Observe

Why is it important to know how to closely observe our surroundings as graphic designers?

Observe

The Studio Habit of Mind that will be explored in this unit is Observe.

To observe as an artist we must learn to go beyond normal looking. Observation starts with seeing things exactly as they are and appreciating it as such. Deeper observation, the type practiced by artists, sees things very closely, notices the details that are not immediately seen, and recognizes the subtlety of what is being observed. True observation also notices the messages that are being expressed by what is being observed as well as the hidden messages too.

Just as in develop craft, the ability for an artist to deeply observe and express themselves through their work takes repeated practice.

Artistic Concept

A concept is an abstract idea. Artists use different concepts to take those ideas from abstraction to reality. The concepts being explored through the lens of the Studio Habit - Engage and Persist is Perseverance and Practice.

Perseverance lies in an artist's ability to find something that is important to them and/or important to a client or targeted audience to devote their attention, time, and creativity to. It lies in an artist's ability to develop and sustain focus on an artwork, process, and medium through trial, error, and repeated practice.

Practice lies in an artist's ability to keep trying at improving and learning more and more about a particular art form, technique, or medium over and over again with a growth mindset. Practice, especially when "stuck" or frustrated, can be difficult to sustain or focus on, but is necessary for artist's to grow, improve, and develop. Practice is a habit that needs to be developed over time to be able to "stick with it" through successes and failures to see a project through to completion.

Perseverance

Practice

Principle of Art and Design

If we think of the elements and principles of art & design like a sentence, with the words being a metaphor for the elements, then the principles of art & design are the ways in which the words are arranged. The way in which you arrange the words of a sentence dictates the feel and meaning of it. More descriptive words, and the sentence gives more detail; less words, and the sentence reads sharp or abrupt. The principles of art and design are the way in which an artwork is arranged. Does it appear uneasy, or relaxed? Without the principles of design - pattern and repetition, contrast, movement, emphasis, balance, rhythm, and unity - an artwork would not have a unique look and personality to it. The principles of art and design are more subjective as well. This means that they can be viewed and interpreted by one person differently than they are viewed and interpreted by another.

Observe will focus on the following principle of art & design:

Principle of Art and Design

Discover some interesting aspects about the principle of art: rhythm

Learn more about rhythm by completing the rhythm guided practice sheet.

Creating Rhythm in a Composition

How you've composed your artwork should show rhythm - or the movement of different elements of art through variety and repetition - in your piece.

But how can you do this?

Choose your

Old Tech image

Use Google images to do an Advanced Search for an older piece of technology that you feel is visually interesting.

Bring that image into Photoshop and enlarge it to show an interesting section making sure that you consider what you've learned about composition and negative space.

Element of Art and Design

The elements and principles of art and design are the foundation on which all art is created. They can be thought of like a sentence. There has to be words in order to make a sentence; no words, no sentence. The elements of art are like the words. Without the elements - line, shape, color, value, texture, space, and form - there is no art. That doesn't mean that all elements of art must be used in an individual artwork, just like not every word has to be used in a sentence, but at least one must be present.

Observe will focus on the following element of art & design:

Element of Art and Design

Discover some interesting aspects about the element of art and design: color

Learn more about color by completing the color guided practice sheet.

Color and Emotion

Color is directly and intimately connected with our emotions. Sayings such as, "I'm blue," and "green with envy" are all throughout our dialect. Colors not only evoke a particular emotion, but when we think of a particular emotion we often "see" a color in our mind's eye. What colors connect to certain emotions for you?

Learn the importance of color in graphic design work.

Color and Graphic Design

As graphic designers, we need to have a strong understanding of how color and emotions are connected. Great graphic design considers how color evokes an emotion in the viewer and makes the most of that to create an effective message to the targeted audience.

But how do you pick a color combination that creates the right emotional response in your viewer and effectively communicates your message?

Selecting Your Color Palette

Adobe Color

Use the Explore tab on the Adobe Color Website to create a palette that includes your three analogous colors.

Create your own

Using the Color Picker tool in Adobe Photoshop, begin by selecting your main color. Paint a swatch of it onto a blank canvas. After selecting your main color, reopen the Color Picker tool and slide the bar in the color spectrum to a color right above that color. Paint another swatch. Finish by repeating the process but selecting a color below the main color on the spectrum.

Getting Started

Old Tech Reimagining

artistic conventions

composition

Working with the Pen Tool

Watch the instructor as they demonstrate how to work with the Pen tool in Adobe Photoshop.

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