Transcript art 2 narrative collage

ART 2 NARRATIVE
COLLAGE
Excerpts from: PICTURE THIS
How A Picture Works,
By Molly Bang
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
In this presentation, you will see how to build a picture that relates to a moment in
the story of Little Red Riding Hood using basic elements of shape, color and value
and considering certain principles such as contrast (of size, color and value),
placement or emphasis and repetition to create tension or evoke an emotional
response. Then you will work with your group to complete an exercise using the
same simple cut paper collage technique.
All of the images are from Molly Bang’s book. She decided to represent Little
Red Riding Hood as a red triangle since the color and shape relate to her clothing.
She explains that we see shapes and react to them in context. If the story were
about the ocean what might the red triangle represent?…. Do the different
associations evoke different responses?
She explains that the red triangle she chose for Little Red isn’t huggable because
of its points but makes us feel stable because of its wide flat horizontal base and
equal sides. We get a sense of balance and equanimity from the shape. The color
is warm which suggests a number of conflicting things such as danger but also
passion and vitality.
This is Little Red Riding Hood as a medium sized red triangle. The
figure evokes these feelings: stability, balance, alertness plus warmth
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strength,
vitality, boldness and a sense of danger.
How might we represent her mother ?
Molly Bang writes:
LARGER, SOFTER PALE SHAPE =
BRIGHT IN VISUAL WEIGHT
VIOLET : RED = MOTHER:DAUGHTER
BALANCE IS ACHIEVED BUT EMPHASIS IS ON THE MAIN CHARACTER:
CONSTRUCT AN
ENVIRONMENT FOR
THE STORY
SOME PRINCIPLES
Horizontal Shapes and Lines convey a
sense of stability and calm
Vertical Shapes and Lines are more active,
they defy gravity
Placing a horizontal bar across a series of
verticals conveys stability and order -as in a
classical temple design
Diagonal shapes and lines imply movement or
tension. Diagonals add depth to a picture and
lead the eye into the picture
Triangle with wide horizontal base looks stable
Tilted triangle could suggest a missile. Implies
movement
Triangles in descending order on the diagonal imply an even
greater sense of movement and deeper space
An object placed higher up in the picture has greater pictorial weight
The upper half of the picture is a place of freedom
and happiness or triumph!
Objects placed in the top half feel more “spiritual”,
can seem to be floating of flying- escaping the
earth’s gravitational pull. Conversely, the bottom
half of the picture feels more grounded, heavier,
sadder.
The center of the page is the most effective center of attention-the
point of greatest attraction,
BUT
THE PICTURE IS MORE DYNAMIC when the center
of interest is moved out of the center of the page
WHITE or light backgrounds feel safer…
than dark backgrounds.
Dark/Light: Night:Day Black:White Unknown:Clarity, Fear/hope
Pointed shapes can be threatening. They
cause a tense or fearful response
Rounded shapes evoke a calm,
comforting feeling
The LARGER an object is in the picture,
theSTRONGER it feels. It dominates the
space of the page
The smaller the shape, the more vulnerable
it seems in the vast space of the picture
How would you sort these?
We tend to associate same or similar colors much more strongly than
We associate same or similar shapes
We respond to CONTRASTS because contrast enables us to see.
Human visual perception is based on contrast.
Contrast: value, color, shape, size, texture, placement and/or a combination of
some or all.
PROFESSIONAL EXAMPLES
Storyboards and illustrations from
The Incredibles
An Example of a Storyboard
The Incredibles storyboard
Illustrations by Teddy Newton, Pixar Studios
Illustrations by Lou Romano, some from The Incredibles
Example of Stylization
Contemporary Swiss Propaganda Poster
What is the message? Which version is the most effective?