Class 4/28/11

In addition to being the final day for the figure painting, remember that you need to bring in your work from the drapery painting onward. This includes:

Drapery painting

Plein air paintings

Self portrait sketches

Self portrait

Also, please reread the entry regarding the indirect and final paintings, due the week after. Make sure you have fulfilled the assignments.

For class 4/21/11

Be sure to have a new canvas to begin the two day figure painting. It should be no smaller than 18" x 24". You may wish to tone the canvas beforehand with a medium-dark neutral color, like raw umber.

Final self portrait examples

Student self portraits

Artist self portraits

Stretching a canvas--links

http://emptyeasel.com/2007/07/06/how-to-stretch-canvas-a-tutorial-with-step-by-step-instructions/

http://www.danielsmith.com/content--id-79

Indirect painting links

http://www.chrispeters.com/indirect-painting.html

http://joeforkanblog.com/?tag=indirect-painting

http://www.gamblincolors.com/oil.painting.techniques/indirect.html

Indirect examples

Indirect Painting Project

Part 1: Grisaille (underpainting)

The grisaille is the monochromatic underpainting, traditionally done in flake white and umber or ivory black. For our project, please use black and white acrylic.

Remember that the grisaille should adhere to the following guidelines:

• The range of value should be towards the light side, from pure white to about a medium dark grey at the most.
• The finished grisaille should be more tightly rendered than you expect the finished painting to be.
• All drawing and volume issues must be addressed in the grisaille. You can’t easily ad-lib with glazes.

Your underpainting may be any size, but I suggest it stays towards the small side, roughly 11 x 14. It may be something observed, like a still life or landscape, or it may be completely made up and non-objective. It could be a master copy.

Part 1 is due on March 10.

Part 2: Glazing

Using one of the mediums I suggested, gradually build up glazes of color onto the grisaille. Do one layer at a time, allowing a few days of drying time in between. The more layers you do, the more the effect will show its abilities. You may want to map out a plan of action ahead of time. Remember that you ideally want to glaze darker colors over lighter ones. Do not tint colors (add white) and try not to mix them too much on the palette. Remember that the whole point is to optically mix colors like stacking thin layers of colored glass over a light table.

The final painting is due at the final class of the semester.

Self portrait sketch examples

Materials for next week

Please be sure to have the following with you next class:

Sketchbook

Pencils

Paints, palette, etc.

Mirror (12 inches square)

Three smallish canvas panels, about 8” x 10” or so, given a imprimatura (stain) of dull blue, earth red, and raw umber. Do this in acrylic, or in oil mixed with liquin. It must be dry by Thursday.

Welcome Back! This week's class:

Hi Everyone,

Remember that we are having individual critiques during tomorrow's class. You will need:

All fruit/vegetable paintings
In class still life
Drapery painting
Independent still life
Anything you've prepared for the indirect painting (grisaille.)
Any plein air painting you may have done over break.

While I am conducting reviews, the rest of you will be working on your plein air project, so be ready to paint with small format paper or boards, properly coated with gesso if you plan to use oils. Double check the post below concerning this project.
Bring everything you need to paint outdoors. I believe the weather should cooperate.

In any event, come to the classroom first to drop off your work. I will schedule brief meetings with each of you to discuss work to date, any attendance issues, etc.

Plein air painting examples

Plein Air Painting

You will be doing small, quick outdoor paintings during the next few weeks.

Materials needed:

Painting panels or Foamcor (or heavy weight cotton rag drawing paper, about 120 lbs.)

Acrylic gesso

Drawing board or other stiff board

Paints, palette, etc.

Masking tape

Shallow flat bottomed box

Portable easel, if you have one

• Cut your Foamcor or paper into a variety of smallish squares/rectangles, ranging from about 3” square to no more than 8” square.
• Attach them to a board with masking tape and apply 2 coats of acrylic gesso to the front of each. (If paper, coat w/gesso before cutting.)
• Explore the campus for scenes in which light and/or shadow are interesting. This could be bright sunlight in a landscape, the atmospheric perspective of an overcast day, the light and shadow of a few objects, etc. Use L frames or a camera to help compose your paintings.
• I would like at least two of the paintings to be night scenes.
• Look especially to depict different kinds of light at different times of day: the sky at dusk, early morning light, hazy light, artificial light, etc. Find interesting or unusual compositions. Make use of cast shadows whenever possible.
• Concentrate on the concepts of WARM and COOL color.
• These should be done outdoors in a safe environment when possible. Painting views from a window is acceptable if the weather is poor. Interiors may be painted if the quality of light is exceptional.
• Paintings should be quick, but fully resolved. Even a small painting may take 1-2 hours or more to complete.
• There is a minimum of 10 paintings required.
• Be adventurous with your paintings, but be smart and safe painting outdoors. When possible, paint in groups.
• Please ask questions or show me work in progress during your review.

Due April 7.

Drapery painting examples

Canvas for 2/24/11

You need an 18 x 24 canvas for next class.

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.

Canvas stretching links

http://www.wikihow.com/Stretch-a-Canvas

http://emptyeasel.com/2006/12/29/how-to-make-your-own-stretched-canvases-for-painting/

Videos:

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=stretching+canvas+strainers&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=how+to+stretch+a+canvas&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=ivns&source=univ&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=bzVdTY7JAcXegQf09t2fDQ&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CEkQqwQwAA&bav=on.1,or.&fp=b6373b74c1b4148d

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.

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.

Single brushstroke painting examples

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.

First alla prima painting examples

See how close you can get to something like these. Note how clearly lit all of them are. That will help. These are all 11 x 14 or smaller, on canvas panel.

Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles

One of my favorite paintings and a good example of alla prima painting.

How to use this blog

As an author, you may post entries to this blog whenever you want. Use it to post images of paintings you've seen, artists you admire, work in progress, or completed projects. Use it also to ask questions of me and your fellow classmates, or to get general feedback.

I will also post copies of assignments and other relevant documents to this blog, so be sure to check back frequently.

Welcome to the spring semester!

Painting I concerns the fundamental principles and techniques of painting. We will discuss the preparation of painting surfaces, using painting tools, mixing colors, and analyzing surface qualities. We'll cover color-value relationships, articulation of form and light, and composition. We'll be working primarily from observation, with subjects such as still life, landscape, self-portraits and the figure.

This blog will serve as an open forum for you to share ideas, get feedback, and add to the weekly discourse of our class. It will also serve as a news and information source. Check back frequently to get more details on upcoming classes and projects.