Project Description - For this project you will be creating a very Zen Coloring page. Your design will Focus on three elements of Art/Design - Shape, Color and Scale / Proportion. Your design will also demonstrate three principles of Art/Design - Pattern, Rhythm,and Movement.
Demo Directions - In the shared folder in Dropbox, there is a template with premade motifs that our class will use to learn the basic skills required to create a Zen Coloring Page. To complete your Demo on your own - Please refer to How to Make a Brush and How to Make a Fill Pattern in the instructions on Pg 8 and 9. Project Directions Step 1: Open a new Adobe Illustrator document - 8 x 10 Step 2: Select the Rectangle Tool Click once on the art board to open a box to set the size to 7.5 x 9.5 Step 3: Window > Align Show Options if they are not available - Align the rectangle to the center of the page.
Step 4: Window > Layers Lock the first layer and rename it Frame Add a new layer above frame and name it Motifs Motif - a decorative design or pattern. a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition Synonyms: design, pattern, decoration, figure, shape, device, emblem, ornament Drawing Motifs For our project we are going to use simple shape on shape designs or simple line work to create an idea that the computer will repeat over and over. Examples -
African Motif Aztec Motif African Motif
Mexican Motif Colonial Motif Asian Motif
Shape Tool - Tips for Drawing a Motif One way to draw your motifs could be to use the shape tool and layer shape on top of shape. Example - Next - Select all the shapes together. Window > Pathfinder > Unite Your shapes should be made-up of STROKES - DO NOT USE FILLED SHAPES yes no yes
Pen Tool - Tips for Drawing a Motif Another way to draw your motifs could be to use the Pen Tool to drop points. Make sure to use closed areas of space. Pencil Tool - Another way to draw your motifs could be to use the Pencil Tool to draw flowing shapes. Make sure to use closed areas of space.
After you have created your motifs - Make sure none of the motifs have a Fill color. If the motif consists of many shapes make sure they are grouped. The Stroke should be around 1 pt. - 3pts. thick. Step 1: Window > Brushes How to Make a Brush Step 2: Drag your motif into the bottom of the Brush Palette. Pattern Brush OK New Brush
How to Make a Brush Step 3: Use the Shape Tool to draw a stroke (no Fill) With the shape selected - Click on the New Brush to apply the motif to the stroke Adjust the weight of the stroke to adjust the size and number of the motifs. Stroke - 0.25 pt. Stroke - 1 pt.
How to Make a Fill Pattern Step 1: Window > Swatches New Swatch Step 2: Use the Shape Tool to draw a Shape - It is OK to have a fill on this shape. The color fill will be replaced once you apply the new pattern. With the shape selected - Click on the New Swatch pattern to apply the motif inside the shape. Tip - Make sure the Fill is on top and the Stroke is behind
Expanding an Object Expanding an object (from a stoke, that has a brush applied to it) changes the object into a vector object that has points that can now be adjusted and moved. Object > Expand or Expand Appearance Before Expand After Expand
Designing a Zen Coloring Composition 1. Use a variety of different types of strokes. 2. Apply a variety of different brush motifs to the strokes. 3. Adjust the size of the strokes to effect the size of the motifs. 4. Use a variety of different shapes to apply a fill patterns. 5. Expand your objects to continue adjusting your composition. Required Pieces for your Zen Coloring Composition 1. Your composition must have a minimum of 5 different motifs as a brush or a fill. 2. Your motif patterns must fill the whole 7.5 x 9.5 frame. 3. You must print out your art work. 4. Use colored pencils to color in your project.