Painting as a Language Material, Technique, Form, Content

by Robertson, Jean; McDaniel, Craig

• ISBN13: 9780155056008
• ISBN10: 015505600X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-08-30
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Introduction. 1. Getting Started. 2. Materials & Techniques. 3. Color. 4. Objects. 5. Personal Identity. 6. Places. 7. Figures. 8. Expanded Forms & Ideas. 9. Contemporary Abstractions. 10. Narratives.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Introduction	1	(1)
The Concept and Approach of the Book	1	(2)
The Diversity of Painting	3	(1)
Getting Started	4	(15)
What Is a Painting?	4	(6)
What is a Painting Made of? Physical Materials	5	(1)
What is a Painting Made of? Techniques	6	(1)
What is a Painting Made of? Form	7	(1)
What is a Painting Made of? Cognitive Meaning	7	(1)
Focus on: Paintings of Horses	8	(2)
Content	10	(1)
Painting as a Language	11	(3)
Modes of Pictorial Representation	11	(1)
Research and Discussion Exercise: What is Realism?	11	(1)
Focus on: Paintings of Animals	12	(2)
Keeping a Studio Journal	14	(1)
Using Writing to Explore Content	14	(1)
Guidelines for Journal Writing	14	(1)
Visiting Museums and Libraries	15	(1)
Using Drawing to Prepare for Painting	16	(1)
Tips for Using a Sketchbook	16	(1)
Developing Hand and Eye Skills	17	(1)
Research in Visual Perception	18	(1)
A Word about the Creative Process	18	(1)
Materials and Techniques	19	(22)
Materials	19	(11)
The Support	20	(2)
The Stretcher	22	(1)
Preparing the Support: Priming	23	(1)
Solvent, Thinner, Medium	24	(2)
Recipes for Oil Paint Mediums	26	(1)
Brushes	27	(2)
Other Painting Equipment	29	(1)
Cleaning up	30	(1)
Safety and Health Precautions	30	(1)
Painting Techniques	31	(6)
Preliminary Stages	31	(1)
Direct and Indirect Painting	32	(2)
Paint Application Principles and Techniques	34	(2)
Care of Completed Paintings	36	(1)
Optional Materials and Techniques	37	(3)
Water-Miscible Oil Paints	37	(1)
Acrylic Paints	38	(1)
Alkyds	39	(1)
Oil Pastels	39	(1)
Other Optional Supplies	39	(1)
Recommended Materials to Get Started	40	(1)
Color---A Defining Element of Painting	41	(16)
Introduction to Color	41	(1)
The Development of New Colors	42	(1)
Approaches to Color in Painting	42	(1)
Local Color	42	(1)
Optical Color	43	(1)
Arbitrary Color	43	(1)
Symbolic Color	43	(1)
Writing and Discussion Exercises: Color Symbolism	43	(1)
Basic Vocabulary and Properties of Color	43	(3)
Color and Light	44	(1)
Hue, Value, and Saturation	44	(1)
The Color Wheel	44	(1)
Saturation Scales	45	(1)
Temperature: Warm and Cool Colors	45	(1)
Advancing and Retreating Colors	46	(1)
Color in Context	46	(1)
Choosing Colors in a Composition	46	(3)
Color Key	46	(1)
Color Scheme	47	(1)
Color Palette	48	(1)
Analyzing Color Palettes by a Grid System	48	(1)
Working with Oil Colors	49	(6)
Properties of Oil Paints	49	(1)
Focus On: Diebenkorn and Lomahaftewa	50	(2)
Mixing Oil Colors	52	(1)
Choosing your Working Palette	53	(2)
Working Palette Layout	55	(1)
Studio Exercises: Color Mixing	55	(2)
The Picture Plane---Practice Subject: Still Lifes and Objects	57	(24)
Starting with the Whole	57	(1)
Composition and Picture Plane	57	(1)
Studio Exercise: Seeing the Whole Composition	58	(1)
Painting the Largest Shapes First (Positive and Negative Shapes)	58	(6)
