Cave Paintings | 35,000 years ago

What are cave paintings?
Cave paintings are beautiful, detailed, and colorful representations found on the inside of cave walls and ceilings.
Name several common themes found in cave paintings?
The most common themes are large animals such as bison, horses, deer, tracings of human hands, and abstract patterns.
How were these paintings created (tools, pigments)?
Paints were made from mixing water, plant juice, animal blood, soil charcoal, and hematite, a form of iron oxide.  Brushes were made by putting together sticks, small stones, leaves, and animal hair.
What is the most famous cave painting site? When was it discovered and by whom?Post an example of cave painting(s) from this cave.
The most famous cave painting site is in Lascaux, France.  It was discovered in 1940 by four teenage boys.

Why did this cave have to be closed? What was done to satisfy public curiosity?
It closed because the paintings were being damaged by the carbon dioxide emitted from the tourists.  To satisfy public interest, the French government created Lascaux II, a man-made replica next to the original.Post an example of cave painting(s) from Altamira cave.

In Altamira cave, why do most of the paintings have a red hue?
Most of the paintings have a red hue caused by the red clay in the soil.
Who discovered this site? How old are the paintings confirmed to be?
Altamira was dicovered by Marceline Sanz De Sautuola and his daughter Maria.  The paintings were created 19,000 years ago.
What is the oldest known cave painting site? When was it discovered and by whom?Post an example of cave painting(s) from this cave.
The oldest known cave painting site is Chauvet-Point Arc.  It was discovered in 1994 by three speleologists: Eliette Brunell Deschamps, Christian Hillaire, Jean-Marie Chauvet.

What was different about the painting techniques at this site?
Walls were scraped clear of debris and a 3D effect was created by etching around the edges.
What is "speleology"?
Speleology is the study or exploration of caves.
What three reasons do archeologists and historians believe prehistoric man created cave paintings?
To tell a story or recount an event that already happened.  As an instructional visual aid to help teach about hunting techniques.  Created for magical or religious reasons that if an image of a desired event were painted it might come true.

Exquisite Corpse research

Exquisite corpse is a method by which a collection of words or images is collectively assembled.  It was created in 1925 by french surrealists.  Surrealism is an art based on non realism.

Creative Process

A series of steps repeated every time you design something.

1.  Improve consistency.

2.  Ability to time and plan your work.

3.  Raise quality of your work.

4.  Communicate more effectively and in a more professional manner.

research-The more you know, the easier the project will be! Research the client and the competition.  Get online, look in magazines, listen to music, pay attention to the world around you...whatever you need to do to get inspired.

brainstorm/inspiration-Striving to be unique and innovate while still following the current trends, ensures a fresh and creative approach.

sketch-Thumbnails, thumbnails, and more thumbnails.  Sketch to get your thoughts out and to work through ideas.

execute-Implement your ideas.  Combine type and imagery, into a well developed composition.  Utilize design principles and visual organization guidelines to help.  Try techniques, explore possible options, and analyze the outcome.  If you get stuck, walk away and clear your head.  If the piece doesn't look how you imagined, and it isn't working, try another idea.  Forcing an idea won't result in a good design.

critique and revise-Take a step back, (literally) and look at your design with an objective eye.  Make sure the design effectively conveys the message to the intended audience.  If it doesn't, go back and tweak the composition until it does!  Asking others for their opinion will help with this process.

Rules of Composition for digital photography

Snapshot-A quick shot, often spontaneous, taken to record a moment in time.


Photograph-An image taken with care and thought.


Rule of thirds-Imaginary lines drawn dividing the frame of your camera into thirds, both horizontally and vertically.


Leading lines-Use the lines created within the foreground or background of the composition to lead the viewer's eye through the photo.


Point of view-Change the way your subject is perceived by changing the camera position.


Simplicity-Keep your background simple and clear of clutter.

Semester Reflection

I learned alot about graphics and design this semester.  I learned about elements of design, color theory, principles of design, and typography.  I also learned more about how to use a computer such as using different tools in illustrator and photoshop.  I even learned how to use different lines, shapes, textures, spaces, values, colors, photos, characters, and typefaces in different designs.  I would like to continue doing more next semester and hope that I can be able to learn more about graphics and designs to do better and not make too many mistakes.

Review Week 17

Go to www.ilovetypography.com. Under "Popular Articles", click on "Who Shot the Serif?" Read the article. At the end of the article, the author asks a question. Answer that question in this post and discuss your findings.



Have you learned something?


I learned that the serif originated from ancient Rome where people first painted letters onto stone before carving them.  The brush strokes leave wider sections at the base of the letters and the those sections are carved over along with the rest of the letter.  I also learned that the Japanese term of the same word (uruko) means "fish scales".

Review Week 16

How many points are in an inch? How many points are in a pica?
There are 72 points in an inch.  There are 12 points in a pica.
Of the seven classifications, which classification(s) would best work as body type? Why?
Slab serif, san serif, old style, and modern because the designs are kept simple.
Identify the lowercase characters that have ascenders?
t, i, d, f, h, j, k, l, and b
Identify the lowercase characters that have descenders?q, y, and p
Classify the following typefaces and briefly explain why you believe it should be classified that way:

Slab serif because it has thick block-like serifs.Casual script because it looks like its been written with a brush.
Decorative because it has a distinctive design style.
San serif because it doesn't have serifs.Blackletter because it is highly ornamental.Old style because it has wedge shaped angled serifsModern because it has thin flat serifs.