Thursday, July 2, 2009
Pearl Strands by Heather Herche 16"x20" Oil on canvas - Painting II - Broome Community College"
Pearl Strands - 16" x 20"For this assignment I chose to paint a string of black/blue pearls and strings of beads on a silk scarf. The best part about my composition is that the string of pearls farther back is in shadow. This allows for there to be huge difference in chroma. The scarf behind the pearls in shadow is extremely low in chroma compared to the scarf in the foreground. There is a huge contrast in colors between the foreground and the background. I angled the light this way on purpose to give the painting more interesting points. This allowed for use of high and low chroma and lots of shadows. This also helps to give the painting a sense of depth. Also just the difference in the two strands of pearls makes for an interesting painting. I think the stands of beads coming out of the jewelry box give a sense of atmosphere and the reflection of the beads in the wood turned out really nice. I used an academic style to paint the entire canvas. I changed this after the painting looked too stiff. To smooth out the different edges for a softer look I used my little finger. I scumbled the paint where two colors were alongside one another. This give the piece a finished more stylized look.
Marching Stilettos by Jennifer Bagnick 20"x16" Oil on canvas "Painting II - Broome Community College"
For this painting I was to create a large- scale personal still life with three to five objects. The objects were supposed to be three of these five elements: transparent, organic, geometric, have contrasting visual textures, and elliptical quality. After much debating I decided upon a pair of boots my mother bought me for my birthday and a wooden stand I found in the classroom. I close the boots because I thought they had an interesting shape and would make for a dynamic composition. The boots also have a lot of contrast within themselves because of the buttons on the sides that are shiny, the brown leather and the suede fabric of the boots. The wooden stand was added as an afterthought to the composition to prop up one of the boots. I chose this item because of it's antique quality. I wanted the painting to have a vintage look to it. I titled the work "Marching Stilettos" because I feel that the piece looks slightly militaristic while also holding on to the idea of vanity because it is about hing heels. The idea of military high heels is an abstract idea in itself and the abstract painting style lends to this. I think that one could speak a lot of the possibility that what going on in society and the idea of the war and our growing economic porblems may have a large impact on our fashion trends.The painting was supposed to include nine formal elements: (1)High to Low-key value range, with light and dark contrasts (2)Negative space and cast shadows must be painted in low chroma (3)High, low and medium chroma/saturation areas (4)A sense of volume and visual weight to all of the depicted forms (5)A sense of depth –foreground, middle ground and background (6)Variation in brushstroke scale and shape (7)Scumbled areas that appear diffused contrasted with defined forms (8)Fresh, clean, painterly passages which are not overworked (9)Sense of atmospheric space
I used a lot of orange and yellows to create high key values and mixed in a bluish grey and raw umber to create low key values. The contrast between the warm yellows and oranges and the cool blues really made the lights and shadows pop out from one another creating a sense volume to the objects and make a three dimensional effect. I painted the negative space in the background with a blue that i mixed with a neutral greyish color to create a low chroma. I later added some highlights with a touch of yellow and some more vibrant blue color accents to make a sense of atmospheric space. I accented areas with a very high key blue grey to make the illusion that they were shining in the light as can be seen in the buttons of the boots, the zippers, and on the dark brown leather accents. I also used this effect on the wood stand in the bottom right corner to make the object look round and create volume. I used many different chroma/saturation areas in this object to make it look wooden and to create the illusion that there are grooves around the top of the object. The mixture of multiple chromas in the boots that I scumbled together successfully created a sense of a soft fabric that the shoes are made out of. I wanted to show bothe the hard and soft sided of the boots in an abstract sort of way. The placement of the one boot on the right on top of the wooden object creates a better sense of depth than having them both on the same level. This placing allows for a foreground, middle ground, and background to emerge. The right boot is in the foreground and the left one seems to be in the middle, while the negative space behind the shoes lends itself to the background. Overall I think this piece was successful in many ways. I learned something new with the use of bold brush strokes and took chances with brighter color choices creating a well rounded work.
