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

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.