January 8th - Design Basics Class #1

Hello and welcome to my Design Basics Class #1. I am hoping to learn about designing effective compositions and would love you to join me. I will be posting what I've learned on TUESDAY nights. I also hopeing to post different examples of each lesson throughout the week or I might continue a lesson into a second or third week if I feel I still need to learn or practice that specific concept. The book I will be using is an excellent one by Jim Krause called Design Basics Index. I am hoping to use his concepts to apply to my card making. I haven't read the whole book yet but what I've read is awesome and I am surely hoping that Jim can teach me a thing or two!! I would really love you to join me in my own learning journey! I thought this might be a fun way to use my blog other than simply posting my creations!! Here is a general introduction: Jim says there are 3 C's of Design: Composition, Component, and Concept and a design works when these three 3's are each present and working. Well, Jim is making a lot of sense to me so far!!! Here is lesson #1: Jim says that Composition is the way in which the components of a design are visually combined and arranged. Composition takes into account placement, grouping, alignment, visual flow and the divisions of space within a layout. Wow, that is A LOT! My cards start as a blank space and when I add something to that space, I need to consider "its relationship to other elements in the design" Again, Jim is making a lot of sense to me at this point!! Placement of Elements The first thing I will be working on is effective placement and divisions of space on my cards. I interpret Jim's discussion in his book to say that the card will convey the "feel" you are looking for best when the placement and division of the space on your card is effective! That makes sense to me! In his book, he is actually using advertising as his teaching tool....but I am trying to apply this to what it would mean in card making... mmmmm. Principle of Unequal Spacing - point placement Variety in spacing adds interest and encourages the eye to look around the card. I know I've experienced that when I have looked at many of the awesome cards in the gallery at SCS. Jim explains that it is important to place an element at a point where horizontal and vertical spacing is different from each --> varied spacing. And the Principle of Unequal spacing can be applied to more than one element at a time. When you are making a card, this suggests that it is important to consider how the main items on the card relate to each other and to the edges of the card. Jim says that varied measurements around points-of-interest tend to heighten the visual interest and energy of the piece and convey a sense of creativity. Okay, my turn to apply this in the wrong and right way so I can see the difference on a card. <<----------------- Here is an example of a card where the spacing of each point (item of interest) is equal and the elements are all centered.... ------------>>>> Here is the same card, except I've tried to alter the spacing. Note how the band on this card sits at a place that adds visual interest instead of being placed dead-center like the previous card. As well, the added elements (the twine {specifically the knot} and circle sentiment) are off set on this card at unequal distances whereas the previous card had these added elements dead-center again. So, what do you think?? I really like the second card better than the first card. I'm not so sure I've gotten the whole idea as I believe the twine placement and the sentiment placement are equal distances from the edges of the card. However, I wonder if because I've place the knot near the upper part of the band and the sentiment nearer the bottom of the band if that makes it more "unequal"??!! Heheheeh, this is going to be FUN!! Off to try this Principal of Unequal Spacing on a new card attempt :-) Thanks for joining me!!