musical concert

Visual Project

Build a Picture of the Pygmalion Myth

Bang, Molly. Picture This: Perception & Composition. A Bulfinch Press Book, Little, Brown & Company 1991

Artist illustrator Molly Bang used simple cutout geometric shapes to structure this illustration for “Little Red Riding Hood”. This work is the culmination of the process she went through to develop a cohesive, reasoned design. In her book, she illustrates the elements of art and principles of design in a clear concise manner. As she moves through the process of building the picture, she demonstrates the relationship between picture structure and our emotions.

Artists use lines, shapes, value, and colors to tell a story and to evoke an emotional response to that story. Bang considers carefully the shape sizes and configuration (geometric or organic), placement on the picture plane, and the relationship between color and emotions.

Shapes and colors are seen in context - what surrounds them. We create shapes by deliberately cutting or drawing them or by placing a positive shape (the created shape) on a flat plane. The area around the positive shape forms a negative shape by default – a counter shape. In Bang’s work, the negative shapes would be the mauve areas. Try this. Cut any large shape (no larger than the mat board) and place it somewhere on the 8.5”x11” surface. Try to concentrate on the negative shape produced the positive shape. Can you see the negative shape? Our tendency is to concentrate on the positive shapes (the boldest shapes). Both positive and negative shapes are important to the development of a dynamic design. In a good design, each element is important, including the negative space or shape. All parts come together as a unified whole. The viewer sees the entire design before its individual parts.

Your visual project is to build a picture of the Pygmalion myth. Make a list of words to describe each character in the Greek Myth. First, build a picture with words – adjectives. Use several words to describe each character and words to describe the setting of the story. For example, one word to describe Pygmalion might be arrogant. (This is just a word I am thinking about not necessarily correct to describe Pygmalion). Think of a number of words to describe what you believe to be his character.

Then consider abstract shapes, types of lines (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) and range of colors that will define the main characters and the setting of the myth. Go back to the Pygmalion Assignments #1 and review your answers to the assignment. Review your notes about the elements of art and consider how the use of the elements helps to create the structure and content of the picture.

Color paper with magic markers or use colored paper from glossy magazines to cut out the shapes. Cut a variety of shape sizes. Consider which Pygmalion character you think is the most important, make that shape the largest, then the least important the smallest. After playing with the shapes and counter shapes, decide on the best arrangement and glue the pieces down. Fill the entire surface of the picture plane. Look carefully at the results. Does your design tell the story pictorially and emotionally? Is your design unified? Ask a family member or friend to look at the work and to tell you how they read your picture. Others’ views are sometimes valuable.

Your goal is to think through the process and develop a unified design. Ask yourself if the design you create to personify Pygmalion reads as a whole. Have you visually conveyed your idea about the characters and theme of the piece? You will be graded on the thought process, not your skill as an artist. Have fun with this project.

On the back of the mat board, attach a description of your reasoning process, why you chose the colors and shapes for the design. What do they signify?

Materials: 1. 8.5”x11” Mat Board (shirt box or other stiff board)

2. Magic Markers

3. Colored Paper (Do not use packaged paper. Find colors in glossy

magazines.)

4. Scissors

5. Cement Glue

6. Computer

www.mollybang.com/Pages/picture.html