Compose two styles
Rather than blending two styles into a middle, this assigns them roles: one carries the structure, the other appears as an accent. Where the two fight, it says so before you start.
How to divide the work
- Composition
- Follow Art Deco: Centered, symmetrical composition
- Type
- Set in Art Deco's manner (Tall, narrow geometric display type), and let Harlem Renaissance's lettering (Letterspaced light capitals for headings, quiet settings for text meant to be read.) appear only where you want the eye to catch.
- Material
- Ground in Art Deco's material (Black, gold, ivory; repeated hairlines); bring in exactly one thing from Harlem Renaissance (Prints and drawn illustration, few inks, the paper doing the shadow work.).
- Colour
- Build on #17140f, #c8a65b, #f0e6cf and admit one accent from #d7bc83, #8a4937, #24201e.
Where they fight
These two are already listed as related, so the join should come easily.
Caution
- Art Deco Too much ornament turns theme-park. Let white space carry the dignity.
- Harlem Renaissance Borrowing it as jazz age decoration drops the point, which was Black people representing themselves, and leaves a period flavored ornament.
Image prompt
An original image that takes its structure from Art Deco (Style, 1920s–1930s) and its accent from Harlem Renaissance (Style, 1920s–1930s). Structural cues: Symmetry; Radiating lines; Stepped motifs; Gold and black. Accent cues, used sparingly: Black self-representation; The jazz age; Magazines and publishing; Modern figures. Composition: Centered, symmetrical composition. Type and lettering: Tall, narrow geometric display type. Let one material quality come from the second style: Prints and drawn illustration, few inks, the paper doing the shadow work.. Mood: Luxury, Exhilaration, Rebellion. Color: build on #17140f, #c8a65b, #f0e6cf with a single accent drawn from #d7bc83, #8a4937, #24201e. Constraints: do not imitate, reference or name any specific artist, studio, brand, character or copyrighted work. Produce an original composition in the general period languages described above.
Related entries
- Art Deco 1920s–1930s / Style / Historical Styles
Stages urban luxury with repeating geometry and a metallic sheen.
- Harlem Renaissance 1920s–1930s / Style / Black Arts Movement
A cultural movement that rebuilt Black self-representation and modernity in the words and images of Black people themselves, working through literature, music, theater, publishing and art.
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