How do your eyes “travel” through an image? What “traffic signals” create the direction/path for your eyes to travel on?

What if there was no color to help mark the way? What methods could an artist use to guide the movement of your eyes?

Text as Texture

Your task is to create an image that generates movement and rhythm using black and white text as texture

Movement

Consciously placed images and objects in a composition to provide visual cues for the viewers’ eyes to travel across the surface.

Rhythm

Repetition of a chosen visual theme within a composition. Recurring shapes, lines, colors and values create rhythmic linkage.

In design there are five kinds of repetition:

In design there are five kinds of repetition:

1. Simple regularity—like shapes and intervals, as is seen in a picket fence.

In design there are five kinds of repetition:

1. Simple regularity—like shapes and intervals, as is seen in a picket fence.

2. Alternation—repetition of two different elements, such as circle-rectangle, dark-light, big-small

In design there are five kinds of repetition:

1. Simple regularity—like shapes and intervals, as is seen in a picket fence.

2. Alternation—repetition of two different elements, such as circle-rectangle, dark-light, big-small

3. Inversion—repetition in which position of the unit is reversed or turned upside down

In design there are five kinds of repetition:

1. Simple regularity—like shapes and intervals, as is seen in a picket fence.

2. Alternation—repetition of two different elements, such as circle-rectangle, dark-light, big-small

3. Inversion—repetition in which position of the unit is reversed or turned upside down

4. Irregular recurrence—a chosen shape or motif reappears at unexpected or irregular intervals and perhaps varying sizes

In design there are five kinds of repetition:

1. Simple regularity—like shapes and intervals, as is seen in a picket fence.

2. Alternation—repetition of two different elements, such as circle-rectangle, dark-light, big-small

3. Inversion—repetition in which position of the unit is reversed or turned upside down

4. Irregular recurrence—a chosen shape or motif reappears at unexpected or irregular intervals and perhaps varying sizes

5. Radiation—units fan out from a central point in symmetrical or asymmetrical manner.

Text as Texture Directions

Create a collage using black and white text as texture rather than words

Create a collage using black and white text as texture rather than words

Cut lines of print from magazines, newspapers, and/or print out text of your choosing. Cut many long, medium, and short lines. Cut to obscure the sentence meanings. Include:

Create a collage using black and white text as texture rather than words

Cut lines of print from magazines, newspapers, and/or print out text of your choosing. Cut many long, medium, and short lines. Cut to obscure the sentence meanings. Include:

Smallest print size Medium small size Medium size Medium large size Large single letter forms: keep number between 1-3

Size of board: 14 x 22

Size of board: 14 x 22

Decide on the type of repetition you want to use to create movement. Begin by placing 1-3 of the large letter forms on your paper and experiment.

Size of board: 14 x 22

Decide on the type of repetition you want to use to create movement. Begin by placing 1-3 of the large letter forms on your paper and experiment.

Create a dense massing of letters which will begin to create a textured/rhythmic movement across the page.

Size of board: 14 x 22

Decide on the type of repetition you want to use to create movement. Begin by placing 1-3 of the large letter forms on your paper and experiment.

Create a dense massing of letters which will begin to create a textured/rhythmic movement across the page.

AT NO TIME SHOULD THE VIEWER BE AWARE OF SENTENCES OR CONTENT. THE LETTER FORMS ARE TO BE USED TO CREATE ABSTRACT TEXTURES AND PATTERNS

Examples of Type as Texture

Text as Texture