Today's Class- When working in color, many artists will choose to depict things using local color, also known as objective color- the colors that we see when we look at something. For last week's still life everyone used local color to show the yellow water can, the red candle, the green bottle, etc. However, sometimes artists will choose other colors instead. No matter the reason behind the colors shown, we refer to the color combinations in an artist's work as the color palette. Today we started a new graded project where everyone will complete 4 color studies based on the same value composition, but using color choices based on common color palette strategies. We also looked at the completed color temperature season collages due today, and finally filled out the course evaluation forms for the semester.
How to make this up- Start with a black and white photograph as we did with the dot drawing early in the semester. As with that one, it should be a photo of something that physically existed- an object or scene. What works best is a photo that shows a range of values from light to dark. Use pencil to divide a sheet of your 18" x 24" paper into 4 equal size boxes of 9" x 12". Then use pencil to sketch the basic composition of the source photo, one time in each quadrant of your paper. You may copy it 4 times by freehand drawing, doing one drawing and tracing it into each part 4 times, or using a grid to transfer the design. Include as much detail as you need to be the basis for the color study, but the pencil lines themselves will not be seen in the final piece.
You will then do four color studies based on the value structure of the photo source, following some classic color palette strategies. You should still try to match the values of the original photo, but you'll be using acrylic paint colors to do it. There are 6 options to choose from, and for most you may choose what colors to use, though selecting a first color may require using specific other colors. Above and below are some student examples from previous semesters. To see more examples, and the details about the color palette requirements, click here.
If you are not clear about any of the combinations, e-mail me or talk to me in class next week.
Homework- The completed limited color palette color studies project will be due at the beginning of class on December 12, 2016.
The museum paper is due on December 5, 2016. All papers that are turned in by that time will be evaluated and returned, with students having the opportunity to rewrite them to earn a higher grade. Papers that arrive late will be partly downgraded, and there will be less time to rewrite them, if any time at all.
Those who still owe some back graded projects, such as the color temperature project or the woodcut book illustration project, should turn it in as soon as possible for partial credit.
For next class 12/5/16- We will be starting the Final Project of the semester, which will be a board game based on historical fine art.
Students who were around at the end of the day today got to see the prototype I created a few years ago when I first conceived this project. What you will need to do is choose a recognized fine artist (someone who appears in art history texts, and/or in museum collections) from art history who works representationally and in color. You will construct a 2D composition using pieces of their paintings, which will have the format of a board game. My example above was based on the art of Hieronymus Bosch, 15th century artist best known for his detailed and disturbing views of mankind and religious struggles. Other than the game path and the title, all the visuals are based on bits and pieces of two Bosch triptychs- "Garden of Earthly Delights" and "The Last Judgement." Your piece must be based completely on the work of a specific artist, have a theme related to the works chosen, and a goal that must be achieved to win the game. At the same time, you are creating a piece of two dimensional art and should take into account all the formal rules and strategies we've learned this semester.
Next week I will post good student examples from past semesters. Bring images of art from your chosen artist (I think books are easier to work with, but most of you will probably go electronic), palette, all your paints, brushes, water container, pencil and eraser. These need to be painted on a stiff board, such as the backing boards that Danielle was ordering for the class.
