What is Structure?
- Megan Wortley
- Mar 1, 2018
- 3 min read
What is structure?
It is what makes up everything we see...
There is structure in every art project, in every piece of furniture, in the buildings we make, in the food we cook, in the universe we live in, the very bodies we spend our lives in are made up of a certain structure.
So when I found out the next project for my Foundation year is to be on the subject of 'Structure' I was pretty surprised.
It is a pretty big topic so brain storming ideas is a much needed part of the process as I've had dozens of different ideas going through my head ever since reading the brief.
The more obvious topic ideas where, building structure, the human body and social structure, so I did have a look at them first....
I love to read! It is one of my favourite pastimes, along with writing, (in fact alongside my Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, I am completing my second year of an A-Level in Creative Writing) and so the thought crossed my mind of trying to combine my love of art and my love of story.
In writing a story there is a certain structure to follow...
*Research*
First of all I was looking at Fiction Story Structure so here are the things that can make up Fictional story's.
- FICTION is a story that has been made up in the Author's mind. -
I. Two main forms of FICTION
A Short story
1. can be easliy read in one sitting
2. explores one topic
B Novel
1. takes more than one sitting to read
2. has a longer, more complicated plot
II. five main components of FICTION
A Plot: the events of the story
a. Exposition
i. Characters are introduced
ii. setting is described
b. Rising Action
i. the plot gets more intense; a conflict builds
ii. we learn more about the characters
c. Climax
i. a point of great interest
ii. often some change happens or there is a turning point
d. Falling Action
i. events that happen after the Climax and before the ending
e. Resolution
i. happens at the end of a story
ii. all of the loose ends are tied up
I needed to come up with a story that was very image led, that had a specific style... I have had a fantasy novel idea playing in the back of my head for awhile now, and this seemed like the perfect base to use for an art piece as it would give me a lot of freedom.
I have gone through a stage of experimenting an researching really...
I have done a little character designing...
researching fantasy styles..
working out my composition..,
and brain storming plot.
One big question I kept asking myself was what do i want to show...
Trying to show a story through art is never going to be simple and so I had to think about what parts of the plot were the most important.
If I smushed the structure into the three act plot points then I thought I could do three big paintings.... with a lot of experimenting with mediums for other scenes...
Act one..
(set up)
Act two..
(confrontation)
Act three...
(resolution)
the three points I want to show is...
-setting
-journey
-confrontation...
that gives means I will not be showing the ending of the story but will leave it at the climax as this will be the most dramatic.
I have done loads of Life drawing, portrait sessions, and portfolio building sessions. This although was kind of irrelevant to my idea, did help with character designing, or positioning of the characters.
Mont St Michele
My tutor recommended that I look at castle structure, and island castles specifically so I looked up Mont st Michele in France.
a beautiful place, which I did a a quick charcoal sketch of.
Mono Printing!
My first time doing mono printing was great fun! I wanted to develop the image to see if printing my piece would be a good idea. in the end, I decided against using printing in my final piece, but I am glad I now know another skill. It was the best way to experiment and the right process to go through.
At some point I would love to have another go with mono printing, and when I do I will be sure to document it on my blog so you might be able to learn and experiment with me!
Inspiration
This is my first oil painting that I ever did! extremely happy with the look and texture of it and would love to be able to move this technique into my piece.
I will upload my process of blood, sweat, and tears that creating three oil paintings will most likely produce!
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