Project 6: Final Project
Due Date: June 31, 2008

Materials: Open- Can be printed, painted, drawn, or photographed. You may use the computer as an part of the process of making. You may mix media as well.
Size: Open, but no more than 36" x 36", and no smaller than 11" x 17"
Specific Element: Line, Shape, Texture, Value, Color, Scale
Specific Principles: Unity, Variety, Emphasis, Scale, Proportion, Movement, Repetition, Economy, Balance

Assignment Guidelines:

This piece is the culmination of your exploration this semester. You will utilize all the design elements and principles covered in the class for this project, creating a harmonious final composition to display and present for the class. Your influence and source imagery for this project will be drawn from both fine art and popular culture. Your design ideas and project proposal are due June 24th in your process folio for consultation with the instructor.

1. Choose an artist whose work you enjoy or admire from the list of artists provided in class. Research their style, use of composition and color, and subject matter. Complete a few studies of their works in your process folio.
2. Write a 1 ½ to 2 page article about the artist explaining the following:
   • What movement is the artist associated with? What are the characteristics of that style?
   • How can the artist’s work be described in terms of formal design characteristics, use of color, etc?
   • What were/are the artist’s preferred techniques and materials?
   • Any history or personal material on the artist you feel is pertinent to their work.
   • This article must be printed for the instructor and turned in to Turnitin.com by the due date.

   Make the article interesting and dynamic. For ways of writing about artists, consult magazines like Art in America, ArtForum, ArtNews, FlashArt, and other journals and magazines that report on art, like Vogue or The New York Times. Take your article to the writing center and turn in the proofread rough draft for extra credit.

3. You will then integrate visual imagery from popular culture with the style of the artist you have chosen, utilizing one or more of the media we have explored this semester. The idea is to alter the original artist’s imagery in such a way as to make it your own unique commentary or concept — in other words, to appropriate it, but not copy it. A central idea of this project is integrating what is often called "high art"— or the fine art media of painting, drawing, printmaking and collage — with "low art"— more popular culture art forms like illustration, graffiti, animation and graphic design.
4. Write a proposal of your idea for the final project and present it to the instructor with a minimum of three color sketches of possible designs. Make sure you consider all the design elements and principles for this work, and change the original source imagery in some substantial way. Simply copying or re-painting a work by another artist is not sufficient.
5. You can choose to make a work that is a series of photos, a painting, a drawing, or a print; a mixed media piece; or an object that bridges 2D and 3D. As there are many options, and you will be limited by time, choose a type of work that you are familiar with and will stay engaged with. Do not try new media or materials we did not cover in class or that you feel less than confident with.
6. Be prepared to present the concepts and ideas you had behind the work to the class on the critique day. Your work must be professionally presented, and must use all the design elements and principles for a strong, visually interesting design.

Grading Objectives:

1. Are all design principles fully considered for a unified, harmonious composition?
2. Is the negative space activated, with dynamic movement in the design?
3. Are all size and materials guidelines are adhered to?
4. Does the student use a variety of color, value, texture, shape, and scale in the design?
5. Is the work economical, but also finished to completion?
6. Does the work unify a visual, pop-culture image into an original design of the student’s?
7. In whichever media or materials are utilized, does the level of technique and craftsmanship add to the design?