Math in Art - Assignment 2: Final Project Assignment
Instructor’s Office: 337 ART Lab Art course website: http://derekbruecknermathinartcourse.blogspot.ca
Summary of Assignment:
Create a large work that is 20 x 30 inches on illustration board incorporating at least fifteen* mathematical concepts/iterations in fifteen distinct visual elements.
All fifteen concepts with corresponding iterations should be clearly indicated and neatly labeled on a cut 20 x 30 inch acetate overlay. The acetate should be securely attached to the illustration board’s top edge. (Photos of each assignment will be taken with the acetate and without the acetate)
Mathematical Objectives for Assignment:
1) Six* mandatory mathematical concepts/iterations to include the following:
Fractal (one type of Fractal)
Perspective (one type of Perspective)
Conic Constructions (one type of Conic Construction)
Platonic Solid or Polyhedra (one type of Platonic Solid or Polyhedra)
Hyperbolic Construction (one type of Hyperbolic Construction)
Topology (one type of Topology)
2) Nine* remaining mathematical concepts/iterations to select below.
See Math concepts/iterations A to I listed below.
Art Objectives for Assignment:
While composing the mathematical concepts/iterations consider the assignment’s whole visual design and composition in relation to the math concepts/iterations and art objectives below:
1) Consider a variety and complexity of: shape, line, colour, unified composition and optical illusion of space. (Intervals, overlapping and interaction of shape and line, strategic use of high and low contrast)
2) Consider a variety and complexity of: different use of art materials and art making styles.
3) Consider a variety and complexity of: mark making, thick and thin applications of materials, matt and gloss surfaces/materials, additive subtractive processes, and opaqueness and transparency of materials (layering, editing and revising initial plans).
4) Collectively consider how all the above characteristics of the art materials work together (unified) in the design of the work.
Chart of Mathematical Concepts & Corresponding Iterations
Main Mathematical Concepts (A to I)
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Possible Corresponding Iterations
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A) Euclidean Constructions
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Constructions 1 to 8, some single iterations could include: Perpendicular Bisector, Angle Duplication, Circle Center, Line Segment into Equal Parts, etc.
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B) Golden Ratio and Fibonacci Sequence
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Golden Triangles; Golden Rectangle; Golden Spiral,
Symbols/numbers for Fibonacci Sequence
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C) Symmetries
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Symmetric Objects; Frieze Patterns; Wallpaper Designs
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D) Fractals
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Tree Fractals iterations; Koch Snowflake; Sierpinski Gasket; Sierpinski Carpet; Cantor Set; T-Square Fractal, etc.
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E) Perspective
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1-Point; 2-Point; multiple 2-Point; 3-Point
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F) Conics
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Circle; Ellipse; Parabola; Hyperbola; Cardioid
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G) Polyhedra
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5 Platonic Solids; Other Polyhedra Solids
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H) Hyperbolic Plane
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Any construction in the Hyperbolic Geometry
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I) Topology
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Möbius Strip; Klein Bottle; Torus; Tori; Morphing
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Due Date: June 20 - Beginning of Class
Final Project assignments due at the beginning of class on June 20, once the instructor has left the classroom the assignment is considered late. Assignments submitted late after class will be deducted one letter grade. No Final Project Assignments will be accepted beyond 1pm on June 20. Any assignment submitted beyond 1pm of any assignment deadline date will receive a ZERO Grade.
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Art Materials to Use:
Combinations of at least 3 different mediums (art materials) or more must be used with a variety of colour. One medium must be a wet medium (such as gouache, acrylic or watercolour) used in the work. The colour art mediums to choose from include: coloured pencil, coloured ink, coloured markers, various types of water based paint, oil pastels, and a minimum amount of collage. (Check art supply list for more details regarding various mediums/art materials. If people wish to use other materials not on the art supply list consult with instructor prior to using materials.
