Session B Painting Instructor: Kate Stewart TA: Mona Welch In this short course we will study how to paint, what to paint, and why to paint with the goal of independent study and personal enrichment in mind. All levels and abilities are welcome. Class time in the studio will be devoted to demonstrative lessons, in-class assignments, free studio working time, and critique and discussion. After-class homework will usually involve research or reading, and something to bring to class the next day. We will draw and paint from observation and study moments in painting s history. Students are encouraged to experiment and take chances while pushing themselves to fulfill assignments to the best of their ability. There will be a lot of studio time with only basic prompts or direction, and while it may seem tedious or boring at first, you must learn to be self-guided and to find ways to move forward on your own. The goal of this course is develop our relationship with our work as independent artists. The instructor and TA will work alongside the students and talk to you individually throughout these periods. Class etiquette: Once you think you are finished with a painting and/or are waiting for work to dry, you may hang your work on the wall at your assigned spot and continue to work at your easel on more paintings or drawings! The TA can help you hang your work if you need help. You must bring all materials with you every day to class, especially your sketchbook. Headphone policy: Wearing headphones is allowed only during the moments called free studio time. Please do not wear headphones at any other point during class or while on field trips. The Project Our time together will commence with a group show in the New Wight Gallery on campus. Each student will paint one 18 x20 or 20 x18 painting on canvas to contribute to the final show. We will work on The Project throughout the entire course. The first week will be devoted to stretching and preparing the canvas, then sketching and planning based on research and/or observation. The second week will be the execution of your idea, discussion, and critique. You will be required to write a few sentences about your work before the critique. Evaluation (Pass/No Pass grade): 33% Attendance and participation 33% Exercises and homework 34% The Project WEEK 1 Monday 7/23 Introductions and Materials 11:00 12:00 Introduction to the class and syllabus, ice breaker activity, permanent group assignments 1:15: A moment in Painting s History 2:00-5:15: Studio Time Getting acquainted with materials kit Demo Preparing surfaces and stretching canvas, To do: Start to stretch canvas in small groups, groups that are not stretching canvas distribute paint Demo paint handling and mixing, chromatic black, painting forms In-class assignment: monochrome paintings of other artist s paintings in chromatic blacks and greys 3:30-3:45: Snack break with complimentary snacks on balcony! In-class assignment: Make VIEWFINDERS Make a drawing using the viewfinder 5:15-5:30: Clean-up procedure and homework assignment Homework : Reading: TBA Homework: Bring in - something that is a color that you would like to match in class the next day Tuesday Color 9-9:45: A moment in Painting s History 1
9:45-11: DISTRIBUTE REMAINING PAINT Demo Color mixing In-class assignment : color wheels, color matching Sketch and paint still-life objects using complementary colors. When finished, hang on wall and continue working with different color pairs Continue preparing canvases in-between dry time 11-12: Artist talk: TBA 1:15-1:45: Meet on lawn with sketchbooks and draw 3 quick sketches of sculpture garden 1:45-3:30: Studio time: Paint by number Re-draw one sketch onto a canvas surface with closed shapes representing different planes of color. Start with large shapes and layer smaller shapes on top when dry. 5-5:15: Short critique/discussion of in-class assignments 5:15: Clean-up Homework : Draw 5 quick (5 minute) sketches of various objects, animals, insects or plants in the same type of paint by number outline Bring - an image of a pattern AND something to add to still life Wednesday Form and Content LATE STUDIO NIGHT! 