Three Squares

Three squares on a plane, and suddenly you're dealing with space, depth, and dimension. The exercise sounds simple, but the nuances are endless. Distance between elements on the surface. Depth through overlapping spatial planes. Dimension from objects that occupy and define space.

Placement alone can define space. Positioning and interval create the illusion.

Placement

Scale

Value

A simple exercise that reveals dynamic and static relationships. The edges of the picture plane are part of the composition. It's not just how the squares relate to the edges, but how the squares themselves organize, either dynamic or static.

Static

Dynamic

Tension is a very important design tool that has numerous interpretations. An old painter once described tension as something very important between two points where nothing exists.

Tension exists in color, drawing, and the relationship of shapes, which is extremely important in any kind of composition – typographic or otherwise. Tension is a principle that is adapted for numerous effects or purposes. The following exercise will introduce students to tension.