Ben Kellog - 16"x20" Green Rabbit - "Painting II - Broome Community College"
When an artist is allowed to choose the objects that are to be painted in a still life the resulting image is often a figurative self portrait of sorts. The painting can take on the personality and characteristics of the artist and become evident in the image. Without pinpointing the exact qualities in the still life that match my personality I feel this is true. As a work of art I would like to leave this open to the viewers’ interpretation and let each individual decide for themselves how the painting may or may not be a self portrait.
The objects were arranged within a box and a direct light source was used to create a dynamic range of high and low key areas. The brightest bright was the area of reflected light on the cognac snifter, one of the last spots of paint applied to the canvas. Other high key areas are the ears of the labbit and the right side of the spines of the books. White was added to the base colors used for these objects to act as a tint and show the areas of light. The low key areas fade into the background where the light could not reach and also in the areas of the cast shadows. The labbits shadow cast upon the books and underneath the figure as well as the area that makes up the soil in the plants pot are the lowest key values. The low key areas were achieved by adding raw umber to the base colors. Toning the colors down like this makes it low in chroma and was used in all of the cast shadows and negative space.
High, medium and low chroma areas are apparent throughout the painting. As said above the cast shadows and negative space were painted in low chroma. The colors muted to set them back, make them less prevalent. The most saturated areas of color are those that were painted with raw color, not tinted or toned, evident in the book furthest to the left, some of the leaves of the Christmas cactus, and the rear section of the labbit. Medium chroma areas are the in-between, not overly saturated pure color and not toned down or highly tinted colors. The middle areas of the spines of the books, the mid area of the labbit and again some of the leaves are all medium chroma.
Painting the objects in the still life was approached in a very formalistic way. Volume was created by varying the high and low key areas on the surfaces of the objects. The labbit, for example, has a sense of volume conveyed by the directions of the brush strokes that follow the contours of the figures shape. The darker areas are further away and the lighter areas closer. The plants pot has volume in the same way, the lightest area the closest and getting darker and lower in chroma as the form rolls away.
Depth was achieved by having a clear foreground, middle ground, and background. This sense of depth was created by the placement of the objects from the very beginning. The labbits cigarette and head starts out in front of the cognac snifter, which is in front to the plant pot, which is slightly in front of the books. The books then are clearly the furthest back and the depth is really felt by looking at the labbits head, following its body with the eye, and arriving at the background.
As stated earlier about the use of the direction of the brush strokes to achieve volume, variation in brushstroke scale and shape were used for a variety of effects. Big, blocky brush strokes were used initially to build the objects form by painting the planes. As the painting was worked the brush strokes became smaller and more specific as an attempt to show detail. Even the palate knife was used to scrape paint off the canvas to create the line that represents one of the highlights in the snifter. When large blocks of color were applied next to each other a clean brush was used to blend the colors creating new colors right on the canvas. This gives a feeling of “fresh, clean, painterly passages which are not overworked!” The negative space, particularly the yellow area, was achieved by scumbling and diffusing the yellow with the raw umber that was already on the canvas. All of these effects help to create a sense of atmospheric space which feels warm by the yellows and oranges but balanced with the blues and greens.
Aubrey V.D. 16x20" Oil on canvas "Adirondacks" "Painting I- Broome Community College"
Final Project Essay I chose to paint a 16”/20” in landscape. The landscape is painted from a picture taken in the Adirondacks. The Adirondacks is known for its picturesque scenery. The complexity of nature gives the artist freedom to find new ways to describe nature with paint. It is almost impossible to paint an exact copy of a photograph depicting nature, but I find it amazing that the tonality and brush strokes can mimic that of leaves on a tree and the glistening rocks in the water. Painting two other landscapes earlier in the semester, I had found that I really enjoy painting this subject matter. I have learned new techniques from each of the previous paintings that I wanted to incorporate into a new piece. Painting is a learning experience, and I discover something new in every painting.
