Design Principles Task 2: Visual Analysis and Ideation
17/2/2025 - 7/3/2025 (Week 3 - Week 5)
Lim Yeng San (0366316)
Design Principles / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylors University
Task 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- A method of analyzing the design elements and principles in a design while also understanding the designer's intentions behind the design.
Phase 1: Observation
- Observing the visual elements of the design without any knowledge of context behind the design.
Phase 2: Analysis
- Analyzing the design elements and principles applied in the design.
Phase 3: Interpretation
- Analyzing the design based on historical context and sometimes the designer based on facts.
INSTRUCTIONS
Refer back to Task 1 post for Module Information Booklet.
Task 2
1. Write a visual analysis of the chosen artwork from Task 1.
2. Sketch 3 ideas based off of the chosen artwork and wite a rationale describing the design principles used in it.
TASK 2
a) Visual Analysis
We wrote up a visual analysis of our chosen artwork.
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| Figure 3.1: The Fallen Angel by Alexandre Cabanel |
Title: The Fallen Angel (L'Ange déchu in French)
Artist: Alexandre Cabanel
Year: 1847
Medium: Oil painting on canvas
Size: 120.50 cm × 196.50 cm
Visual Analysis
Observation
The painting is painted in a landscape format. There is a nude figure placed in the middle of Figure 3.1 painted with highly saturated warm colours. In the background of the painting, there are other figures that are painted in hues of blue. The nude figure is the biggest subject in the painting. Overall, it is a very colourful painting that uses both complementary warm and cool colours.
Analysis
The main subject is placed at the center taking up a majority of the space Figure 3.1. The large size of the main subject and the use of highly saturated warm hues of yellow compared to the rest of the painting which was painted in cool blue hues and dull brown colours creates contrast of colour and size which causes it to be the emphasis of Figure 3.1.
The different size scaling also causes hierarchy as the viewer would be focused on the main subject first before looking at the other figures in the background. The placement of the main subject also makes the painting asymmetrically balanced as there is unequal visual weight in the Figure 3.1.
The arrangement and repetition of the figures in the background connects with the pose of the main subject creates a line throughout Figure 3.1 which shows movement.
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| Figure 3.2: Annotations made to the painting to highlight the design principles applied |
Interpretation
This is a painting depicting the religious figure, Lucifer. It was painted in 1847 by a French painter named Alexandre Cabanel, an academic painter who painted many paintings of religious figures in his life. The Fallen Angel was painted in Rome and was inspired by the poem, Paradise Lost by an English poet named John Milton. The painting displays Lucifer after being banished out of Heaven, covering his face full of resent with his arm. Teardrops are seen which points to feelings of regret and shame. This depiction of Lucifer not only showed his anger but the artist's feelings as well as one of his paintings was rejected from the Paris Salon. Overall, this painting set out show an artist's anger over being rejected from his peers through the story of Lucifer.
Reference
Maksimova, A. (2023, June 28). Fallen Angel by Alexandre Cabanel: The story behind the provocative painting. Art De Vivre.
b) Sketches
After that, we drew three sketches inspired from our chosen artwork. I drew all three sketches digitally in the mobile app called Ibis Paint X.
Sketch 1
Progress
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| Figure 3.3: The line art for Sketch 1 |
In Figure 3.3, I wanted to make the centre figure the focal point of the design. I resorted to colouring it in warmer colours to make it stand out from the background and the surrounding figures.
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| Figure 3.4: The colour for Sketch 1 |
I then shaded Figure 3.4 in a way to make the centre figure the light source to strengthen the emphasis of it.
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| Figure 3.5: The completed Sketch 1 |
Rationale
I was inspired from the chosen artwork by the emphasis of the main subject and the colour contrast from the use of warm and cool colours. I carried it onto Figure 3.5 by giving the figure in the middle warm colours in contrast to the cool colours of the surrounding figures and the background. This gives the centre figure emphasis through colour contrast.
Timelapse video
Figure 3.6: The timelapse video for Sketch 1
Sketch 2
Progress
For Figure 3.7, I made a line by arranging the feathers at the top in a way to connect with the figure.
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| Figure 3.7: The line art for Sketch 2 |
In addition, I added canyons in the background to support the principle of movement. I also kept the figure and feathers white to give it emphasis.
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| Figure 3.8: The completed Sketch 2 |
Rationale
Relating back to the movement and repetition principle in the chosen artwork, both principles were applied into Figure 3.8 by repeating the feather elements at the top and arranging them to connect to the figure. It creates a line from the top to the bottom of the Figure 3.8. Emphasis is also applied by making the figure brighter than the background.
Timelapse video
Figure 3.9: The timelapse video for Sketch 2
Sketch 3
In this sketch, I wanted to create movement through the poses of the two figures. I looked to another painting for reference which is The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo.
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| Figure 3.10: The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo |
Progress
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| Figure 3.11: The line art for Sketch 3 |
In Figure 3.11, I posed the two figures to create an invisible line that goes from the top left to the bottom right of Figure 3.11.
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| Figure 3.12: The colour for Sketch 3 |
In Figure 3.12, I gave the two figures different colours to give them colour contrast.
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| Figure 3.13: The completed Sketch 3 |
Rationale
I used both principles of movement and balance in this sketch. A line is created by the two figures from the top left to the bottom right of Figure 3.10. The two figures are placed on both sides of Figure 3.10 creating asymmetrical balance as the figure on the left dominates more of Figure 3.10.
Timelapse video
Week 4
General feedback: Increase the font size and add paragraph breaks in the analysis.
Specific feedback: Sketch 1 could use shading and add progress pictures.
Week 5
General feedback: Good progress on sketches
Specific feedback: All sketches are approved
REFLECTION
Experience
I've experienced a lot of trial and error during this task. Coming up with each sketch took some time as I tried my best to relate it back to the chosen artwork.
Observation
I've observed a better understanding of the chosen artwork and the artist's thoughts behind it. It unveiled another layer of the artist to me.
Findings
After Task 1 and while doing this task, I've found myself analyzing the design principles and elements in other media either when I'm watching TV or browsing social media. It shown me the effort designers put into their work.
LINKS TO OTHER DESIGN PRINCIPLES TASKS
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