Grid Problems # 2&3

• Cover two 18”x24” paper supports with tinted gesso.
• One with a cool color
• One with a warm color
• Create a grid on each support using your mathematical guide.
• Transfer the information from each grid square of your photo to its corresponding square on each page using only thin washes of black, white, and your chosen hue.
• You may use one of two approaches:
• Fill each square entirely with one color (as you did the first two problems).
• Transfer a representation of all the various values, shapes, and lines in each grid square, enlarging it for the full sized composition.

Assignments due:  April 10

• Notebook:
• Research the blue period and rose period of Pablo Picasso.  Place your notes, images of Picasso’s work, and any articles into the notebook.
• Sketchbook:
• Find images by artists who use monochromatic color in their work.  Insert research of and images by at least two of these artists.  Only one of them may be an artist mentioned in class today.
• Create a small, one-page monochromatic composition from life observation.  This may be done in any color medium (paint, watercolor, color pencil, etc.), and may be executed by mixing monochromatic colors or by using black and white material on a toned ground.

Grid Problems #1 & 2

Grid Problems

For the remainder of the semester, you will work on a series of “grid problems.” For these assignments, each painting in the series must be based on a photograph.  An overlaying grid will be drawn on the photograph and an aspect-corresponding grid of a larger scale will be placed on each sheet of gessoed 18”x24” paper.  How you then translate the information within each square of the original grid into its corresponding square on the painting will depend on the particular problem.

Grid Problem #1:  Value

1. Create a grid on your sheet of 18”x24” gessoed paper (the support) using your mathematical guide.
2. Transfer the information from each grid square of your photo to its corresponding square on your support.
3. For this problem, you will use only black and white acrylic paint.
4. Examine the values within each grid square and mix ONE value to fill its corresponding square on your support.
5. To do this, you will analyze the values within the grid square to figure out what you believe the “average” value is.
6. Repeat this process with each square until the painting is complete.
7. Assignment due MARCH 27

Grid Problem #2:  Complimentary Colors

1. Create a grid on your sheet of 18”x24” gessoed paper (the support) using your mathematical guide.
2. Transfer the information from each grid square of your photo to its corresponding square on your support.
3. For this problem, you will use acrylic paint in only two complimentary colors.
4. Choose one color that will represent white and one that will represent black.
5. Examine the values within each grid square and choose or mix ONE color to fill its corresponding square on your support.
6. To do this, you will analyze the values within the grid square to figure out what you believe the “average” value is.
7. Repeat this process with each square until the painting is complete.
8. Assignment due MARCH 27.

Notebook & Sketchbook Assignments

• Notebook:
• Enter your notes from class.
• Figure out your grid’s mathematical guide and record it.
• Sketchbook:
• Record your mathematical guide here too.
• Choose an image by Chuck Close or D-L Alvarez, paste it into your sketchbook, and do a master study in the medium of your choice (except graphite pencil).

Color Sketchbook Assignment

Due March 3rd with Color Project

• Design a composition and create 3 versions of it, each on a separate page:
1. A version using only 2 complimentary colors
2. A version using a triadic color palette
3. A version using a split-complementary color palette
• For each version, the composition must stay the same; only the color palette will change.
• Use only the hues you have chosen for each version.  Do not mix them with each other or with black or white.
• Use whatever material you prefer for this assignment, as long as it is a color medium.

Color Theory Terms & Images

• Color Wheel – A circle with different colored sectors used to show the relationship between hues.
• Hue – A pure color from the color wheel that has not been mixed with black or white.
• Saturation –  The intensity of a color, expressed as the degree to which it differs from white or black.
• Primary Colors – The three colors from which, theoretically, all other colors can be mixed:  red, yellow, and blue.
• Secondary Colors – The three colors which can be made by mixing two primaries in equal proportion: orange, green, and violet. 
• Tertiary Colors – Colors which can be made by mixing a primary color and a secondary color.
• Triadic Colors – Color relationships based on any three equidistant hues as shown on the color wheel.
• Complimentary Colors – Colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel that, when combined in the right proportions, neutralize each other.

