Module 1, Chapter 3 - Design Development of Star Shapes

Design Sheet A
This set of exercises  explores positive & negative shapes, counterchange, symmetry/asymmetry and distortion. I worked to one of my A3 sized sketchbook pages and added an A4 extension which I'll be able to fold in when a re-attach the page to the book.

I used 2 motifs from my original research collection - a danish or patchwork style star and the star shapes I generated form my photo of the new Birmingham Library.

Exercise 1 involved counterchange of colour and also positive & negative shapes. It is striking the different effect this can make.


For exercise 2 I have taken a modified version of the negative Danish/patchwork shape to use as my 'positive' shape and placed them together to form another negative ahpe in the middle.


Exercises 3,4, & 5 involved exploring symmetry, assymetry and distortion which is a great way to modify and stylise shapes.

No. 5 shows the use of the Fibonnacci series to gradually increase the amount of distortion from a central point, giving the impression of perspective.


 





Exercise 6 involved distorting the star shape into a different shape i.e. circle, triangle and diamond. I drew the shape freehand into the 'new' shape.



My 'library' star is not strictly symmetrical, and neither were my distorted shaped versions - however if they were then my repeat patterns made in exercise 7 (below) would have worked a bit more seamlessly.

Using a simpler shape would have been a lot less fiddly to cut out, but I think it is quite effective when repeated in this way and makes quite complex star shapes.

To speed up the process a little the repeat of triangles was made by scanning in the image, copying and pasting multiple times onto a sheet of paper before cutting out each triangle and assembling.


Time logged for this activity - 7 hours

Module 1, chapter 2 - Star shapes from coloured papers

A3 sheet of paper

Here I have made a collection of star shapes from coloured papers using a number of techniques. I used a simple craft punch shape in 2 sizes to cut the stars on the far left, putting multiple shapes togther to form more complex shapes. Other techniques employed are tearing and cutting with a range of tools (scissors, pinking sheers, scalpel). I have enjoyed having a play with combining various components taken from my original research. some of the shapes are quite precise and structured, while with others I have enjoyed using a looser and less detailed approach.