EPIC THEATER

We are now ready to apply our tools to a complex, unique, and exciting still life theater! For the remainder of this term we will be developing this project, applying our color concepts to this new motif and creating a series of new works.

So far, our Rock Templates have provided the context to observe and experiment with relationships in Value, Temperature, and Intensity. We have heightened our awareness for how contrasts in these 3 formal elements are deeply tied to compositional structure and poetic meaning.

We will develop our new paintings using the Orange/ Blue Complement Set, and will add-on the concept of Satelliting over the next few weeks in order to incorporate additional hues.

Still Life Theater Set-Up, Graphite Drawing, and Orange-Blue Oil Painting, by Ashley Johnson.

CREATE A MOTIF:

Expand on your Rock Theater, combing Rocks and Fabric and/or other objects and colors. Folded paper can be a fun way to explore color and geometry if you want to avoid nameable objects and just focus on formal relationships.

Consider zooming-out and viewing your theater as part of a larger context. Objects on a table in a room? Theater Box in the context of the studio?

+Create a motif that has a clear light source, so that you can apply a clear and expressive Value and Temperature structure.

+Create a motif that has a range of Relative Value relationships: dark, light, and middle value objects and surfaces.

+Create a motif where the objects have clear plane changes and cast shadows so that Value and Temperature can be used to express form through those changes.

+Create a motif that has a range of Saturation and Neutrality.

+Create a motif that has a range of different colors, as we will explore these through Satelliting during the development of this project.

TEMPLATE / FORMAT

Create a simple, linear Template for easy transfer and the ability to do at least 2 variations of your theater.

Consider working larger- Arches Oil Paper 12 x 16” or 16 x 20.”

For Sizing-Up, see this video.

THE RESEARCH / STUDIO PLAY

DIVE INTO YOUR PROJECT using your visual tools: Composing with Value, Figure-Ground Relationships, Relative Value, Temperature of Light and Shadow, and the arrangement of Neutrals v. Intensity.

Using digital tools, graphite, collage, crayons, gouache, and oils, experiment and follow unexpected pathways that unfold as part of your Technical and Poetic Narrative.

Be weird and awesome.

THE FINAL PAINTINGS

In addition to your studio research, you should end this term with 2 Final Paintings that exemplify your understanding of color concepts and experimentations.

I. Tone/ Temperature/ Intensity

Using only the Orange / Blue Palette

II. Satelliting

Expanding on the Orange / Blue Palette with additional hues.

SOME INSPIRATION/ IDEAS:

Images by Kimberly Trowbridge, Ashley Johnson, Juan Gris, Elizabeth Geiger, Susan Jane Walp, Susannah Philips, Irina Roon.