Abstract design can be intimidating, and more than a little confusing. Where do we begin? How do we decide where the energy, weight, or balance of an artwork will be when the composition isn’t based on anything in our objective reality? How do we express meaning, emotion, and story with just line, shape, and space?
Kelley Knickerbocker walks us through her unique approach to abstract design for mosaic, and show us how vital good design and composition are for our artworks’ success.
Not only does Kelley answer those - and more - questions with her usual humor and thoroughness, but she defines terms and gives practical examples and exercises for creating simple frameworks of line and shape that can then be brought to rich, complex life by the lush texture, value and rhythm of our mosaic lines.
Keeping the basic principles of art and design close at hand (Kelley shares her favorite design book), as well as the many functions of line and shape in design (handy templates abound), Kelley shows us how to find relationships and stories in basic lines and shapes and how they’re occupying the space they’re in. For example, as soon as you bisect an open space with a line you have created two spaces with a relationship to one another. Will that relationship be tense? Peaceful? Balanced? Competitive? These are the choices you’ll learn to make and exploit in order to most effectively begin conveying an idea or mood.