BABY TALK

the october-novemeber issue.

On the cover: Gracie

and Maddie Brownen

2012

Table of Contents ELEMENTS

Lines 5

Texture 9

Light 13

Color 16

Space 21

Shape 25

Form 27

PRINCIPLES

Balance 31

Harmony 34

Emphasis 39

Massing 42

Rhythm 45

Proportion 49

Scale 52

Thank you to my perfect sisters, their darling children, and our

family-friends for their time over my fall and Thanksgiving break.

About the Editor

Alexis Brooke Allen was

born in Jacksonville, North

Carolina in 1994, and has

lived in Eastern North

Carolina ever since. Upon

graduating high school in

2012, Alexis began

attending East Carolina

University in Greenville,

North Carolina; she studies

Fashion Merchandising.

She has a passion for

photography, and has

pursued it since the age of

sixteen. Alexis is the

youngest of five daughters

She has six nieces and

three nephews. They are

her inspiration for this

magazine.

Why Baby Talk? I am completely and one hundred percent

obsessed with all-things babies, toddlers, and little

people under the age of eight. Since I can

remember, I held a baby doll in my hand at all

times until I was about ten. Since then, people in

my family have been popping out kids left and

right. When I got my first DSLR camera for my

sixteenth birthday, taking pictures of them never

ended. Given any opportunity, my time with them

turns into an instant photo shoot. I can never get

enough of their cute, cheesy grins, the to-die-for

clothing options, their tiny everything.

This magazine is dedicated to mom’s all

over the place. Inside, you will find outfit inspiration

for your little, crafting ideas, holiday treats, and

take a tour with my family on must-visit mini

vacations. I am excited to bring forth a magazine

focus of the Principles and Elements of Design, but

throw in a little of my own touch. I promise to leave

out the loud cries and sad tears part…thank you

all, and ENJOY!

Elements of Design

Line

Straight Vertical

Benny Williams

The Allen residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

This image represents a look of “strength” in an

itty bitty boy. This handsome fellow looks as if he

taller than reality. If he were a big boy, he would

seem dignified and quite confident.

Curved Flowing

The Twizzlers in

this package

represent curved

flowing lines.

Although the lines

are not straight,

they still convey a

neat and smooth

look. This after

party treat is so

much fun for

guest to take

home post your

little one’s

birthday.

The Brownen residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

Curved Tightly

Benny Williams and Mae Brownen

The Allen residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

This chevron pattern represent lines that are

tightly curved. These lines are less predictable,

they bend, and change directions. These lines

are also known as zig-zag. They are not diagonal

simply because they change direction.

Texture Elements of Design

Photo by Amy Harp; Jacksonville North Carolina

Tactile Texture

The basket that miss Harlow is laying in can be

felt by just looking at it. This is an example of

surface quality because it is obvious that the

basket is made of wicker, a natural material.

Implied Texture

Implied texture cannot be felt with your eyes, per

say. In this image, Callie is eating mashed

potatoes. One might think they are soft and thin,

but they could be clumpy and thick.

Callie Mynes

The Mcnamara residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

Reflective

Texture

Reflective texture sounds just like it’s name. It is

anything that you can see the reflection of a

textured material through.

Picture link: http://www.homeeverafter.com/winter-checklist-

preparation-ways-to-get-ready/

Elements of Design

Task Lighting

Task lighting assists in illuminating places

where a task is being done. In this case, the

dancers need light to illuminate the stage they

are performing on.

Savannah and Marlee Cook and Garrett Panos

Swansboro Elementary talent show; Swansboro, North Carolina

Natural Light

The light behind

Gracie is what is

making the

picture bright.

This is the natural

light because it its

coming from the

sun. If she were

standing in front

of a lamp, it would

no longer be

natural, but it

would turn into a

different form.

Gracie Brinson

Onslow Pines Recreational Park; Jacksonville, North Carolina

Color Elements of Design

Monochromatic

“Matchy-matchy” family pictures are “so last

year.” This wall was just meant to be for what

the kids are wearing. All tints, tones, and

shades of the blue hue color scheme make

this a monochromatic palette.

http://www.kassidybakerphotography.com/

Direct

Complementary

In Greenville, North

Carolina everyone

is a Pirate fan,

even the little ones.

