abstraction & gestaltfaculty.ccbcmd.edu/~dciccar2/131/abstractgestalt_handout.pdf · gestalt...
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Abstraction& Gestalt
Deborah CiccarelliARTS 131
Economizition & Abstraction
• Economizing is simplifying
• Abstracting is often more extreme
• Abstraction relies more on color, line style, and rhythm more than representational forms
Picasso
This illustration is economized but not
truly abstracted. We can still recognize
the forms clearly.
JenkinsPhenomena Waves without Wind
MotherwellBeside the Sea with Bulkhead
KandinskyOn White II
Piet MondrianComposition II in Red, Blue, & Yellow
Gestalt & Economizing
• When economizing or abstracting, you can use the theory behind perception to assist you in communicating your forms
Gestalt Theory& Principles
• 1890 Gestalt theory of psychology and perception
• Gestalt = shape
• Principles that artists can use to present visual information
Gestalt Principle: Similarity
• Objects that share visual characteristics (color, size, value, texture, etc.) will be seen as belonging together
Hint: Do you see the red box?
Gestalt Principle: Proximity
• Objects that are closer together will be seen as belonging together
Hint: Do you see 2 columns first? Or 6 rows?
Hint: Do you see how the text is interpreted differently because of the changes in proximity (spacing).
Gestalt Principle: Continuity
• We prefer objects that continue, and will perceive many figures as continuous before they are perceived as separate shapes
Hint: Do you see a plus sign and a circle? They are perceived as continuous and not separate lines.
Gestalt Principle: Closure
• We tend to see complete figures even when information is missing in part of a figure; our mind reacts to familiar things
Hint: Do you see the triangle? We see the missing piece - we close the space visually
Gestalt Principle: Figure / Ground
• The smaller object is perceived as figure while the larger is perceived as ground
Hint: In all examples, the small box is the figure (foreground) no matter what the color or value.
Gestalt Principle: Symmetry
• Whole figures are perceived prior to individual parts that make up a figure
Hint: Do you see the chain before the pieces?
Gestalt Summary:
• Our mind perceives wholes out of incomplete elements
• We search for balance or equilibrium which creates stability
• Things are affected by their surroundings or context
Figure / Ground Ambiguity
Based on the Gestalt principles of Figure and Ground, we can fool the eye.
Which is the figure? Which is the ground?
Is the white the figure against a black background? Or is the black the figure against a white background? It could be either, therefore, it is ambiguous.
Escher’s Work with Figure/Ground Ambiguity
Escher’s Work with Figure/Ground Ambiguity
Economizing & Abstracting
• Return to Line or Shape (our basic forms)
• More attention must be paid to balance, movement, and rhythm.
An example of abstracting an image from the original to line and then to shape
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