Check List for Final Project Assignment:
1) 15 mathematical concepts/iterations (Including the 6 mandatory mathematical concepts/iterations)
2) Labels of 15 iterations securely attached to acetate
3) Acetate is securely attached to top edge of work
4) Variety, complexity and unity in the over all design (composition) including:
A) Interaction of shape, line, intervals, colour, material characteristics and their organization in relation to each other in the overall picture.
B) Overlapping of shape and line and how the overlapping enhances the optical illusions of space in the overall composition.
C) Different use of art materials, styles and context and relationship between different sensibilities (controlled/analytical and uncontrolled/intuitive processes/styles).
D) Clarity of intentions in relation to art and math concepts (art concepts being 4 and 5 on this checklist)
5) Art Materials and Process - Integrated investigative process in physicality, layering and optics including:
A) Mark making
B) Thick and thin applications of materials
C) Editing, layering and revising - additive subtractive processes of materials, opaqueness and transparency of materials
D) Matt and gloss surfaces/materials
E) Application of colour through entire project and range of colour mixing
F) Colour interaction and optics of colour with in the space (using colour to create depth)
G) Overall clarity of intentions of materials
H) At least three art materials including one wet medium (acrylic, watercolour, or gauche)
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Additional Information to Complete Assignment:
Process in Making Work:
Forms and elements (mathematical concepts) should overlap at times - consider the overlapping in interesting and unique ways. This is one aspect of the work when considering composition. Some preliminary trial and error explorations are required in the final assignment in terms of balancing the combination of visual elements from being too visually noisy to being boring or too straightforward. Avoid committing into compositional choices for the entire assignment during the early design stages of the work. When budgeting the time to work on the assignment it is best to assume that mistakes will be made and for the most part are unavoidable. Overall the process will involve working through mistakes and ultimately learning more about art materials, art processes and maybe even coming up with a more advanced level of composition in the work. Once again a subtractive additive process and determining which of the chosen materials is opaque and which materials are transparent will be strong tools for learning to edit and layer the work and potentially revise original plans.
As part of the process people may do the following as a study for the final Project: photograph the Final Project in progress, print out the photo of the work in progress, investigate and experiment with art materials on the print out exploring various directions and options for the composition and design of the work. People must find personal processes that work best in allowing preliminary investigations and offer various options when designing and combining shapes, line, colour and art materials into the overall composition. For the final project at the very least people should use the sketchbook to experiment and explore options, ultimately finding variety and solutions to problems when resolving the Final Project. Remember there is a symbiotic relationship between the studies (small preliminary works) and the final project assignment.
Scale of Visual Elements: There can be a hierarchy in scale of visual elements (mathematical concepts and surrounding space). Some concepts may cover the majority of illustration board while other mathematical concepts will cover smaller sections. Consider the visual intervals (distances and optical spaces) between each of the mathematical concepts and consider those visual interactions and overlapping in the overall composition and design.
Colour: Using colour, consider where high contrast and low contrast can be conveyed with in the composition. For further assistance review the colour theory lecture on line for the art component of the course at: http://derekbruecknermathinartcourse.blogspot.ca
Alternative Art Materials not listed in Art Supply List: People are free to augment the assignment by incorporating some alternative art mediums beyond the Supplies List into the Final Project, however this must be discussed in advance with instructor.
Additional Research: Further information regarding design, composition and use of materials will be reiterated in lectures. People may also look at books involving design at the Architecture Fine Arts Library and or research on line.
Consultation with Instructor: Instructor will be available for consultation primarily after each class. For any consultations with instructor regarding the Final Project it would be very important and useful for people to bring sketches or preliminary work, art materials and final project in progress to the consultation. During the consultation the instructor will not expect the work to be resolved, but instead will expect a work in progress with: problems, unresolved areas and mistakes. It is hoped that the consultation will assist the person to potentially pursue new options and experiment/investigate with additional ideas in order to improve or resolve the project. If any aspect of the final project assignment text is unclear please consult with instructor regarding that as well.
Please note consultations should happen well in advance of the Final Project deadline.
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