Notan

• the Japanese word for the relationship between dark and light

What is dark is not light and what is light is not dark. This is the basis of all design and

an important guiding principle of art. It seems so

simple but an artist can spend a lifetime exploring

the possibilities of light and dark.

This use of light and dark translates shape and form into flat shapes on a

two-dimensional surface

Geometric and Organic Shapes

Geometric Shapes

SHAPE is an ELEMENT of art

Organic Shapes

Is this example mostly a

Geometric or Organic shape

Notan?

Is this organic or geometric ?

Symmetrical Balance

BALANCE is a PRINCIPLE of Art

SYMMETRYSymmetry means a mirror

image -- one side is the mirror image of the other.

AsymmetryAsymmetry means without symmetry, There is no mirror

image

Is this Notan Design Symmetrical or Asymmetrical?

Symmetrical or Asymmetrical?

Positive and Negative Space

A Stool The POSITIVE spaceIs black

The NEGATIVE spaceIs black

See how the negative space exists as objects that define the stool?

In fact you can draw the stool simply by drawing the negative spaces alone!

The positive space is white and the negative is black

In this Notan Design what is POSTIVE space and what is NEGATIVE space?

So what now?

You are going to create 2 different Notan Designs•Create 2 sketches of a geometric Notan

•Create 2 sketches of a organic Notan

•Choose 1 with conference with Ms. Aiosa

•Create 1 notan design using only straight lines and geometric shapes

•-OR-

• Create 1 notan designs using only curved lines and organic shapes

•Cut out your pieces, flip at least twice.

Here are some good examples: