Still life; Considering the objects' potential.

Pick an object, now how can you make that object more interesting?
Cut it, break it, peel it, turn it upside down, take it apart and rearrange it, stack it, the list is endless.
peel it http://www.flickr.com/photos/aphexafx/4419579316/
Cut it and rearrange it
http://www.pinterest.com/saskiatrijntje/still-life/
Cut it
http://www.etsy.com/listing/71069814/set-of-2-magnets-avocados-and-tangerines
Break it
 http://lyndsayhoffmann.blogspot.com/2010/03/narrative-still-life.html.
Stack it
http://www.masonmurer.com/artists/tharp_sally/10251.htm

Now think of the colour of the objects you are picking.
Would you like harmonious colours, complimentary colours, soft colours, dark colours, contrasting colours..........
contrasting colour bright orange against dark colours.
hot colours
http://www.pinterest.com/saskiatrijntje/still-life/
complimentary colours
http://wasbella102.tumblr.com/post/50186336674
harmonious colours  http://www.pinterest.com/saskiatrijntje/still-life/

Now think about what object could add an extra interesting element to a still life, such as reflective surfaces, glass, plastic wrappers, ribbons, scrunched up paper, etc.
reflective metals
http://www.flickr.com/photos/honeyandjam/4316400229/
reflective surfaces
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnreQRfgQk46mGNjouobPRioglAE2cjQfTQoURe7_5NW6_pCoMJtk4_nEiixr4GvufilOVZYXPONDUGZmilFDuVucm2lw_jfjXx8CZMU9lU3iJAvRNhP-7jGA32S64MJuLHzqocmhNuNvN/s1600-h/Cracked+Shell+HR.jpg
scrunched up paper,http://ffffound.com/image/ac3c10d62a734c859e2b5cd553043bcb1122e8c2
reflective surfaceshttp://stilllifequickheart.tumblr.com/post/2140490554/sarah-sedwick-jewel-tones-2008
glass
http://wasbella102.tumblr.com/post/22266020543/by-israel-hershberg
ribbon
http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=pictures+in+turquoise&hl=en&sa=X&tbm=isch&prmd=ivns&tbnid=3gVoWBMAIHqEJM:&imgrefurl=http://www.lcneill.com/blog/2009/12/04/turquoise-twister/&docid=ILExVXDuTv4u9M&w=318&h=425&ei=nKdsTuWhDsXomAXMkZgI&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=965&vpy=188&dur=1623&hovh=260&hovw=194&tx=161&ty=145&page=7&tbnh=132&tbnw=107&start=147&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:147&biw=1203&bih=752

Poster Design

Design is divided up into steps.

Brainstorming for a good concept, your design should have an interesting idea. Therefore you need to brainstorm your choice in order to expand your thinking. This way you should result in an individual different idea, away from the typical cliches.

http://www.deviantart.com/morelikethis/278712101?view_mode=2

http://conormcinerney.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/ncad-brief-a-bit-late-mindmaps/#jp-carousel-42

http://daintystain.deviantart.com/art/A-Mind-Map-About-Me-301456981

http://www.deviantart.com/art/Organism-Mindmap-NCAD-305755222

For tips on how to brainstorm follow the link below

http://www.wikihow.com/Brainstorm

Yes that means you have to think!!

2.      Research. An idea can always be made better by researching what other people did with a similar theme. Ideas or part of an idea can be taken from other people and changed to form your own individual idea. This is called being inspired. Quite often after research you can go back into step 1 and add more word/images connected to your theme. Below are some links to help you research, please feel free to email me any other good links. hweir@eurekaschool.ie

www.pinterest.com

www.deviantart.com

www.flickr.com

or just simply googel images and see where that leads you.

3.      Thumbnail sketch your design. From your research and brainstorming you chose your concept. Your chosen concept should have an aesthetic appeal. Therefore you need to thumbnail sketch to see at this basic stage what composition and elements work best. What yo do on paper now will save you on time later as you can tease out any problems quickly at this stage.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovefibre/2258414022/in/set-72157620939408944/

4.      Source material. You now need quality images  or actual objects for your final design NO pixelated images like this

 

So what needs to be handed up for the exam?

1.       Preparatory sheet; this should include drawings of possible solutions for your design. (taken from your thumbnails in step3) Images that you will definitely be using in your design (taken from step 4) and 2 designs from other artist that inspire you. (step 2)

2.    Preliminary sheet; this is 3 enlarged thumbnail sketches of your final chosen designs. It should be of good quality but should not take you longer than 40mins. (taken from your thumbnails in step3)

3.    Finished Piece; the actual poster, puppet or calligraphic piece actualised from one of  the final chosen designs in the preliminary sheet

Art History. Nods & Scams

NODS & SCAMS

Use this mnemonic to help you write or talk about a piece of art. 

N; Name

O; Opinion

D; Date

S; Subject Matter

&

S; Story

C; Composition

A; Art Elements

M; Medium

S; Style

Try in your first sentence to state the name of artist and painting, date,medium and subject matter.

Next try and tell the story of the piece while describing the composition.

Finally describe the artist's style/characteristic and techniques using the art elements.

Wondering how to form an opinion on a piece of art? Use these questions to help create your own opinion.

• Does the piece evoke any emotion in you? If so, why? 
• Is there any special affect or meaning derived from the style and art elements?
• Can you draw any comparisons to the art that proceeded or preceded it to form an opinion?
• Is the piece trying to communicate? Does it succeed in your opinion? Why?
• Is there any thing that links the art to the social issues of the time and do you have any opinions on how the art links those issues?

Feel free to email me any other ways to form an opinion hweir@eurekaschool.ie