OUGD503 - Studio Brief 1 - G . F Smith (Large Individual) - Themes and refining information

Key Information and themes

Characteristics and key information from research was put into categories: the four seasons, the year, why the seasons happen and similarities / difference between the seasons 

Spring 

- higher temperatures
- March to May 
- new growth and rebirth, leaves and blossom on the trees, flowers emerge 
- season between winter and summer 
- longer days
- birds return from migration
- animals out of hibernation 

Summer

- heat waves and droughts 
- season between spring and autumn 
- sunny, blue skies,
- hot and the warmest season 
- green foliage
- June to August 
- maturity and growth 
- summer solstice to autumnal equinox 

Autumn

- unsettled weather 
- harvesting
- full / late stages of maturity and the early stages of decline 
- September to December 
- migration / storing for winter
- dormant plants
- autumn equinox to winter solstice
- season between summer and winter
- temperatures fall
- leaves fall

Winter

- season between autumn and spring 
- December to February 
- snow, ice
- winter solstice to vernal equinox 
- grey skies
- no leaves
- cold and wet
- short days and long nights 
- less light furthest away from Sun 
- unsettled, windy weather
- hibernate / migrate
- cold weather

Each of the seasons

- change of trees
- difference in colour 
- quartets of images from the same vantage point allows for comparison between seasons
- have their own weather patterns 
- have different daylight hours because of the Earth's position in relation to the Sun 

Why do the seasons happen 

- Earth at a 23.5 degree tilt to the Sun rather than being the same as the axis 
- parts tilted at different times of the year e.g. north tilting towards Sun creates Summer in UK
- Sun higher in summer because of tilt towards the Sun 

The year

- 12 months in a year 
- 365 days or 366 on a leap year 
- the Earth completes one revolution of the Sun 
- a full round of the seasons 

Common themes throughout the Year 

Changes in plants 
- growth and decay 
- changing colour
- leaves changing
- different things come out at different times e.g. blossom and falling leaves

Changes in weather
- cold in winter, warm in summer
- loops form one year to the next
- heatwaves in summer, snow and ice in winter

Length of Day/ Night
- winter shortest days and longest nights
- summer long days and short nights
  
Changes in colour 
- continuation from one to the next 
- some stay the same, others blend from one season into the next 

Tilt towards the Earth 
- amount of light hitting the Earth varies as does the position of the light on Earth as it moves around the Sun 

Effects on the environment 
- leaves changing 
- growth and decay