This project revolved around symmetry and its various operations: reflection, rotation, translation, and glide reflection; our assignment was to create compositions demonstrating each of the operations using a found, natural object. I went for a nature walk around the JCCC campus and found a few objects I thought would make great subjects for the study. I started with a double acorn but switched to a clover leaf as I was able to give the object more visual depth when in gray scale.
I scanned in my clover leaf, converted it to gray scale in Photoshop, and then exported it to InDesign to create the operations. Each operation also needed to incorporate a process printing color: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. I increased the size of the clover and used that scale to create dynamic compositions that clearly convey the symmetry operations.
To see my works-in-progress and project parameters, click here to visit my dropmark.
REFLECTION - this was my favorite composition because I felt reflection created such a beautiful image. The negative space between the bright clovers creates interesting shapes. Reflection means the image looks like it's reflected in a mirror. In this composition, I blurred the line separating the image and its reflection to create an interesting design.
ROTATION - I turned the clover leaf over a predetermined axis to create this piece. I discovered that through rotation, I could create the letter "I" through closure.
TRANSLATION - I wanted to create the basic concept of translation, or moving the object throughout the plane with the same distance between each object. I decided to translate horizontally and vertically, and the effect is similar to clover growing on a chain link fence.
GLIDE REFLECTION - this was a tricky design for me to translate. Glide reflection starts out the same as basic reflection, except now, the reflected image is shifted, or glided, down. I wanted to create a sense of movement for this one, so I created different layers of transparency to create a stuttered or movement effect on the reflection.
