This document provides instructions for a fieldwork assignment involving drawing numbers from one's birthdate in different forms on sketchbook pages. Students are asked to fill a minimum of one page per number in their birthdate with varied drawings of that number. For a second part of the assignment, students are to do thumbnail sketches combining the number forms in compositional arrangements that subtly evoke their birth season, paying attention to negative space and dynamics without being too literal.

1. THE DAY I WAS BORN

3. 01 03 1965

4. 103965

5. 12345678 9
12345678 9

10. Fieldwork 1 (DUE TUES.)
Fill up a minimum of 1 sketchbook page per
number in your birthdate, experimenting
with different font forms for the number. So,
for example, I would have one page of 0’s in
which no two zeros are alike, one page of
1’s, all different, one page of 3’s, and a page
each of 9’s, 6’s and 5’s. For me a MINIMUM
of 6 sketchbook pages filled with different
forms. At this point do not worry too much
about evoking your birth season. You are
primarily going for quantity. Push the
abstraction to the limit. You will turn in your
pages with the finished project.

11. Fieldwork 2 (ALSO DUE TUES.)
Do several thumbnail compositional sketches based on the number
forms whose shapes seem to evoke your season make sure that your
numbers are cropped on all 4 sides.

12. Fieldwork 2 (ALSO DUE TUES.)
Pay special attention to the negative space, overlapping and the
dynamics. Be very wary of getting too literal and “molding” your
number shapes into symbols of your season.

13. Fieldwork 2 (ALSO DUE TUES.)
Pay special attention to the negative space and the dynamics. Be very
wary of getting too literal and “molding” your number shapes into
symbols of your season.

14. Symbols, however, can be helpful guides to provide compositional ideas.

16. analogous split comp. double split comp.
push value
triadic quadratic & intensity!