The left side of the painting is very dark and shaded by the trees, whereas the right side is very bright and colorful. The grass and trees are very warm, and the water is cool. The warm and cool colors play off each other creating a very active scene. The eye has to look at every part of the painting before turning away. The small bright accents are very attractive. The trees have a lot of texture. In contrast, parts of the stream that are calm and smooth needed a smooth texture, therefore I made it harder to see the brush strokes. The brush strokes play an important role in creating atmosphere and I used it to my advantage. The painting goes back into space hundreds of feet. The best way to create depth in a painting is to really show those shadows and highlights. Each time when a shadow and highlight are placed next to each other, more depth is added to the painting. A highlight is often a sharp edge and the shadows are very soft and diffused. I tried my best to keep the dark areas light weight and airy, by painting only one coat of dark paint. The undercoat is very important because it ties the whole piece together. I struggled painting the trees and they may have been overworked somewhat. Next time I paint a landscape, I think I now know how to handle them better. It is all about shadows and highlights, and the placement of the quick brush strokes.
I have learned the importance of letting the undercoat show through a little. I learned more about the technique of layering the paint and yet keep the painting from getting over worked. I am still experimenting, and each painting is a success to me because of the progress I am making. Overall, I think the best feature is the water and rocks. I seem to know exactly what to do when it comes to painting them.
The painting simply say’s “I am a Landscape.” It is not painted photo realistically but it is obvious what it is of. In a way, this is a very simple piece, because it is only a study of how to paint the idea of a landscape. I am learning how to use tone to create depth, how to layer the paint, and how to paint hundreds of leaves and blades of grass with only a few strokes.
Renate: Still life #3 10x8"
Please e-mail me your comments on my work: reynoldsr118@acad.sunybroome.eduAt first I was hesitant to paint, I wasn’t confident in myself. I was focusing on making it perfect and not abstract in any way. My first still life painting was very object oriented but I established the form and color in the piece. The second still life painting I did was much more successful than the first. All the objects in the painting flowed together and no object was isolated from another. From my first painting I improved greatly. Composition wise, I think I was successful in both cases, as well as my other two paintings. I still need to improve on the way I paint because sometimes I catch myself being too cautious. But in the end, I learned how to enjoy painting even with the simple concepts in mind.
The painting of the pot has meaning behind it unlike the still lifes. It is just a pot. But it’s a pot that was made and came from Germany. The pot is symbolic of my German heritage and my family in Germany. I feel a strong connection with my family even though I rarely see them or speak with them. I talk to them through my mother and the letters that I send them. Pictures, objects, food, stories, and even a little pot connect me with them and make me feel closer even if I am so far away.
Painting an object or place that you have a connection with makes it more enjoyable. There is an emotion, a feeling, a mood behind what you are painting. I painted the pot and the painting of the landscape of Taughannock Falls more freely. But yet I keep on critiquing my work in my mind because I was associated with them. After all it was a great experience to be able to paint something that was special
Jooyeon: #5 history painting: Life on the Erie Canal 11x14" "Painting II - Broome Community College
Please e-mail me your thoughts regarding my work: wndus1016@yahoo.comAt the begining of this semester I just painted as I have done in the past. But I tried to explore new ways gradually and I've got them. I wanted to represent different styles according to objects and atmosphere each of my works.
My last work was landscape as canal. Actually I liker to paint still-life than landscape because I had landscape painted on large canvases usually so I felt a little boring and I got tired but this work is very small and a new trial and venture. It was very small and I tried to paint in different style like famous artists as Courbet. It was interesting and I think my last work has like historical mood.
Shirley Campbell -- Naturalistic Still life of Pears --11"x14"
Comments by Hall Groat II regarding Shirley's Painting
Devin -- Still life With Rocking Chair --24"x18"
This painting has been selected by a committee to be used on this year's Annual Student Art Exhibition postcard at Broome Community College.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
