[Chthonic Divinity]

ok, so im horrible in this class. ive never had anything like this. our project right now is a minimum/maximum contrast composition. Using 36 squares (1.5'' grid) we have to make a design that utilizes minimum and maximum areas of contrast. Its grayscale, and we can only duplicate a value once. (so 1 value can only fill 2 squares). My teacher told us about it, then the next class she cancelled, and its due on tuesday. So weve had no chance to ask her about it. Soooo, im going to try to ask you guys. What are some general tips for this? Im so confused. I just dont know where or how to begin. Whats a good general design? I was also thinking of using Photoshop to make some sketches, but it seems cumbersome. I made a template with 36 squares, each on seperate layers, but painting them and figuring out which layer is what, doesnt seem to work. and if i needed to change a few, it proved even more difficult.
ugh i dont know what to do

p.s. sorry if ive rambled

[Inspector Lee]

I really can't understand how this could be more difficult in photoshop.(to figure out the design, I mean). If you already have your 36 square grid layed out, just grab the bucket tool and start pouring different values of grey into the different squares (this is going to be much faster than mixing each grey and painting it in place). If you want to change the value in a given square, just pour the new value right over the old one (why would you mess with layers?) You are obviously going to have to use a value scale with smaller steps than the typical 0 through 9 scale (ten seperate values will only fill twenty squares, if you can only duplicate each value once). You may be over thinking this and making it more difficult than it really is.
_________________
Smokey, this is not 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules.

[Chthonic Divinity]

yeah i think your right, im probably overdoing it with the layers. they just seemed like the logical way to keep it organized. i just resorted to doing simple pencil sketches. I have a few designs in mind, but im still not sure if they work or not. (they are only thumbnail sketches)

[Chthonic Divinity]

hows that for a design? dont mind the black lines, they are there just so i can quickly fill in the squares without using layers. Im going to wait awhile and think it over, then start painting tomorrow.

[Inspector Lee]

Not as difficult as you thought.
_________________
Smokey, this is not 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules.

[Chthonic Divinity]

my teacher didnt really like it... when i painted it, the upper left and lower right areas (that look whiteish on the abve sketch) came out alot darker than i intended. So the center light squares draw too much attention, distracting from the flow.

[Inspector Lee]

One tip: if you're using Gouache or Acrylics (paints that both change a lot as they dry) keep a blowdryer at your drawing table. Mix a color and then put a small test dab of it on a piece of paper and hit it with the dryer. Then you can see immediately if it needs to be adjusted before you put it on your piece. also, don't trust your eye. A color swatch looks a lot darker when it's sitting on a page surrounded by white space, so fold the paper to allow you to place your test dab right next to the spot on your piece where you plan to paint it.
_________________
Smokey, this is not 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules.

[Chthonic Divinity]

[Matthew]

Yeah, that is a super tip.
I have made some acrylics now and the color never turns out the way I want in the end of the painting. I gotta fix me a dryer, cool.

Peace
Matthew