thirds!) 
  3. There must be a sense of scale and variety in the placement of your elements. (Some large shapes, some small, some dark shapes, some light shapes, some curved lines, some straight lines etc) 
  4. There must be a sense of order and unity to the collage, be it through color, shape, theme or texture based on your theme!
  5. There must be evidence of good work ethic and EFFORT. 

Photoshop Tutorial Video Link Below:
​youtu.be/WkgBRAqrJsw
Pixlr Tutorial Video Link Below:
youtu.be/avYvNWRAL8A
***Pick your nature/habitat theme from the list below***
  1. desert
  2. tundra/ arctic
  3. rain-forest/tropical
  4. forest 
  5. river
  6. ocean
  7. mountains
  8. grassland 
  9. urban
  10. outer space
Tutorial Below Using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator:
**This is an older tutorial. It will still get you a finished project but it is not up to date
abstractcollage.pdf
File Size: 8994 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Assignment # 3: Reflection Questions
When you are done with your project, and it is in your google portfolio for grading, answer the following questions in the comment section underneath your slide:
  1. What do you think you did well in this project?
  2. What do you think you could improve on in this project?
  3. What did you learn how to do, or get better at doing in this project?
  4. What theme did you choose for your collage?
  5. Why did you pick the images you did and draw the shapes that you did to represent your theme?
Additional Assignment:
If you are done with the abstract collage with the photos based on your theme:
  1. Go into Adobe Illustrator and re-copy and paste your line/ shape drawing
  2. Paste that drawing into a new Adobe Photoshop file. 
  3. Using the magic wand to select the area you want to paint, use the brush tool at different levels of opacity, colors and hardness or softness to paint in your abstract drawing. (you can use any of the texture brushes as well!)
  4. Make a new layer and place it underneath your painting, and use that layer for shadows. (my shadows in my example are in color)
  5. Want to still use some images? Feel free! This is a very free form extra assignment...in mine I still used an image for my background.
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