Beginning Art
Playing Card Design
DECK OUR HALLS
DECK THE HALLS of Orange High
Art HISTORY of the Playing Cards
Artist are inspired to create by everything around them. There are many jobs available in the arts. Artist are needed to create even the common things we see everyday, such as advertisements we receive in the mail, CD covers and yes...playing cards.
Playing cards have been around in some form since 9th century China and moved to Europe by the 14th century. Early cards were handpainted works of art and were only affordable for the wealthy.
Cards are drastically different now and we have cheaper ways to produce them in mass quantity. Playing cards are great examples of symmetrical design. The brain loves symmetrical design. This design serves another purpose which is the card can also be read upside down.
Now let’s see what composition you can develop for your card design...
As a class, we will be designing a symbolic face playing card. Each student will pick a face card (jack, king, queen, king and joker) from the deck. The design will include both sides of the card. (the front and the back) The card design should symbolically represent you with at least two personal elements and the front of the card should incorporate your name in some creative way.. Suggestions but not limited too: Self portrait drawing or photograph is a possibility, or an animal that you feel represent you. Your options are endless and I am looking forward to being AMAZED by your overwhelming creativity. You need to produce two sketches with different design possibilities. Discuss it with Mrs. Henderson or Ms. Daughtry then once your design is approved, see teacher for good paper to complete your card design.
Guidelines for Project:
Medium - Mixed Media-Pen and Colored Pencil
Start symbolic face card design sketches using light pencil and both sides of the card should be considered in your design.
Use pen to outline your design when accenting areas you would like to emphasis
Use Colored pencil and fill in areas of color to enhance your design. Suggestion: practice the color choices on your sketch to ensure the your palette choice works before doing it on your good paper.
Once you feel your design is complete show to your teacher and receive a name tag to fill out. Attach tag to bottom of protective sheet.
Steps:
Receive sketch paper
Complete two sketches and have it approved to receive good paper. Keep in mind these important questions when coming up with your design…
What am I trying to communicate about myself to the viewer?
What is the symbolic meaning behind the images I am using? (Color and animals have symbolic meaning behind them too)
Why did you create this composition the way I did?
How would you explain your choices? You will be asked to share your answers during Critique.
Once design is approved, start by creating a ½ inch border around both side.
Begin transferring your design lightly onto your final paper selected for this project. You want it light enough that pencil lines are easy to erase.
Have your transferred design checked by teacher before beginning final stage.
Receive a black pen and use accent lines to create emphasis in areas of the design on the front and back of card. Colored Pencil has a wax base and if you color first with the colored pencil it will interfere with how well the pen may work. MAKE SURE TO DO PEN FIRST.
Practice on the sketch first with your colored pencil color palette then once you are sure, color your final.
Process is the same for both sides but the design is just different.
Possible techniques to use for the front of card could be Zentangle. This is a drawing technique that can make difficult patterns easier. There are step by step tutorial available online.
Elements and Principles
Lesson
Go to Google Classroom for Assignment Information
Sketchbook Asssignment
Each Element and each Principle will be on one sheet of sketchbook paper
You will make a tab on each page with the Element and Principle on it plus the definition
1. Line- landscape
2. Color- 2 pages divide page into four and one drawing will be traced into each section then painted into different Color Relationship
Analogous, Complementary, Warm Colors, Cool Colors, Split Complementary, Monochromatic, Primary Colors, Tertiary Colors
3. Shape- (Geometric/Organic) Composition should incorporate both types of shapes
4. Form- Form drawing of a sphere, cone, cube and cylinder that is shaded using texture and value
5. Space- Positive and Negative Space 2 pages 1. Negative Space Painting 2. Painting with Positive Space
6. Value- Value drawing of a shoe
7. Texture- Do a study of 10 different types of texture. Such as fur
Principles of Design these pages should represent each principle and it will be the same process
1. Contrast-refers to the arrangement of opposite elements (light vs. dark colors, rough vs. smooth textures, large vs. small shapes, etc.) in a piece so as to create visual interest, excitement and drama. Create art that represent Contrast.
2. Variety- is the use of several elements of design to hold the viewer’s attention and to guide the viewer’s eye through and around the work of art. Create art that represent Variety in your sketchbook.
3. Rhythm/Repetition works with pattern to make the work of art seem active. The repetition
of elements of design creates unity within the work of art. Rhythm- is created when one or more elements of design are used repeatedly to create a feeling of organized movement. Rhythm creates a mood like music or
dancing. To keep rhythm exciting and active, variety is essential.Your art should represent repetition.
4. Pattern is the repeating of an object or symbol all over the work of art. Your art should represent Pattern.
5. Harmony- creates a sense of flow and connection. A calmness in the art. Your art should represent HARMONY
6. Unity- is the feeling of harmony between all parts of the work of art, which creates a sense of completeness.
7. Movement- is the path the viewer’s eye takes through the work of art, often to focal
areas. Such movement can be directed along lines, edges, shape, and color within the
work of art. Page should represent movement in a work of art
8. Emphasis/Focal Point - is the part of the design that catches the viewer’s attention. Usually the
artist will make one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The area could
be different in size, color, texture, shape, etc. Your choice of subject but emphasis should be color
9. Proportion/Scale is the feeling of unity created when all parts (sizes, amounts, or number)
relate well with each other. When drawing the human figure, proportion can refer
to the size of the head compared to the rest of the body. Represent proportion in a drawing of your choice
10. Balance is the distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space.
If the design was a scale, these elements should be balanced to make a design feel
stable. In symmetrical balance, the elements used on one side of the design are
similar to those on the other side; in asymmetrical balance, the sides are different
but still look balanced. In radial balance, the elements are arranged around a central
point and may be similar. Divide a page up and represent different types of balance.
Guidelines for the assignment:
Each page will be incorportate the one element or one principle with a tab with definition and term
Example: Page that incorporate line...landscape compostion that is filled with different types of lines, (such as horizonal, vertical, curvy, diagonal, dotted, zigzag, etc...)