Focus On: Richard Diebenkorn, Ed Baynard, and Hector Hyppolite	60	(3)
Preliminary Drawing Exercise: Exploring Positive and Negative Shapes	63	(1)
Studio Exercise: Making a Monotype	63	(1)
Painting Exercise: Defining Objects as Shapes	63	(1)
Discussion Exercise: Emphasis on the Picture Plane, Developing Shape Awareness	64	(1)
Establishing Visual Rhythm	64	(1)
Articulating the Picture Plane: Balance	65	(4)
Discussion Exercise: Diagramming Examples of Visual Balance	67	(1)
Focus on: Catherine Murphy and Philip Guston	68	(1)
Drawing Exercise: Exploring Asymmetry	69	(1)
Painting Exercise: Simplified Shapes in Asymmetrical Balance	69	(1)
The Idea of Content	69	(6)
History and Meaning of Objects and Still Lifes as Subject Matter	70	(2)
Focus On: Lisa Milroy, Miriam Schapiro, and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith	72	(2)
Journal Exercise: Consumer Goods (or Not-So Good?)	74	(1)
Painting Exercise: Consumer Goods Still Life	74	(1)
Iconography	75	(4)
Journal Exercise: A Symbolic Still Life	77	(1)
Preliminary Drawing Exercise	77	(1)
Painting Exercise: Personal Symbolism	77	(1)
Painting Exercise: Luminosity	78	(1)
Painting Exercise: Expanded Picture Plane	79	(1)
Group Critique	79	(1)
Recommended Artists to Explore	80	(1)
Shape, Plane, Volume, and Brushstroke---Practice Subject: The Self-Image	81	(21)
Shapes, Planes, and Volumes	81	(3)
Preliminary Drawing Exercise: Self-Portrait in Planes	82	(1)
Painting Exercise: Self-Portrait in Planes	83	(1)
Dynamic Brushstrokes	84	(4)
Painting Exercise: Practicing Brushstrokes	85	(1)
Journal Exercise: Strong Emotions	85	(1)
Painting Exercise: Strong Emotions	86	(2)
Painting Exercise: Modified Pointillism	88	(1)
Studying Self-Portraits and the Theme of Personal Identity	88	(4)
The History of Self-Portraits	90	(2)
Gesture, Pose, and Facial Expression	92	(8)
Discussion Exercise: Body Language	93	(1)
Preliminary Drawing and Painting Exercises: Gesture Drawings and Paintings	94	(1)
Painting Exercise: Sustained Gestures and Expressions	94	(1)
Focus On: Frida Kahlo	95	(1)
Painting Exercise: Imaginary Self-Portraits	96	(1)
Journal Exercise: The Body	97	(1)
Drawing Exercise: Body Parts	97	(1)
Painting Exercise: The Body	97	(1)
Focus On: Ernest Pepion	98	(1)
Journal Exercise: Age	99	(1)
Painting Exercise: Aging Self-Portrait	100	(1)
Recommended Artists to Explore	100	(2)
Space---Practice Subject: Places	102	(31)
Introduction to Place as Subject Matter	102	(3)
Outdoor Scenes: Landscapes	102	(2)
Indoor Scenes: Interiors	104	(1)
The Articulation of Space	105	(5)
Strategies For the Articulation of Space	106	(2)
Focus On: Mark Tansey	108	(1)
Painting Exercise: The View from a Window	108	(2)
The Meaning of Space and Place	110	(5)
Place as Metaphor	110	(1)
Spiritual or Sacred Places	110	(1)
Place as Social Commentary	111	(1)
Unexpected Places	111	(1)
Drawing Exercise: Keeping a Visual Diary	112	(1)
Painting Exercise: Painting the Unexpected	112	(2)
Journal Exercise: A Sense of Place	114	(1)
Painting Outdoors	115	(2)
Drawing Exercise: Sketching Outdoors	116	(1)
Painting Exercise: Painting Outdoors	116	(1)
Public versus Private Space	117	(2)
Journal and Discussion Exercise: Public versus Private Space	117	(1)
Painting Exercises: Interiors	118	(1)
More Strategies for the Articulation of Space	119	(7)
