Your test will have two sections:
Creative Process
Design Critiques
Creative Problem-Solving Process
1) List the stages of the creative process.
List them in order using the titles presented in class.
2) Describe the focus, purpose or task of each stage.
Describe what are you trying to accomplish during this stage. Be thorough and use complete sentences to make your thoughts clear.
3) Describe what you did during the development of your Nature Study that related to each stage of the creative process.
What kind of analysis or research did you do? How many kinds of research did you do? Did you explore prior Nature Studies? Did you explore book-making methods and materials? Did you research different topics? Did you research information about your final topic? Its likely you did several kinds of analysis.
How did you ideate? Do you fill pages of your sketchpad with layouts? ...with illustrations? ...did you explore various techniques? How many kinds of ideating did you really do? Did you write down lists of ideas?
How did you define your specific, personal goals for your Nature Study? Did you write a clear problem statement? Did you define the look and connotations of your study? (you might not have...too many of us don't ever develop a clear goal for their designs.)
Design Critiques
Visual Elements (ch 7-13)
Be familiar with the visual elements discussed in Chapter 7-13. You will not have to list or define these topics, but in order to discuss analysis questions, you will need to be familiar with them.
Visual Elements include:
line, point, shape, mass/volume, color/value, texture, space, pattern, time, motion, (type)
Principles of Organization (ch 2-6)
Each “principle” offers strategies for altering and adjusting form for effect. You will not have to list or define these topics, but in order to discuss analysis questions, you will need to be familiar with them.Design Principles include:
Contrast, balance/weight (symetry, assymetry, radial symetry), repetition, similarity, variety, continuity/movement/direction, grouping/containment/proximity, isolation(white space), closure, proportion, emphasis, alignment/order, anomaly, relief, etc.
Critiques:
You will be shown one or more works of art or design.
For at least one design, you will be asked to describe (write about) how unity is established and how variety is established. For at least one design, you will be asked where the focal areas are and how those focal areas are established. You may be asked about relief areas as well.
Consider: What features or traits have been selected, altered or controlled so as to introduce variety, visual interest…contrast?
What features or arrangements have been selected, altered or controlled so as to create unity, similarity, orderliness, simplicity…repetition?
How do I prepare for the critiques?
You can practice doing exactly what you'll be doing during the test. There are several artworks posted online that have been critiqued — critical comments have been posted. Take time to write your own critiques, then compare notes.
Try this:
1) Go to one of the critique examples. (1) (2) (3)
2) select one of the topics ("Unity: Describe the forms that contribute to the unity of this composition.")
3) Take several minutes just to look at the artwork.
Describe everything you see — respond as completely as possible without reading the critique that has been posted. Note that just reading the posted comments will not prepare you nearly as well as writing your own critical comments — you need to develop both your ability to see underlying form, and your ability to describe what you see. Do your own looking and your own describing — then compare to what others have said.
4) Now compare what you wrote to the critique comments posted online. See what you overlooked.
See whether your description is as thorough as that posted.
Some of the posted comments are very thorough — they say much more than would be needed during a test or written critique assignment.
For tests, aim for at least three distinct features — observe and describe three different things that create unity, or create variety or emphasis. More is better, but in most grading situations, if I see three distinct traits described well, you'll get most- or full credit.
5) If you have trouble seeing the forms noted in the posted critiques, feel free to contact your professor.
You can arrange a time to
meet with the professor. You can also just send your critique comments in an email to the prof.
Get feedback on what you are noticing, what you are not seeing, and how you might describe your observations more clearly.