Friday, February 25, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
For next Thursday, 2/24/11
I would like to see some preparatory sketches for your independent still life painting. This can be a series of drawings, a watercolor study, or something else. It should clearly explain the composition of your proposed painting.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Independent painting project
Still life
· Set up a still life that you can keep up for an extended amount of time (at least several weeks.) If this is impossible, make sure you can disassemble/reassemble it easily. The objects you choose are up to you. Consider color/value relationships and texture more than personal significance when picking your objects.
· Decide on the lighting for your painting. It should be a single light source, and strong enough to cast shadows. If you can’t use natural daylight, invest in a small clip lamp-you can find these at most hardware stores. Think about how the shadows can enliven your composition.
· Do thumbnail drawings of your set up using L frames to isolate a good composition. We will review these drawings in class.
· Use a prestretched or self stretched canvas that is the same proportion as your chosen sketch. Stick with a typical rectangle or square for the canvas shape.
· Cover the canvas quickly and develop the painting over several sessions. BE AMBITIOUS!!
· The final painting will be critiqued. It should reflect the issues we have been discussing in class.
Due March 10. Paintings will be judged on strength of light and form, color, clarity, composition, adherence to class techniques, and ambition.
THIS MAY BE DONE IN ACRYLIC.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Tips on cleaning up
Cleaning up
The following should be done at the end of every painting session:
1. Wipe excess paint from brushes using paper towel or rag. Paint contains linseed oil that can spontaneously combust under the right conditions. Paint-filled rags MUST be disposed of in the lidded red metal containers.
2. Rinse brushes well in solvent container. A plastic (not metal) dish scrubber in the bottom of a resealable glass jar makes this easier. Wipe out brushes again. Most of the paint should be removed at this point.
3. Bring your brushes to the sink and clean them using inexpensive bar soap. Ivory works well. Lather the brush and rinse several times, until no more color appears. Avoid pushing the brush into the palm of your hands, as paint can enter your bloodstream through the skin. Be sure to clean all the way to the ferrule (metal part above bristles.)
4. Shake out excess water and gently reshape the bristles with your fingers.
5. Back at your palette, save what paint you can. Oil paint takes a while to dry, and can be saved on the palette for at least a week. Scrape the rest off with your palette knife and dispose of properly, as mentioned above. Wipe down your palette thoroughly with a rag and a tiny bit of solvent or mineral oil.
6. Dirty solvent will settle, leaving clean solvent at the top. This can be decanted and reused. When solvent must be thrown out, it is disposed of in the red kettle containers. Try to reuse solvent as much as possible.
7. Check your work area for any papers, paint, spills, etc.
Other tips:
Do not try to place the plastic covers some brushes come with. You may inadvertently damage the bristles. You can build a protective cone from stiff paper and tape.
Never store your brushes loose in a book bag.
When a brush is not in use, lay it flat next to your palette. Do not leave a brush soaking in a solvent jar.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Materials for 2/10/11
Be sure to have your brushes, paints and a 16 x 20 inch STRETCHED canvas.
I suggest you have a solvent jar as we discussed in class.
We will look at the painting copy you did for this week. Please be sure to bring a printout of the original painting to show us as well.
Your homework is to do a COMPLETE brushstroke painting like we did in class. Keep it about 6 x 8 inches or so. YOU MAY DO THIS IN ACRYLIC OR GOUACHE.
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