PUPLE AND GOLD

better known as

violet and yellow

are complementary

colors because

they are directly

across from each

other on the color

wheel.

Nikki Panos

The Panos residence; Swansboro, North Carolina

Triad

Complementary

There are twelve possible combinations for the

triadic complementary color scheme which

incorporates three hues directly across from

each other, and one right in the middle of those

two. What better way to assimilate a triadic color

scheme than to dress up as snow white?

*taken by the editor’s mother*

Disney World; Orlando, Florida

Neutral Palette

Neutral colors are

those of very light

saturation and

match just about

anything. They are

low in saturation,

and stand alone

on the color

wheel. In this

image, white

signifies pureness

and softness

thanks to my

beautiful niece.

Ivy Brownen

The Allen residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

Space Elements of Design

Positive Space

Gracie Brinson

Wilmington, North Carolina

Little Gracie is helping to demonstrate positive

space. She is perfectly in the middle of the image

and the grass (space) around her is even. If she

would have been at the side of the image, it

would turned into a negatively spaced image.

Negative Space

two little girls

lying on such a

big bed.

However, with

everything going

on around them,

the focus is

unknown. This is

an example of

negative space

because the girls

are neither in the

middle or

perfectly

proportioned with

The focus of this image is supposed to be the

everything surrounding them. The space is two

big for the girls to be unnoticeable.

Ivy and Mae Brownen

The Brownen residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

Crowding

Territoriality

This slide is

clearly not big

enough for five

cousins to get

down all at one

time. Crowding is

an issue because

of space.

Onslow Pines recreational park; Jacksonville, North Carolina

Shape Elements of Design

Geometric Shape

Ivy Brownen, Benny Williams, Jude Banks, Bristlol Cates

The Allen residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

The babies in this image are perfectly

forming a few different shapes. For one, with

their bodies are all in a straight line, their

heads form a square or a diamond at the top.

Their bodies form a four sided star. The

pattern on the blanket helps with the concept.

Form Elements of Design

Geometric

Form

Geometric forms

correspond to

natural shapes.

Gracie is sitting

inside of a

circular slide at

the park. The

slide is an

example of a

geometric form

because it’s

opening is a

basic shape.

Maddie Brinson

Hugh Macrae Park; Wilmington, North Carolina

Natural Form

Ivy and Olive Brinson

The Brownen residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

Natural form is just as it’s name states. It is

the way something is without any adjustments

or add-ons. The cute little feet are helping

demonstrate the meaning of natural form. If

the picture showed their toe nails with pink

polish, that would contradict the concept of it

being natural.

Abstract Form

Chase Grogg (second in line)

Swansboro Elementary School, Swansboro, North Carolina

This image is

symbolizing the

abstract form of a line.

Abstract forms are not

detailed and realistic,

but instead general

and “summarized.” If

the kids were in more

of a single file line, the

concept of this image

would no longer be

considered abstract.

Balance Principles of Design

Visual Symmetry

Benny Williams

Downtown Jacksonville, North Carolina

Baby Benny is showing us the perfect example

of symmetry. Symmetry is a mirror image on

two sides of a person or object. Visual

symmetry, however does not have to be an

exact reflection, but more of two very similar

sides. With Benny’s father on one side and his

mother on the other, this pictures displays an

accurate representation of visual symmetry.

Visual

Asymmetry

Ivy and Olive Brownen

The Brownen Residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

Visual asymmetry is the disproportion of two

similar parts. As you can see, the girls are in the

same position in a window that is perfectly

centered. The objects on the right side of the

sink, the placement of the faucet, and the girl’s

sizes are what makes this image asymmetrical.

Harmony

Principles of Design

Lindsey, Gracie, and Maddie Brinson

The Brinson residence; Wilmington, North Carolina

Unity through Color

This pink palette screams a “three little piggies”

theme. Through color, the girls are symbolizing a

consistent and pleasing effect. The color of their

clothes connect them to a general concept.

Unity through

Repetition

Ivy Brownen (far left)

Dance Theater of Jacksonville; Jacksonville, North Carolina

With the dancers all being in the same uniform,

they create a harmonious effect through

repetition. The girls are all wearing the same

color, outfit, and hair styles. This repeated look is

organized as well as neat.

