More isolation art and design

Hello again and welcome back to another post, this time on the basics of art and design, in the hope that it will inspire some creativity and lead to everybody giving it a go, either as a way to have fun (maybe get a family member involved) or to relax and take time to yourself whilst in isolation.

A common misconception of art is that a piece has to be complicated, time consuming and detailed to be 'good', but in reality, simple and easy designs are often much more effective and eye-catching (and wont cause unimaginable boredom to the artist).

So firstly, here's an introduction to the concept of colour theory - which colours go together well? which ones clash? which colours contrast?



Colours that are situated on opposite sides of the colour wheel are complimentary and go together well (for example: blue and orange, red and green, yellow and purple).
Also colours that sit directly next to each other go well together (harmonious colours) - such as green and blue, orange and yellow etc.
Also it is important to note that any colour can be made by using the three primary colours (red, blue and yellow) so do not worry if you do not have a tube of the exact colour paint you want to use - you can mix them yourself (youtube videos are handy for this if you are unsure).

Now here are some easy designing techniques to do at home:

(PS most of these examples are from pinterest)

1) Patterns 
I find that sitting down and just painting random patterns by trying different colour combinations, and using different materials and different objects (sponges, corks, scrapers - literally anything) is really relaxing as there is no pressure to produce a final piece - its just a bit of fun.

2) Silhouettes 
Silhouettes are a great way to avoid putting much detail into a piece, as well as it looking neat and still making a design look amazing.



3) Lastly, line drawings
If you don't own any paint or other materials, line drawing is great - all that is needed is a biro or ink pen (or even a pencil). There are lots of examples online that can be used as inspiration, and also tracing some images is always an option.

So whilst we're all in isolation, maybe sit down and design something that represents you or inspires you. Additionally, cards or little paintings could be really nice to send to family and friends at this current time.

Happy designing!

Emily