When a line isn’t there!
Funny enough, I had touched upon Gestalt Theory in key steps one, as the psychological aspect behind art, illustration and the creative world deeply interests me. I find it very fascinating and I like to have hidden meaning in my work.
There are five main principles of the Gestalt Theory which are Proximity, Similarity, Continuity, Closure, and Connectedness.
Closure – we automatically fill in gaps.
Continuity – We follow the flow with lines.
Proximity – We group closer-together elements and separating them from those farther apart.
Similarity – We seek differences and similarities in an image and link similar elements.
Connectedness – We link elements that are linked by other elements.
Other principles include: Common Fate, Common Region, Convexity, Element Connectedness, Figure/Ground, Good Form, Meaningfulness, Prägnanz, Regularity, Symmetry and Synchrony.
“The whole is other than the sum of the parts.”
Kurt Koffka
I wanted to look at both MC Escher and Noma Bar, both who’s art work I instantly recognized.
I was doing my research notes on procreate (Ipad) which will be using mainly for my digital sketchbook. After doing my research notes my thoughts were “I cannot create anything like this” it is FAR too clever for me.
I opened procreate with the words of Yoga in my head “No! Try not! Do or do not, there is no try!”. !
Thinking on the theme “everyday” I thought maybe a hearing aid! and the ear a question mark! and on my first try actually created very unintentionally something with GREAT meaning to myself. (Below) It isn’t perfectly “shaped” like Norma Bar’s work but what is most important this is personal.
In my physical sketchbook (main course – below) I started by creating a “header” with one line, a page exploring random photos popping up on my pinterest and then my cat came and sat by me so I sketched her, I found the “real” source are the better finished result.
(left) personal sketchbook 5 – The post it I’ve stuck on this page is for a later use, just a little something I created with my daughter showing her how to do something and I felt the abstract look would be a perfect little reference for an up and coming research task (Lucy Austin)
While the main sketchbook was drying, I created more cat limited lines and I started to sketch what was in front of me – I really like how I did the paint tubes.
In my personal sketchbook I started to use the paint in front of me, to explore more and have a little play with Noma Bars work in mind. Which inspired the mini painting of a bird that I’ve tried to look like a face as well…
Really liking the paint tubes I created in my personal sketchbook, I took these into my course sketchbook (above) and created one of my favorite pages ever!
I just really love this page.
(Below) I still wanted to explore this more, so found a chance to sit outside and sketch my children running around the garden with limited lines. I found myself sketching the world around them! So this piece not quite in the nature of “limited” lines.
I really enjoyed this section, while not everything I created could have been classed of limited lines, I was careful not to “over use” lines.
One thing I did discover, while I do not often erase my line, I tend to normally work lightly in pencil and then committing to these later by going over in pen. I liked the feeling of working direct with pen in my sketchbook, it hard to pin-point the feeling I felt… “brave” and “freeing” comes to mind!
I also liked the digital piece I created, it hold a lot of meaning to me and who I am, in a way this is the very symbol of my everyday. In fact I liked so much I had a play with colours and (below) is the one I’m most happy with.
Research, credits and references
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_psychology
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/gestalt-principles
https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2014/03/design-principles-visual-perception-and-the-principles-of-gestalt/
https://www.dutchuncle.co.uk/noma-bar
https://mcescher.com/
Emclemmie OCA Sketchbooks 