Thursday, December 20, 2007

Chapter 4: Cut & Fold Design Shapes

Using Black Paper
Design Sheet 4


Examples (i) to (iii) started with the same outline of an 8 pointed star. The paper was folded into 4 and then the outline was cut. The inside detail was then varied in the 3 examples.

In example (i) the outline of the outer line was mirrored for the inner line.
In example (ii), after cutting the outer shape, the paper was changed so that it was folded in half. The inside detail was then cut to give 4 diamonds around the edge and a diamond with a star superimposed in the centre.
Example (iii) was cut in a similar manner to example (ii), then extra V shapes were cut into the solid areas to open up the star a bit more.
A radiating 8 armed star (spoke design) formed the basis of examples (iv) and (v). The centre detail was varied in each version and the lengths of the arms were varied more in example (v).

Design Sheet 5


This sheet shows variations based on the 4 pointed star.
In example (i) the paper was folded into 4 and a symmetrical star pattern cut into each quarter.
In example (ii) the paper was folded in 4 different ways and only 1 symmetrical, 4 pointed star cut each time, so that the size & orientation of the stars was varied.
Example (iii) was created without folding. It shows an asymmetrical star (with cut out) positioned over a symmetrical star.
Example (iv) shows an outline pattern of an asymmetrical star with an asymmetric cross, also cut without folding.

Design Sheet 6



This sheet shows variations on a 5 armed star.

In example (i) the paper was folded diagonally and part of the star shape and the spokes were cut into the 2 layers - this resulted in a star with 6 arms, due to an error in the way it was cut. Nevertheless it is quite a pleasing design.
Example (ii) was cut without folding, as was example (v).
Example (iii) was started by folding the paper to give a symmetrical 5-armed shape, but then due to the small size of the cut-outs it was found that it was easier to cut the rest out in the desired shape without folding the paper.
Example (iv) combined some of the shapes from samples (i) and (iii). The paper was folded in 3 separate ways to cut out certain sections and shapes.

Using Coloured Paper
Design Sheet 7



This sheet shows designs with 3 layers of coloured paper, using several cut out shapes from sheets 4,5 & 6.
I was more pleased with designs (i) and (iii) because of the greater colour contrast between the layers compared with design (ii). In design (i) the blue-green layer had similarities to the blue background but had sufficient contrast of colour to be distinguished from it. However in design (ii) the blues in the middle and top layers were not different enough to create a really effective contrast. I think the impact would have been better if the middle layer were a slightly lighter blue.
In design (iii) the pale yellow-orange colour of the top layer creates an effective contrast with the middle and bottom layers.

Design Sheet 8



This sheet shows more complex designs than sheet 7. In particular examples (i) and (ii) involve 4 separate pieces of painted paper.

I think design (ii) is very effective because of the 3 different variations of orange tones used in the design and the red-orange highlights in the paper forming the top layer (starfish shape). The symmetrical arrangement looked better than an asymmetrical version of this design.

Design (i), although satisfactory, is less striking and I think the central star is a bit too light.

Design (iii) is very effective because of the small quantities of dark blue and red-orange highlights in the middle layer (radiating spokes). However, again I think the top yellow-orange layer is a little stark and may have been improved if toned down a bit.

Nevertheless, I think that all of these designs have possibilities for future development.

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