Linear Perspective	119	(2)
Diagonals	121	(1)
Isometric Perspective	121	(1)
Framing	122	(1)
Shifting Perspective	122	(1)
Mapping and Other Ways to Represent Space	123	(1)
Research and Discussion Exercise: Different Spatial Systems	123	(2)
Painting Exercise: Linear Perspective	125	(1)
Sketching Exercise: Imaginary Cityscape	126	(1)
Painting Exercises: The Painter's Studio---Exploring Perspective	126	(1)
Combining the Articulation of Space and the Articulation of the Picture Plane	126	(5)
Focus On: Jennifer Bartlett	127	(1)
Strategies for the Articulation of the Picture Plane	128	(1)
Journal Exercise: Landmarks Remembered	128	(1)
Painting Exercise: An Invented View	128	(1)
Focus on: April Gornik	129	(1)
Painting Exercise: Painting a Nocturne Using Grattage	130	(1)
Painting Exercise: Sand Painting	130	(1)
Recommended Artists to Explore	131	(2)
Form and Light---Practice Subject: The Human Figure	133	(28)
Introduction to the Human Figure as a Subject	133	(2)
Strategies for the Articulation of Figurative Form	135	(7)
Standards for Proportions	135	(1)
Geometric Simplification	136	(1)
Analyzing Anatomical Structure	137	(1)
Focus On: Reginald Gammon and Raymond Saunders	138	(2)
Foreshortening	140	(1)
Painting Exercises: Painting the Structure of the Body	141	(1)
Strategies for the Articulation of Light	142	(6)
Chiaroscuro (Light and Shadow)	143	(1)
Directional Lighting	144	(2)
Luminosity	146	(1)
Illusions of Texture Created through Effects of Light	146	(1)
Journal and Sketchbook Exercise: The Symbolism of Light	146	(1)
Painting Exercises: Painting Figures Defined by Light	147	(1)
Exploration of Figurative Themes	148	(6)
Human Physicality	148	(2)
Deriving Thematic Ideas for (Figurative) Painting from Photographs and Other Media Images	150	(2)
Journal and Sketchbook Exercises	152	(1)
Painting Exercises	152	(2)
Exploring More Techniques	154	(3)
Collage	154	(1)
More Brushstroke Techniques	155	(1)
Wiping-Out Technique	156	(1)
Painting Exercises: Practicing Techniques	156	(1)
More Exploration of Figurative Meaning	157	(3)
Human Relationships	157	(2)
Journal and Sketchbook Exercise: Personal Relationships	159	(1)
Painting Exercise: Family Portrait	159	(1)
Painting Exercise: Reviewing Strategies and Concepts	159	(1)
Recommended Artists to Explore	160	(1)
Expanded Forms and Ideas	161	(20)
Introduction to Expanded Forms and Ideas	161	(2)
Criteria for Judging Paintings	163	(2)
Journal and Discussion Exercise: Criteria for Judging Paintings	164	(1)
Expanded Forms	165	(7)
Breaking the Rectangle	166	(2)
Painting Exercises: Expanded Form Paintings	168	(4)
Expanded Ideas	172	(8)
Topic #1: Challenging Hierarchies	173	(3)
Topic #2: Painting as a Language	176	(1)
Discussion Exercise: Postmodernism and the Moral Code	177	(1)
Expanded Strategies for Image Making	177	(2)
Painting Exercises: Exploring Expanded Ideas	179	(1)
Group Critique: Expanded Ideas	180	(1)
Recommended Artists to Explore	180	(1)
Contemporary Abstraction	181	(26)
Introduction to Abstraction	181	(4)
A Short History of Abstraction in Art	185	(2)
Discussion Exercise: What Makes a Painting Abstract?	187	(1)
Sketchbook Exercises	187	(1)
Contrast	187	(3)
The Articulation of Formal Contrast	187	(1)
Painting Exercise: Establishing Formal Contrasts	188	(1)