9-11: A moment in Painting s History Demo : Paint handling techniques: dry brush, scumbling, watercolor, blending, impasto, layering, wet-into-wet, etc. Testing and sketching on paper In-class assignment: Paint the same view three different ways 11-12: Artist Talk : TBA (bring sketchbooks and pencils) 1:15-2:30 After lunch meet on lawn, discussion about what they are interested in painting and receive research prompts from instructor and TA. Visit art library 2:30-4:45: Free studio! - continue in-class assignment, continue to stretch canvases and prepare final surfaces 4:45-5:15: Dinner/Snack Break at Broad 5:15-7:00: Painting Large: in collaborative groups: paintings on large paper with combined brushes and watered-down paint. Paint backdrops for a future paintings, possibly using patterns as a starting point Homework : Assigned reading: fiction or poetry Take a photo of something you would like to paint and write a few sentences about why you think it would be interesting Thursday Poetry and Symbolism/Getty 9-12: A moment in Painting s history In class assignment: Arrange still lifes in front of backdrops and sketch with colored pencils. Paint shadows. 1:15: Meet at Broad Lawn for Museum Trip to Getty Center, assignment: Painting scavenger hunt. Notate titles and artist! The person with the most unique sources gets extra credit! 4:00-5:15: Studio time, continue working on still lifes, highlighting with paint Homework : Assigned reading sketch 1 each from image or life (1-5 minutes): animal, plant, chair, vessel, tool, insect, fruit, person Write a few sentences about what you might want to paint for your final painting Friday En Plein Air 9:00-11:45: Studio gather materials for outdoor painting. Palettes will be limited to three colors. Paint in sculpture garden 1:15-3:00: Free studio time and talk with instructors about what you want to make for final painting 3-3:15 Studio Clean-up 3:15-4:15 Mini critiques of finished paintings 4:15 4:30 Snack Break is later than usual today 4:30 5:30 Art Movie Screening in Auditorium (all students attend in BROAD 2160E) Evening: Homework Assignment (preparing for abstraction) WEEK 2 Monday Abstraction 2
9-11: A moment in Painting s History Presentation/Demo - painting flat shapes Studio Time - In-class assignment: paint an abstraction using your photo from last week as a starting point, repeat 5 times. Bonus: choose a palette based on another artist s work 11:00 12:00 Artist Talk TBA 1:15 3:30 In-class assignment - choose from your abstract compositions: one to replicate using a different technique/tools, drip, splatter, stain, taping, palette knife, using a non-traditional tool, etc. 3:30 3:45 Snack Break 3:45 5:30 Free Studio Time - work on The Project Homework Assignment: writing prompt and Assigned Reading Tuesday Contemporary Practices/Hammer 9:00 12:00 Free Studio Time 12:00 1:15 Lunch 1:30 3:30 Museum Trip Hammer Museum (all students attend) 3:30 4:00 Return from Hammer Museum, discuss Museum Assignment in studio 4:00-5:30 Plein Air Painting from balcony Evening: Homework Assignment Wednesday Late studio night, artist talk by instructors 9:00 10:00 Free association drawings/painting for 1 hour (exquisite corpse) 10:00-12:00 Free Studio Time After Lunch: Artist talks by instructors 3:30-3:45: Snack Break 3:45-7:00: Free Studio Time Thursday Free studio all day: Complete The Project Homework: write a few sentences about your final project Friday Exhibition Hang work for final critique with guest artist Install Show Materials List 3
Surfaces: stretcher bars (18 x20 ) Canvas *Gesso *Sandpaper (180 grit) Cardboard sheets Canvas boards Canvapaper Paper Sketchbook Brushes Graphite Pencils Colored Pencils Sharpeners with canister Sharpie Plastic jars Palette pad/paper Mixing cups 2 larger containers for brushes (one clean one dirty) Palette knife Popsicle sticks *Novacolor acrylic paint *Gel medium *plastic wrap Rubber bands Materials for viewfinder Getty Center Scavenger Hunt Painting scavenger hunt: quick sketches 1 of each found only in paintings : 4
large animal small animal Insect Flower Plant Tree Angel Chair Woman Man Child Royalty Clergy Tool Architecture Instrument Light source Weather Vessel Fruit Fabric Umbrella Book Hat Artist Transportation Fashion Monster Notate titles and artist! The person with the most unique sources gets extra credit. Assigned Reading 5
Shor Modest Painting Kandinsky Concerning the Spiritual in Art Miller To Paint is to Love Again Goals: Color mixing Optical mixing Space within painting Elements of composition/design Color matching Paint handling techniques Stretching canvas Preparing materials Time:, fast vs slow Same view painted different ways Observation Skins and surfaces atmosphere Painting flat planes Form Layering Painting large/group activity Critique Abstraction/cubism Photographing painting in process Balancing what is painted with how it is painted 6