Task 2: Visual Analysis Design Principles (202502)

LEBON STEPHANIE AMELIE JUDITH

0362853

Task 2: Visual Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Task 1: https://stephaniesdesignblog.blogspot.com/2025/02/design-principles-202502.html
• Instructions.
• Task 2.
• Feedback.
• Reflection.

INSTRUCTIONS

TASK 2

Chosen Art Work

Fig 1.1 Chosen art work.
https://manniartgallery.com/colbert-nourrice.html

Details: 

• Name: Men Machine
• Artist: Colbert Nourrice
• Size: 150x200cm
• Technique: Oil on canvas

There are also a few design principles in this design such as balance, unity, harmony and repetition.

Visual Analysis:

Observation:

This artwork a black and grey (monochromatic) artwork which use made using oil on canvas. The primary forms are the 3 circles in the center withe the largest wheel like one being the main point of emphasis, there is also frame like area with a shadow to give depth as if the rectangle is elevated above the rest of the art. There are also a lot of small shaded circles and dots surrounded with random lines that short of look like cells. Below in Fig 1.2 there are many figures doing many things below such as running all around the composition, working using a hammer shaped tool, holding up the large wheellike circle in the center of the composition and sitting down to rest and have conversation.

Fig 1.2 Observations.

Analysis:

This design contains movement in the form of the figures walking and running all around the artwork. Balance in terms of the composition being symmetrical vertically and horizontally, the circular forms also show the equilibrium. There is also contrast in the lighter tones of grey and black making the forms stand out more. Repetition also exists in the many figures running, walking, sitting, dots and the circular forms. Even if this art work might be on the more complex side due to the color palette and repetition there is harmony and unity in the composition. Finally there is also emphasis due to the bolder wheel like circular forms and frame with a drop shadow.

Fig 1.3 Analysis.

Interpretation:

This artwork is named man machine and this art piece is almost supposed to show how man can be like a machine. From moving around like a machine, to working like a machine, to recharging. I believe the circles in the center are supposed to represent a clock to prove the way we are most alike, a schedule. Man work on a schedule like machine.

Ideation:

Using the same color scheme and a similar art style I can create a piece representing schedule in a easier to understand way using most of the same design principles. Things that need to be included are a symbol representing time preferably circular form and use of figures doing all the given actions. Including these are to keep the concept the same and the purpose of the artwork the same.

Sketch 1:

A more zoomed into artwork focusing on time and movement. In this sketch I tried to show a part of a clock like form using a man as a hand and showing running, working and conversing along the different hours of the clock. All my extraction from the original artwork are shown in figure 2.2.

Fig 2.1 Extracting and composition.

Fig 2.2 The extraction.

As I digitalize this I will change the art style to something more original to me and add more detail.

Fig 2.3 Sketch 1 .

Figure 2.3 shows the final concept which represent the idea of  humans tend to live on a schedule like a machine. In this composition the main form is a closeup of the human clock showing how hour to hour the figures do different tasks the us of the cell patterns reinforce the "Men" in "Men Machine".

Sketch 2:

Using the artwork "I want to be a machine" by Andy Warhol as a visual reference as seen in Fig3.1 and  my chosen artwork "Men Machine" by Colbert Nourrice as seen in Fig1.1 I combined both concepts to create a composition consisting of 2 figures and the cell pattern. taken from my chosen artwork and the mechanical parts from my visual references. This composition shows men being machine, keeping the overall concept of my chosen art work and use of the cell pattern is used to create contrast between man made and organic.

Visual reference for sketch 2:

Fig 3.1 Visual reference.
https://www.studiointernational.com/andy-warhol-and-eduardo-paolozzi-i-want-to-be-a-machine-review-scottish-national-gallery-modern-art

Fig 3.2 Extraction from original artwork.

Fig 3.3 Sketch 2 with labels.

Fig 3.4 Sketch 2 with background.

Sketch 3:

For this composition I extracted the figures and a circular form from my chosen artwork as seen in Fig 4.1 and rearrange them to create a new concept that contradicts the original purpose of my chosen artwork shown in Fig 4.2 . Rather than man functioning like machine they break the loop and take a break. as the circular form resembled a dart board i decided to play around on that and made darts in red to create contrast and emphasis.

Fig 4.1 Extraction of Fig 1.1.

Fig 4.2 Sketch 3 line art using extraction.

Fig 4.3 Sketch3 v2.

References:

https://manniartgallery.com/colbert-nourrice.html

https://www.studiointernational.com/andy-warhol-and-eduardo-paolozzi-i-want-to-be-a-machine-review-scottish-national-gallery-modern-art

FEEDBACK

Week 5 : Specific: Wording before images, fix captions to images and add link to task 1

General: Complete Task 2

Week 4 : Specific: Continue with completing the task while increasing image and font size. 

General: Complete Task 2

Week 3 : Specific:

General: Start Task 2

REFLECTION

Experience

Overall in this task it was a good experience and I learned  lot of observing, analyzing and understanding art pieces which leaded to being able to create prototypes that can change the compositions while keeping the overall ideas in the form of my sketches.

Observations

I observed my chosen artwork and visual references to further understand design principles and why they exist.

Findings

I found out a lot about brainstorming, observing, creating concepts, problem solving and meeting deadlines.