Collage Assignment: Repetition & Rhythm

Due: Monday, February 20

Assignment:

1. Organize a sheet of 18”x24” paper by creating a 1” border on all four sides.
2. Within this new picture plane, design a composition that utilizes repetition and rhythm to guide the viewer’s eye around the composition.
3. Using cut and pasted greyscale paper, construct your composition using organic and/or geometric shapes and lines.
4. This time, I don’t mind if some of your shapes are representational, but don’t lean so heavily on representation that you ignore your exploration of rhythm.
5. Assignment (Emphasis & Rhythm/Repetition) due:  Monday, February 20.

Notebook:

• Research the obsessive work of Yayoi Kusama.  Place your notes, images, and any articles into the notebook.

Sketchbook:

1. Create at least 3 possible compositions in the sketchbook BEFORE beginning work on the full-sized collage.  You may use the materials of your choice for these sketches (pencil, charcoal, ink, paint, collage, etc.).
2. Choose the composition you’ll use for the assignment and write some notes about WHY you chose it.
3. Find at least 3 images by artists who use repetition and rhythm to create movement in their work.  Insert images into your sketchbook and write and draw over the images to explain how you see that artist using repetition and/or rhythm.  No more than TWO of them may be artists mentioned in class today.
4. Choose one image and do a master study of it.

Remember that the notebook and sketchbook are turned in with every assignment.

Collage Assignment: Emphasis

Due: Monday, February 20

Assignment:

1. Organize a sheet of 18”x24” paper by creating a 1” border on all four sides.
2. Within this new picture plane, design a composition that is arranged so that there is a clear focal point using emphasis.
3. Using cut and pasted greyscale paper, construct your composition using organic and/or geometric shapes and lines.
4. This time, I don’t mind if some of your shapes are representational, but don’t lean so heavily on representation that you ignore your exploration of emphasis.
5. Assignments (Emphasis & Rhythm/Repetition) due:  Monday, February 20.

Notebook:

• Research two artists who use emphasis to create a focal point.   One of these two artists can be someone we discussed in class today. Place your notes, images, and any articles into the notebook.

Sketchbook:

1. Create at least 3 possible compositions in the sketchbook BEFORE beginning work on the full-sized collage.  You may use the materials of your choice for these sketches (pencil, charcoal, ink, paint, collage, etc.).
2. Choose the composition you’ll use for the assignment and write some notes about WHY you chose it.
3. Find at least two images by artists who use emphasis to create a focal point in their work.  Paste these images into your sketchbook and write notes and draw over the images to explain how you see that artist creating emphasis.  No more than ONE of them may be artists mentioned in class today.
4. Choose one image and do a master study of it.

Remember that the notebook and sketchbook are turned in with every assignment.

Collage Assignment: Asymmetrical Balance

Due Monday, February 6

Assignment:

• Organize a sheet of 18”x24” white paper by creating a 1” border on all four sides.
• Within this new picture plane, design a composition that utilizes asymmetrical balance.
• Using cut and pasted greyscale paper, construct your composition using organic and/or geometric shapes and lines.
• Assignment (Symmetrical & Asymmetrical) due:  Monday, February 15.

Considerations:

• Are the shapes in your composition interestingly varied in scale, placement, proximity, and shape type (organic/geometric)?
• Keep the principles of design—such as contrast, placement, proximity, balance, and rhythm—in mind as you craft your composition.
• How are you choosing to balance the elements in your composition?  Are you making good use of negative space?
• Is there a compositional pathway that keeps your viewer on the page?  If not, what elements could you add to incorporate a pathway?

Notebook:

• Find 2 artists who use asymmetrical balance in their work.  (One of these can be Edgar Degas from the lecture.)  Research these artists and place your notes, images of the artists' work, and any articles you find interesting into the notebook.

Sketchbook:

1. Create at least 3 possible compositions in the sketchbook BEFORE beginning work on the full-sized collage.  You may use the materials of your choice for these sketches (pencil, charcoal, ink, paint, collage, etc.).
2. Choose the composition you’ll use for the assignment and write some notes about WHY you chose it.

Remember that the notebook and sketchbook are turned in with every assignment.