you have one of the most striking senses of light/dark and shapes in your compositions ive ever seen.... is there anything that helped these things *click* for you?
hi thank you! the way i think about images is shapes with values, and i focus on trying to make sure whatever design i have, that it works in its most basic form (simple flat shapes). i like to think if you can convey everything you need in this basic/simple foundational stage, you can render/color/add textures to your hearts content and it should still hold up!
the best exercise that helped me really understand shape/value and work on this foundational stage is something i learned in college called "the flat assignment": you take a photo reference and try to design a composition with a couple of strict rules:
1. only shapes, no lines
2. each object/shape can only have two values/colors total
3. no fancy/soft/rough edges, only sharp edges
4. no rendering, no textures,
5. must be designed in a square
examples from robert cunningham and me below (robert cunningham's piece isn't in a square but it follows the same idea) (mine doesn't necessarily follow all the rules but still follows the basic idea of flat shape, maximum two values/colors per shape)
i like this exercise because it not only helps you "see" in shape, but by taking away the "fancier" techniques (edgework, rendering, textures, gradients, etc), you are forced to learn how to make fun designs with nothing but a couple of shapes! when i make my students do it they all get headaches but i think it's still very valuable lol :)
