Patterns Across Space and Time

A Core Program for Fall/Winter ’02-03


Ruth Hayes (Animation)
hayesr@evergreen.edu

David McAvity (Physics & Math)
mcavityd@evergreen.edu

The Evergreen State College


Realism to Abstraction

Following the model of Paul Klee’s studies of natural forms and his paintings and drawings developed from them, students will collect from nature a series of images to work with.  On the field trip to La Push and on walks around campus, they will sketch and take digital photos of plants, small animals and other interesting forms that are good examples of particular symmetries or number patterns.

Students will use these to draw accurate realist representations of each.   Then they will create an abstract mathematical/geometric diagram of each of their chosen forms.  From these two drawings, they will begin a series of studies which evolve into a creative abstraction which attempts to express the form’s “essence.”

The result will be a sequence of three “key drawings” of each form.  Students will choose the one they like best and use the key drawings to animate a cycle in which the form metamorphoses from realism to abstraction.  They will shoot their drawings on the Video Lunchbox and screen the completed sequence for the class.