Day 3

We MUST visually document our learning and we want our scorers to know that we learned about composition. Take the first 15 minutes of class to document your notes and learning from this video on compositon. 

Here are some suggestions for how you MIGHT document your learning:
1. Screenshot and Annotation on Top

You could take a screenshot of the video (title screen or a key example). Annotate directly on the screenshot with notes on the principles of composition (for example, arrows showing leading lines, circles around focal points). This makes your engagement visible and demonstrates understanding.

2. Written Reflection and Notes

Prompts you could add into your reflection:

“What is one new composition technique I learned?”

“Which of these strategies do I already use in my own work?”

“How could I apply this in my current project?”
This aligns with IB’s emphasis on connections and reflection.

3. Mini Visual Application

Make a small sketch or thumbnail applying one or more composition technique (for example, a quick drawing using radial balance). Photograph it and place it on the same slide as their notes. This bridges research to practice.

4. Comparison/Link to Artist Work

Add an image of an artist they admire and analyze how that artist uses composition (for example, how Hokusai uses rhythm in The Great Wave). That shows artist investigation and application, which IB wants to see.

Specific Structuring Suggestions:

• Add a Title: Learning About Composition

• Screenshot of video with notes or arrows

• 2–3 bullet-point reflections

• Quick sketch or photo of experiment applying the idea

• Citation of video and any artworks in the video; MLA format

• Optional: Artist connection image with 1–2 sentence comparison

Look back at your sketches from last class, from homework... Which do you think are successful? Once some interesting ideas have surfaced, begin prepping the final paper by adding a sketch of your object onto the canvas with charcoal. This will be mostly (maybe entirely) covered. This is not something you should get overly attached too. It's practice to explore the canvas. 

Key Vocabulary:
Toning the canvas: This involves applying a thin layer of paint, often diluted, across the entire surface of the canvas. The tone, usually a neutral or muted color, helps to eliminate the stark whiteness of the canvas and can create a harmonious color base for the later layers of paint.

Underpainting: This is a more detailed initial layer that can serve as a guide for the final painting. It can include rough outlines, values, and shading, often done in monochrome, to establish the composition and depth before applying the final colors.

Color grounding is another term often used interchangeably with toning or priming the canvas, though it can sometimes refer more specifically to the choice of a particular color for the initial layer. This technique involves applying a layer of color to the canvas before beginning the main painting, creating a "ground" that affects how subsequent layers of paint will look.

The chosen ground color can influence the overall tone of the painting, affect the vibrancy of the colors laid over it, and unify the composition. For example:

• Warm ground: A reddish or orange tone can make the painting feel warmer overall and help colors like blue or green stand out.

• Cool ground: A blue or gray tone can create a cooler atmosphere and can help warm colors pop.

Color grounding sets the stage for the artwork, helping to create depth, mood, and cohesion.

Select 2 colors for your color ground. What mood or emotion might you want to explore in this abstract piece? We're aiming for color rich but with a limited color pallet. Generally I would suggest 1 color choice being white (or neutral) but I will not require this if you have an alternative vision.

Reference some past student works to see how the color ground can play a role in this art work.

Now we VEIL our work

The color ground will be used to create a veil or semi-transparency over the drawings. This will help us develop the history of surface, adding layers. Do not get too attached to our early layers as more will cover it. 

Obliterate - Veil - Emphasize - Repeat