The purpose of developing visual literacy is to allow someone to see not only what is there but also what is not there. Visual language will not train you to be an artist. It will train you to think like one however.
Artists and creative problem solvers utilize three tools to arrive at a solution.
Embracing Ambiguity- Assignments given in this class will have a large degree of ambiguity. Most are afraid of embracing this ambiguity but creative people are not. There are a vast amount of solutions waiting to be discovered if you unafraid to dive into the deep end of the pool. Through exercises in the use of design elements such as line, shape, texture, value and color students will learn to become comfortable with ambiguity.
Play! Think of this class as recess from your daily routine. Students will develop creative thinking, develop curiosity, seek questions (not answers), develop ideas, and play through experimentation. You will be wrong more times than correct when you play to discover ideas. Being creative is a process and often you will not know the solution until you arrive at one.
Research –An artist is insatiable in their quest to know a subject completely. During the course of the semester students will be encouraged to research and discover art that interests them and engage with ideas the artist is communicating to the viewer through the use of design principles such as Balance, Unity and Variety (Gestalt Theory), Rhythm and Emphasis
Learning Outcomes: At semester’s end, the student will be able to,
· Analyze an unfamiliar work of art, recognize the visual elements and design principles employed and to be able to speak about formal aspects present in the piece.
· Create well-composed, resolved abstract and representational pieces that manipulate the elements of design (line, shape, texture, value and color) and design principles(unity, variety, emphasis and rhythm) effectively.
· Use visual vocabulary coherently
Further develop the capacity to think creatively- Teacher: Russell Horton