Project Statement
In this assignment, I took my digital mandala design from the Mandala Pattern assignment and applied two different color schemes to it. To focus on the importance of consistency and connection in design, it was emphasized to connect the grayscale in the last assignment to the color scheme in this assignment. I knew right away that I wanted to go with a monochromatic color scheme to complement the gradient of my black and white one. So, where there was gradience in my original, I added gradience to the colored one. This scheme adds a good distribution of value, which contributes to the movement of it as well. For my second mandala, I play with the film reels and how each scene showcases a different emotion. I ultimately decided on a tetradic color scheme because of the small detail of the clapperboard having four dashes, so each could be a different color. Also, I toned down the saturation of these colors a bit to bring out a more pastel look. I made it a goal to also inspire emotion in these compositions. A movie is always a range of emotions, so I show that as much as I can in the color and shades I use in these designs. Harmony was a design principle I highlighted in this work. Because I also chose a pattern in the tetradic mandala, it really harmonizes the piece and makes it all feel connected. In my monochromatic one, the consistency of the purple throughout the piece makes it all feel unified as well. Ultimately, I made my mandalas come to life by adding color schemes that would enhance its meaning and introduce a whole other level to my project.
Process
View detailed project process at Mandala Color Studies: Process
Reflection
This project was very enjoyable. Personally, I love color, and think it can add a lot to an art/design project. I loved learning about all the different schemes and how each can add something unique to a design. I enjoyed experimenting with the different shades of color and loved how I had the freedom to choose which ones I wanted to use. I had to adjust some small details, like adding highlights to the center piece and pink behind the first camera lenses, but overall did not have many issues with this project. I had to get some feedback about whether to keep the center of the aperture lenses their specific color or to change them black, and got some good feedback from my peers about that. I think I communicated my gradient look very well, and am satisfied with how well I connected the previous grayscale to the colored version. I learned how much color can really make a design feel a different way, and am happy with how mine makes me feel. I was debating whether to keep the film reel rectangles the same color, but I am glad I alternated them to really make them pop out of the page and create movement for the piece. Overall, I had fun using color for the first time in this course, and cannot wait to experiment with it more in future design classes.