Challenge 66- Line and Color

Fast Friday Fabric Challenge #66                                       Due:   March 3rd              

Elements of Color and Line                                                        Host:  Cynthia Morgan

Challenge:  Use the element of Line and the 3 elements of Color (Hue, Value, Intensity) in a design study piece.  You will need 2 inspiration sources:  one for line, another for color

Definitions: 

·         Line:  the basic element that refers to the continuous movement of a point along a surface, there are curved, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, zigzag, wavy, parallel, dash, and dotted lines. The edges of shapes and forms also create lines.

·         Hue:  the name of the color, also known as the color family.  There are 12 colors/hues/color families on the color wheel :  red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange, yellow, yellow-green, green, blue-green, blue, blue-violet, violet (purple), and red-violet

·         Value:  the relative darkness or lightness of a color: light, medium, dark and everything in between

·         Intensity (or Saturation):  the relative brightness or dullness of a color: tints, tones, shades and pure hues

         Tints – white added to pure hue   Tones – grayed hues    Shades – blackened hues
         For more on Intensity see here:  http://resources.quiltwoman.com/blockmo.html



Tints with white added to pure hue

  

Shades with black added to pure hue

Tones with gray added to pure hue

Challenge Instructions:


Step 1:  Design with Lines.  Find an image with appealing lines (architectural, nature, textures).  Trace the lines.  Use a viewfinder/paper window to select an interesting portion of the traced lines. Trace the selection and enlarge if needed

Step 2:  Color Study. Find an image/source with an appealing color scheme (photos, art, magazines, fabric, nature, etc).  Identify the color families.  Add a zinger color if needed.  Make color chart with colored pencils, crayons, watercolor, fabric swatches or paper from magazines.  Arrange colors from light to dark.  Evaluate to make sure you have some of all of the values and intensities – light/medium/dark/pure hue/tint/tone and shade.  Add colors as needed to get the variety of values and intensities.  Decide on the proportions of colors to use.  Avoid equal amounts of colors.  Zinger amount should be no more than 10%

Step 3:  Make your small art quilt using the line design with the colors, values and intensities from the color study. 

Remember this important rule:  better done than perfect!    Don’t agonize about which image or color scheme to use, just choose one.   Make a small piece and/or use quick fusing techniques if you don’t have much time.  This is a design study and exercise meant for experimenting with line and color.  Don’t worry about how it will come out, just play with the line and color, don’t try to make a masterpiece or even a good piece…just do it!

References:

·         Look at some of these texture websites for line images – the wood grains are especially interesting  http://www.cgtextures.com/    http://www.texturewarehouse.com/gallery/ www.mayang.com/textures

·         Look at some of these websites for possible color schemes  http://decoratinggallery.bhg.com/   http://www.colourlovers.com/trends http://www.nationalgeographic.com/  http://www.gettyimages.com/CreativeImages                                                                                                

·         Look at some of these design websites for  understanding the element of Line http://www.slideshare.net/ebrosnan/the-element-of-line http://char.txa.cornell.edu/language/element/element.htm

·         This challenge is based on the Design Process exercise found in Jean Wells’ book, Intuitive Color & Design – page 68.  Here’s a trailer for the book   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GtHr6_qHg0    You don’t need to buy the book to do this challenge…all the info you need is above, but it’s a great book for design and also construction techniques and edge finishing.

Here’s my step by step example of this exercise :



Line Inspiration (Back cover of book)



Tracing of some of the lines



Color Inspiration (a piece of fabric)



Identification of Colors, Values & Intensities   



Decision on proportions of each color family



The quilt