Shape and Composition Diptych

Degree of Exploration:
I did not necessarily create my own shapes for this project. I used my ray-o-gram as my original piece and completed a paper cut composition to contrast that ray-o-gram. I had begun with different hair accessories but I was advised by Ms. Seal to add some metal pieces that would contrast with the soft hair accessories. I used the headband's floral design to connect with the metal pieces. I had originally placed one metal piece attached to one of the flowers of the headband as a "stem" of the flower and as an extension from the headband. I then realized that I could contrast the elegant floral design by using more of the metal pieces to form right angles and sharp turns.

Degree of Craftsmanship:
I believe that my process-folio exemplifies my exploration of "shape" because I truly considered shapes that would contrast and improve upon my photogram composition. For instance, I truly experimented with the sharp corners and transformed it into more of a wavy texture. I had spent a lot of my effort in transforming the sharp turns into wavy and gentle turns in my paper-cut composition. Also, I was unable to spend as much effort and time on the ray-o-gram compared to the time I had spent on my paper-cut composition. I think that my cut paper composition has truly been successful in contrasting the floral design of the headband and the sharp turns of the metal pieces.

Level of Technical understanding and growth:
I think that I have developed technically in areas of the collage. When I had created my first cut paper composition, I was unable to explore more freely with the shapes because I didn't quite have the same comfort and understanding of making these collages. I am glad that I was able to use different shapes more freely and have a better understanding of creating a collage. I think that I also have a better understanding of using the enlarger in the dark room. I was able to manipulate the presentation of several of the objects more clearly and thoughtfully in my last few ray-o-gram compositions. For instance, my first ray-o-grams had objects that did not show up clearly. I learned to pick bigger objects with more negative space that would appear better in my ray-o-grams.

Degree of Insight in "aesthetic valuing" and self-reflection:
I was definitely thorough during my peer pairing. However, we didn't quite have enough time to completely draw out on the tracing paper different, contrasting ideas for our compositions. We tried to tell each other verbally our ideas of how to make our cut paper compositions contrast with our ray-o-grams. Also, I have truly spent time to reflect upon and even enjoy the process of each project through posting on my blog. I also enjoy the posting a complete picture of my compositions for my blog because I love the sense of having accomplished the art project.

Cut Paper Composition

I had chosen the "balance" category for my paper composition. However, when I had started this project, I did not expect to create my composition in terms of "balance". I had begun with the two big white sections in the corners of my composition. I truly enjoyed the symmetrical balance between the two white sections; however, at that point, I still needed to fill in the massive black space in between the two white spaces. As advised, I created two strips of paper that outlined the wavy figure/outline of the white pieces of paper in the corners of my composition. Those two strips of paper definitely helped me narrow down the space left in between the two spaces of white paper. However, in my pile of random cut-out figures, I had a figure that almost resembled a leaf. I wanted the style of the leaf to correspond with the style of the two pieces of paper. I had previously created a contrast between the "black positive space" as well as the "white positive space" within the white blocks of paper. As a matter of fact, I had also included a contrasts between positive and negative space in between the wave-like strip of paper and the white paper block in the corner of my composition. Similarly, I had cut out part of the middle of the leaf-like figure to show the contrast between positive and negative space. In addition, I wanted to make the center of the composition slightly more intriguing because the corners of my composition were already so symmetrical. I decided to show how the balance of a certain leaf's curvature was affected by the following leaf.

Rayogram

My composition was successful because I combined both a soft, elegant hair accessory with some more tough metal pieces. My previous compositions had only hair accessories and jewelry which did not vary the types of materials in my composition. I truly enjoyed the variation and contrast between the elegant and slightly more harsh objects. When working with a classmate, I was advised to use or add some slightly more harsh and abrupt parts in the elegant part of the headband; as well as, adding some more elegant, soft lines or figures within the metal pieces. My previous paper composition was truly focused on the balance and symmetry of the figures. I had chosen this rayogram partially because I enjoyed that this composition showed more of a rhythm rather than the rigid and balance structure of my last composition. In my previous composition, I chose to show a greater contrast between positive and negative space; however, in this composition, the contrast between the positive and negative space is not as distinct. The contrast is mostly within the headband part of my composition. I also enjoy that in my composition, there is a connection between the gentle flowers of the headband and the abrupt metal parts.
Within the next two days I plan to contrast the positive space by including more cut objects of negative space. For instance, the headband greatly shows positive and negative space; however, the metal pieces greatly lack negative space and I intend to use my previous technique on my last composition by creating almost "a reflection"/outline of the nails with cut paper figures. However, I would also love to include my classmate's suggestion of adding in more contrasting gentle, wavy lines to the abrupt metal pieces. Therefore, I plan to take paper strips of a slightly wavy figure to contrast the positive and negative space; as well as, add in a slightly more continuous transition from the elegant flowers of the headband to these metal pieces. I am also planning to contrast some of the soft, rounded petals of the flowers with some more rectangular or abrupt paper-cut figures. I definitely intend to see a great combination of the skills and strengths from my previous composition with my rayogram over the course of the next two days.