Visual Literacy Literacy Excerpts from: PICTURE THIS: How A Picture Works, By Molly Bang

Why Visual Literacy? http://www.vislit.org/visual-literacy/

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD In this presentation, you will see how to build a picture that relates to a moment in the story of Little Red Riding Hood using basic elements of shape, color and value and considering certain principles such as contrast (of size, color and value), placement or emphasis and repetition to create tension or evoke an emotional response. Then you will work with your group to complete an exercise using the same simple cut paper collage technique. All of the images are from Molly Bang’s book. She decided to represent Little Red Riding Hood as a red triangle since the color and shape relate to her clothing. She explains that we see shapes and react to them in context. If the story were about the ocean what might the red triangle represent?…. Do the different associations evoke different responses? She explains that the red triangle she chose for Little Red isn’t huggable because of its points but makes us feel stable because of its wide flat horizontal base and equal sides. We get a sense of balance and equanimity from the shape. The color is warm which suggests a number of conflicting things such as danger but also passion and vitality. Ocean story: sailboat, volcanic island, red nun buoy, VS the bow of sinking ship or shark’s fin.

This is Little Red Riding Hood as a medium sized red triangle This is Little Red Riding Hood as a medium sized red triangle. The figure evokes these feelings: stability, balance, alertness plus warmth strength, vitality, boldness and a sense of danger. How might we represent her mother ? KNCKXVC

Molly Bang writes:

LARGER, SOFTER PALE SHAPE = BRIGHT IN VISUAL WEIGHT VIOLET : RED = MOTHER:DAUGHTER BALANCE IS ACHIEVED BUT EMPHASIS IS ON THE MAIN CHARACTER:

CONSTRUCT AN ENVIRONMENT FOR THE STORY

SOME PRINCIPLES

Horizontal Shapes and Lines convey a sense of stability and calm Vertical Shapes and Lines are more active, they defy gravity

Placing a horizontal bar across a series of verticals conveys stability and order -as in a classical temple design

Diagonal shapes and lines imply movement or tension Diagonal shapes and lines imply movement or tension. Diagonals add depth to a picture and lead the eye into the picture

Triangle with wide horizontal base looks stable Tilted triangle could suggest a missile. Implies movement

Triangles in descending order on the diagonal imply an even greater sense of movement and deeper space

An object placed higher up in the picture has greater pictorial weight The upper half of the picture is a place of freedom and happiness or triumph! Objects placed in the top half feel more “spiritual”, can seem to be floating of flying- escaping the earth’s gravitational pull. Conversely, the bottom half of the picture feels more grounded, heavier, sadder.

The center of the page is the most effective center of attention-the point of greatest attraction, BUT

THE PICTURE IS MORE DYNAMIC when the center of interest is moved out of the center of the page

WHITE or light backgrounds feel safer… than dark backgrounds. Dark/Light: Night:Day Black:White - Unknown:Clarity, Fear/hope

Pointed shapes can be threatening Pointed shapes can be threatening. They cause a tense or fearful response Rounded shapes evoke a calm, comforting feeling

The LARGER an object is in the picture, theSTRONGER it feels The LARGER an object is in the picture, theSTRONGER it feels. It dominates the space of the page The smaller the shape, the more vulnerable it seems in the vast space of the picture

How would you sort these?

We tend to associate same or similar colors much more strongly than We associate same or similar shapes

We respond to CONTRASTS because contrast enables us to see. Human visual perception is based on contrast. Contrast: value, color, shape, size, texture, placement and/or a combination of some or all.

PROFESSIONAL EXAMPLES Storyboards and illustrations from The Incredibles

An Example of a Storyboard

The Incredibles storyboard

Illustrations by Teddy Newton, Pixar Studios

Illustrations by Lou Romano, some from The Incredibles

Example of Stylization

Contemporary Swiss Propaganda Poster What is the message? Which version is the most effective?