Variety through

Color

Elf on the Shelf has become popular in the last few years

for parents with

younger kids. The

purpose is to hide the

elf somewhere for the

kids’ to find in the

morning. This Elf on

the Shelf is a examle

of harmony. The elf is

placed between three

stuffed animals who

all match. The color

red is emphasized

and makes the color

scheme flow.

The Cook residence; Wilmington, North Carolina

Variety through

Materials

Although there is a lot going on in this image, it is

obvious the task that is taking place. All of the

different material pieces, and the sewing machine

represent a mommy-baby crafting session.

Summed up, the harmonizing arrangement clues

one in to what is being done.

Laura and Benny Williams

The Brownen residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

Emphasis

Principles of Design

Visual Focal Point

The first thing one sees when they look at this

picture should be the bow. The very next thing

should be the big, blue eyes. These two features

represent the focal point of the image. By the

way (a little editor’s note), this shot is highly

recommended and most definitely belong’s in

ever child’s baby book!

Callie Grogg

Emerald Isle Pier; Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Structural

Focal Point

The main focus of

this image is the

barn. The people

are not the first

thing one will look

at, because the

structure of the

barn calls more

attention.

Justin, Ivy, and Olive Brownen

The Gurganus residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

Massing actual vs. optical

Principles of Design

Actual Density

Density is the

amount of matter

inside of

something. For

instance,

something that is

tightly packed

with any kind of

substance holds

a greater density.

Pregnancy is the

perfect example

of this concept.

The fetus is

noticeably

packed inside of

a mother’s

womb.

Alexa Haverty

The Haverty Residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

Optical Density

Optical density

is like an

illusion of

something that

is meant to

look dense..

These wraps

hold a baby

close to the

mother and

leaves her

hands-free. This is an example of optical

density because the baby inside makes the

mother’s body looks as if she is pregnant

again.

Erica and Mae Brownen, Jessie and Gabe Sutton,

Bria and Bella King, and Laura and Benny Williams

Mayfaire Shopping Center; Wilmington, North Carolina.

Rhythm Principles of Design

Repetition

The Brownen Residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

The exact same patterned boxes all in a row

symbolize repetition. Repetitive objects are

placed in the same sequence and hold the same

use. This birthday party craft boxes repeat each

other down the line, and allow each child to go

home with a matching party favor.

Climatic Rhythm

Garrett, Fletcher, and Lakelyn Panos

Jacksonville Holiday Parade; Jacksonville, North Carolina

Climatic Rhythm is an element that is

increasing or decreasing in it’s qualities. In

this case, the rhythm is the gradation of the

size of the kids. If the baby was in the middle,

this scenario would not be considered

climatic.

Transitional/

Flowing

Caden Hefner and Ivy and Olive Brownen

The Kettle Diner, Jacksonville, North Carolina

Transitional rhythm is a type of flow that

naturally glides the eye from one are to the

other. This image is a representation of

transitional rhythm because most people look

from left to right at the faces the girls are

making. If the kids would have just been

smiling, the image would not hold the same

significance.

Proportion

Principles of Design

IN Proportion

Proportion is the

relation of parts

to a whole. This

image displays

how Ivy is

proportional with

the chair, and the

chair is

proportional with

the setting. If Ivy

was sitting on a

recliner, for

example, she

would not be in

proportion with

space.

Ivy Brownen

The Brownen residence; Jacksonville, North Carolina

OUT of

Proportion

Mae Brownen

The Brinson residence; Wilmington, North Carolina

Proportion is the comparative relationship

between parts of whole. Baby Mae is showing

us how not to wear a pair of glasses. If her

face is the space, the glasses are nowhere

near proportional.

Principles of Design

Human Scale

Jessie and Gabe Sutton, Tara and Holland Spencer,

Erica and Mae Brownen, and Laura and Benny Williams

Allen Family Reunion 2012; Wilmington, North Carolina

Human scale is very similar to something that is

not proportional, but it matches. All of these

babies are about the same size and so are their

mothers. The babies look as if they are scaled

down from the size of the women.