Design Principles Task 2: Visual Analysis

| Tang Chin Ting [ 0366473 ]

| 21.02.2024 - 06.03.2024 (WEEK 3-WEEK 5)

| Design Principles / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media

| Task 2: Visual Analysis

---

INSTRUCTIONS

---

LECTURES

Topic 6: Visual Analysis

Visual Analysis:

• Is a method of understanding design that focuses on the visual elements and principles.
• In its strictest definition - a description and explanation of visual structure for its own sake. 
• The purpose of visual analysis can also recognise the choices that a designer made in creating the design, as well as to better understand how the formal properties of a design communicate ideas, content, or meaning. 

How does visual analysis work?

• Phase 1: Observation
• Phase 2: Analysis
• Phase 3: Interpretation

Phase 1: Observation

• Observation means closely looking at and identifying the visual elements of a design, trying to describe them carefully and accurately in your own words. Do not read beforehand about the design at all.
• The observation phase is about looking, thinking, and finding good language to communicate what you notice.  

Phase 2: Analysis

• Analysis requires you to think about your observations and try to make statements about the work based on the evidence of your observations.
• How are your eyes led through the work and why? Apply the design principles knowledge you have learnt.

Phase 3: Interpretation

• In this final phase, your observations, description, and analysis of the work are fused with facts about the design work (and in some cases the designer) and historical context that you find in trustworthy published sources. 
• What is the meaning of the design? What was the purpose for it to be created?

---

SUBMISSION

Task 2: Visual Analysis

Recap Task 2 Brief: We are required to assess, investigate, document and analyse the existing art/design work that we selected in Task 1. After this, write a 300 to 350 words visual analysis of the selected design. I have chose this piece of art for my task, which is draw by a Scottish artist called Caroline Walker.

Figure 1.1 "Night Feed" by Caroline Walker

Phase 1: Observation

        The arrangement of this oil painting artwork is meant to look like a portrait. This artwork just features the mother and baby as figures. It is midnight, and the mom is feeding her baby under a bright light. The primary source of light in this artwork is a window at the upper right. Additionally, a cot is located on the left side. There is a lot of light and shadow in this piece of art, creating a contrast between brightness and darkness. In terms of the visual elements, it is obvious that the colors used in this work of art vary from bright brown to dark brown. Brown serves as the dominant color scheme. This image is mostly monotone and lacks any other colors. This artwork is displayed in a sketchy way. (132 words)

Phase 2: Analysis

    The three design principles of emphasis, unity, and contrast are all present in this work of art. In terms of emphasis, we can see that the baby in the center has significantly brighter coloring than the other characters. However, the painting's limited color scheme highlights its simplicity and unity. It conveys a strong message about hierarchy. In addition, because of the extreme contrast between light and dark, "Night Feed" has a high-value contrast painting. (74 words)

Phase 3: Interpretation

       This piece of art from the "Observed Women" show in Shang Hai, China. This exhibition ran from November 8th, 2022 until February 12th, 2023. This artwork heavily employs the technique of extreme contrast between light and dark. This is a technical painting style that gained popularity during the Renaissance in the fifteenth century which called "Chiaroscuro". Contrast is driving the Chiaroscuro, without the use of contour lines, things are defined by their contrast, and volume is created by the strongest shadows. (Lesso, 2023b). This type of artwork features dark themes that are lighted by the one light that isn't apparent. This piece of art makes full use of this painting style. Figures 1.2 & 1.3 as examples that use the same technique with the artwork I picked. (127 words)

Reference: Lesso, R. (2023b, April 4). What Is Chiaroscuro in Art? (5 Key Examples). The Collector.

Total words: 333 words

Figure 1.2 "Third of May 1808" by Christine Zappella

Figure 1.3 "The Young Seamstress" by Harold Knight

---

FEEDBACK

Week 4: Mr. Zeon said that while my work is outstanding overall, I forgot to note that the phase 1 painting includes a cot and a window. Additionally, the lightning that comes from the window was not mentioned, thus I will need to include these details in the development of my phase 1. In addition, all I have to do for step 2 is identify the principles of direction and describe how they are expressed in this artwork. I must organise this part related to phase 1 because some of the lines in it were relevant to phase 1. The details are sufficient since I am mentioning the Renaissance in phase 3. I must emphasise the application of this type of design in art. Once I do these, I may begin to consider my third task.

Week 5: Mr. Zeon asked me to include The Renaissance's reference link. The word counts at the end of each paragraph and the overall word count are then provided in the next line of the three phases. In addition, I have removed every word of "I" from my explanation of the three phases.

---

REFLECTION

           This assignment has shown me the value of a designer performing visual analysis. Analyzing visual art may improve our aesthetics, pleasing as each piece of art has a particular purpose in design. Concerning the artwork that I have selected, oil paintings with this kind of design have a long history and are still often used by modern designers. Even if it appears a little chaotic, the messages and thoughts are expressed rather properly. In addition, I've learned that visual analysis may increase my experience, I will go through several well-known artworks while I'm doing research. I've also come across a tonne of really good works of art that were produced with advanced techniques. This is the section that is most crucial in this task.

---

FURTHER READING

    

    1. Aela, E. (2023, January 23). Chiaroscuro: The Art of Light and Shadow. Aelaschool.com.                                                                                

               https://aelaschool.com/en/art/light-shadow-chiaroscuro-art/

    2. Chiaroscuro and Sfumato - Modern Art Terms and Concepts. (n.d.). The Art Story.

                                                                                 https://www.theartstory.org/definition/chiaroscuro-tenebrism-sfumato/

       

    3. Lesso, R. (2023b, April 4). What Is Chiaroscuro in Art? (5 Key Examples). The Collector.

    

                 https://www.thecollector.com/what-is-chiaroscuro-in-art-key-examples/

      

   4.The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2015). Chiaroscuro. In Encyclopædia Britannica.

                    https://www.britannica.com/art/chiaroscuro

   5. The Young Seamstress | Art UK. (n.d.). Artuk.org. Retrieved March 5, 2024, from

               https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-young-seamstress-90169

     6. Zappela, C. (2018). Goya, Third of May, 1808. Khan Academy.

        

                  https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/becoming-modern/romanticism/romanticism-in-spain/a/goya-third-of-may-1808