Project 1- Notan Apple Design in 3 Values, Part II
Today, we will continue with Project 1. We will focus on certain problems and techniques. I want to look at how to deal with over-laps, where one apple comes in front of another; the use of outlines; the border design; how to manipulate the background in order to highlight what is in front. I also, want to examine the effect of manipulating the design of the outlines- how do we take the charcoal lines and transform them into lines that reflect Dow’s influence. Note how Dow changed the thickness of the line in the Dow Apple Notan design. This variety carries the eye along the objects and through the image.
Project 1- Notan Apple Design in 3 Values
Materials:
- Transferred Drawing of 5 Apples in the 18 x 24 pad, this is already completed.
- 2B pencil
- Gum eraser
- Tracing paper sheet. You could experiment with your design choices by using the transparent tracing paper sheet (This is optional. Do not use what you have already transferred on the good paper).
- Microns
- Black marker, wide, sharpie (use what you have)
- Scrap paper- use this to experiment with the quality of the line you will use for your 3rd value. How much white to use between the lines.
Assignment:
- Take your transferred Apple Design on the 18 x 24 sheet of paper from your pad.
- You should have a very light pencil drawing of your apple design on this.
- Consider the dimension of the border. Will this be a narrow, horizontal composition? Will it include more background above the apples? Will it include more of the foreground table plane and less of the upper background? Will any of the apples be partially cropped out?
- Indicate the areas that you wish to be the third value- don’t outline these in black marker. We want the edges open ended so that the white space of the light side has access to the white spaces within the 3rd value.
- Marker in a Notan Design in 3 values. There will be a pure black and the white of the paper and a third value.
- The third value should be created by using parallel diagonal lines within a specific area. Design this well, reflecting on what you learned in the Dow, Notan Apple Design in 3 values. Apply the same techniques here.
- Don’t forget to consider the background- will there be a shape of value in this area?
- Border- the Notan must have a black or white border as part of the design.
Upload completed Design to the assignment section.
Due: M/W Wednesday, Feb. 17 before 11:59 AM.
T/TH Thursday, Feb. 18 before 11:59 AM.

Examples by other Artists: Third Value Notan




