LESSON 2
SCRAWLY PATTERNS
STRUCTURE 2.0
OBJECTIVES
2.1
INTRODUCTION
2.2
SCRAWL 2.2.1 DEFINITION
2.3
SCRAWLS IN DESIGNS
2.4
ASSIGNMENTS 2.4.1 CLASS ASSIGNMENT 2.4.2 HOME ASSIGNMENT
2.5 SUMMING UP 2.6
POSSIBLE ANSWERS TO SELF-CHECK QUESTIONS
2.7
TERMINAL QUESTIONS
2.8
REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED FURTHER READING
2.9
GLOSSARY
2. SCRAWLY PATTERNS In the previous lesson, you had learnt about the three visual elements, namely, Dot, Line and Shape. In this second lesson of Unit 1, you will be introduced to free flowing lines or scrawls and how they can form attractive visual textures.
1.0
Objectives After going through this lesson, you will:
1.1
•
Acquire an understanding of what is a scrawl.
•
Understand how to make a composition with the help of a scrawl.
Introduction
Designs are visual effects created from free flowing lines drawn in coordination with other lines. As we saw in the previous lesson, lines are formed from dots. In this lesson you will be learning about scrawl, which is an extension of the line itself (Fig. 2.1). You will also see how scrawls can be used to fill compositions and provide an interesting visual texture to a piece. An understanding of these basic elements is essential for creating aesthetic designs.
Fig. 2.1 A Scrawl
2.2
Scrawl
2.2.1 Definition A scrawl can be said to be a free, flowing line / form without a definite shape. When we draw out an arbitrary form with the help of a pencil, leaving markings in any odd direction, we create a scrawl. A scrawl can have smooth, flowing lines with soft rounded edges (Fig. 2.2) or have lines going at sharp angles in any direction (Fig. 2.3).
Fig. 2.2 Scrawl with smooth, rounded edges
Fig. 2.3 Scrawl with angular edge
Self-check Questions Fill in the blanks 1. Scrawl is an extension of the ____________ itself. 2. A scrawl can be said to be _______________ without a definite _____________.
2.3
Scrawls in Designs
Scrawls and textures fill in various compositions in our surroundings. Some examples are: •
Calligraphy (Fig. 2.4)
A
B
C
Fig. 2.4 Persian (A), Chinese (B) and Egyptian (C) Calligraphy
•
Embroidery stitches (Figs 2.5, 2.6 & 2.7)
Fig. 2.5
•
Fig. 2.6
Fig. 2.7
In home textiles, quilting patterns use a lot of scrawl designs (Figs. 2.8 & 2.9)
Fig. 2.8
•
In different art Forms (Figs 2.10 & 2.11)
Fig. 2.10
2.4
Fig. 2.9
Fig. 2.11
Assignments
2.4.1 Class assignment i) On an A4 sheet make at least 12 different scrawl patterns. Some of them can be curved loops and the others can be made of sharp lines. In the next exercise use a window template. For this, take thick white ivory sheet, 6'' x 6'' and cut out a small window of 2'' x 2'' in the center. Now place this template on all the scrawls you have made in the previous exercise and look for interesting compositions that you might see in the 2'' x 2'' square window. You should move the template around the work and look for pleasing and aesthetic compositions. The template helps you see the work you want and concentrate on that particular area without any visual disturbance by the surrounding lines. Now choose 4 interesting compositions out of all your work. Enlarge these onto an 8'' x 8'' boxes on ivory sheet. These can be enlarged using the photocopying machine. The lines that you have drawn should then be done in black ink using a rotering 0.5 pen. Always remember to use rotering pen perpendicular to the paper surface. It should not be used at an angle, the way you would use your ordinary pen. You have learnt about textures in your last course – Colour and Texture. Any dot, line and shape can be used as a texture. Let us revise the textures that we can
create using pen and ink. (Insert a chart of all the textures in black ink – these will include stippling, cross hatching, scrawly loops, short, long lines, spirals, curves and a mixture of shapes (triangles, intersecting squares etc). All these textures should be shown in 2'' x 2'' squares. ii) Trace out 4 times the four different compositions from the last exercise on different ivory sheets. Now the areas or pockets that you see in your composition need to be filled with various textures. You can choose from the textures chart shown above or you can create your own new ones. Think freely, nothing should limit your imagination while doing this exercise. Each of these compositions will be filled in 4 different media: (i)
Fill using rotering pen in black ink.
(ii)
Fill areas in just lines – they can be thick, thin or diagonal or cross hatched or the spacing can be different between the lines
(iii)
Fill areas in poster paint – choose a family of colours like blues and greens or oranges and reds and so on.
(iv)
Lastly, you will fill in poster paint but only using dots. Here the interaction of coloured dots will bring out another colour.
All your 4 final artworks should be placed on thick black paper with a border of 3'' on all sides. 2.4.2 Home assignment i)
Collect some pictures of lines and scrawls, from magazines and newspapers and make a collage from them.
2.5
Summing Up
We have learnt about scrawls and how they are used in various designs. Let us now summarize what we have learnt in this class: •
A scrawl can be said to be a free/ flowing line/ form without a definite shape.
•
A scrawl can have smooth, flowing lines with soft rounded edges or lines going at sharp angles in any direction.
•
The window template helps us see the work we want and concentrate on that particular area without any visual disturbance of the surrounding lines.
•
Scrawls can be used in filling compositions and lend an interesting textures and visual texture to the piece.
2.6
Possible Answers to the Self-check Questions 1. Scrawl is an extension of the line itself. 2. A scrawl can be said to be a free, flowing line / form without a definite shape.
2.7
Terminal Questions
1. Define and explain the term ‘Scrawl’. 2. Give some examples of ‘Scrawls’. 3. Fill in the blanks: i) A scrawl can have ______________________ with soft rounded edges or lines going at sharp angles in any direction. ii) The _______________ helps us see the work we want and concentrate on that particular area without any visual disturbance of the surrounding lines. iii) ________ can be used in filling compositions and lend an interesting visual texture to the piece.
2.8
References and Suggested Further Reading
1. Betala, R. 2005. Design Comprehension and Visualization. Ane Books, Delhi. 2. Yates, M. 1986. Textile: A hand book for designers. W.W. Norton & Co. New York.
2.9
Glossary
1. Composition: Work of art 2. Arbitrary: Random 3. Curved Loops: A curve that bends round and crosses itself 4. Template: Pattern 5. Aesthetic: Artistic 6. Concentrate: Give attention to 7. Imagination: Thought 8. Calligraphy: Inscription