Painting Exercise: Abstracting in Stages	189	(1)
Topics of Current Abstraction	190	(15)
Topic #1: Nonobjective Painting	190	(2)
Painting Exercises: Exploring Nonobjective Painting	192	(2)
Journal and Sketchbook Exercise: Researching Approaches to Abstraction	194	(1)
Topic #2: Abstracting Nature	195	(1)
Painting Exercises: Abstracting Nature	196	(1)
Focus on: Terry Winters	197	(1)
Focus on: Djalu Gurruwiwi	198	(1)
Topic #3: Abstracting the Spiritual	199	(1)
Journal Exercise: Taking Measure of Your Spiritual Dimension	199	(2)
Painting Exercise: Spirituality: a Multi-Part Painting	201	(1)
Topic #4: Abstraction as Commentary	201	(2)
Painting Exercises: Abstracted Appropriation	203	(1)
Painting Exercises: Expanded Form Abstraction	203	(2)
Group Critique	205	(1)
Recommended Artists to Explore	205	(2)
Narrative Painting	207	(22)
Introduction to Narrative Painting	207	(2)
Narrative Factors	207	(2)
History of Narrative Painting	209	(1)
Narrative Painting Today: What and Why	210	(5)
Framing History	210	(1)
Capturing the Mood of the Times	211	(1)
Personal Memory	212	(1)
Journal Exercises: Personal Narratives	212	(3)
Narrative Painting Today: How	215	(13)
Narrative Formats	215	(3)
Painting Exercises: Exploring Narrative Formats	218	(2)
Focus On: John Singleton Copley and Dotty Attie	220	(3)
Strategies for Expressing Narratives	223	(2)
Painting Exercises: Painted Stories---Single Scene Narratives	225	(1)
Focus On: Deborah Oropallo and Carole Caroompas	226	(1)
Journal and Discussion Exercise: What is Time?	227	(1)
Painting Exercises: Expanded Form Narrative Paintings	228	(1)
Recommended Artists to Explore	228	(1)
Society and Issues	229	(28)
Introduction to Art about Society and Issues	229	(4)
Journal and Discussion Exercise: Roles of the Artist	231	(1)
Focus On: Sue Coe	232	(1)
Defining Your Issue, Your Audience, Your Goals, Your Effect	233	(2)
Painting Exercise: Framing the News	233	(2)
Topics of Issue-Based Art	235	(20)
Topic #1: Group Identity---When the Personal is Political	235	(1)
Focus On: Ken Chu and Phyllis Bramson	236	(2)
Journal Exercise: Group Identity	238	(1)
Painting Exercise: Group Artwork on Stereotypes	238	(1)
Discussion Exercise: Breaking Stereotypes	239	(2)
Painting Exercise: Breaking Stereotypes	241	(1)
Topic #2: Health	241	(1)
Journal and Sketchbook Exercise: Illness and Death	241	(1)
Focus On: Hollis Sigler	242	(2)
Painting Exercise: Expanded Form Project on a Group Health Issue	244	(1)
Topic #3: Conflict and Violence	245	(1)
Research and Painting Exercise: Root Causes of Conflict	245	(1)
Painting Exercise: Information Sign Painting	245	(1)
Focus On: Janice Hartwell	246	(1)
Focus On: Kerry James Marshall	247	(1)
Focus On: Roger Brown and R. B. Kitaj	248	(2)
Topic #4: Censorship and the First Amendment	250	(1)
Journal Exercise: Taboo Topics (a List to Burn)	250	(1)
Discussion Exercise: Censorship	250	(1)
Painting Exercise: A Humorous Look at a Taboo Topic	251	(1)
Topic #5: Imperiled Ecology and the Future of the Planet	251	(1)
Journal and Sketchbook Exercise: Prophecies for the Year 3000	252	(3)
Painting Exercise: Prophecies for the Year 3000	255	(1)
Summary Critique	255	(1)
Discussion Topic: Standards of Quality	255	(1)
Outside Feedback	256	(1)
Recommended Artists to Explore	256	(1)
Glossary	257	(4)
Credits	261	(4)
Index	265