Part 1
Study the following three mixed media paintings. After completing the reading assignments, experiment with combining different media. Use the media required for this course by themselves or with others, as you wish. Try at least four different media combination when experimenting. Try conducting your experiments on watercolor paper, pastel paper, or gesso-primed paperboard. If you are planning to scan in your work, be sure it is thoroughly dry before scanning.. Make small compositions for this assignment. Use the “Teapot, Teacup” sketches from week 1 as a starting points for all four. Provide a verbal description of the techniques used.

First drawing – For this one I used marker to create the outlines of the teapot and cup. I then added layers of chalk pastel and more markers. I found that when you layer chalk pastel over marker, it creates a really nice faded but solid shadow. A muted color of whatever marker you used.

Second drawing – This drawing was started with an outline of the teapot and cup using charcoal pencil. Then, I used layers or marker and chalk pastel to get the colors I wanted. For the background I put drenched the paper with water and rubbed chalk pastel over it. This created an almost paste like consistency with the pastel, so I smeared it around and created a really neat texture.

Third drawing – For this drawing I used a lot of charcoal pencil to create the outline and shading of the teapot and cup. I then rubbed in colored chalk pastel and went back with more charcoal pencil. I used water and charcoal pencil for the smoky background.

Fourth drawing – For this final drawing I used a lot of chalk pastel and marker. I used the technique of layering chalk on top of the marker to create a faded but solid shadow. I wanted a really airy feel, so I used my finger a lot.

Part 2
Think about the following discussion points. Post your thoughts on any 2 of them in the Discussion Area. Your response should be no more than three paragraphs long. You may then respond to your classmates’ comments by the end of the week and submit your response to the Discussion Area. Try some of the techniques that others liked and report your results. You may also let us know about any new discoveries you have made since your initial response.

2) Did you discover any additional tips or tricks for mixing these techniques?

A trick I discovered was layering chalk pastel over wet marker. It creates a solid but muted shadow. Almost like a layer in Photoshop where the transparency is turned down. I really like how this looks so different than any of the medium being used to create it.

5) Locate an online tutorial or video demonstrating mixed media techniques and discuss what you learned.

I found this online tutorial at youtube.com. I really enjoy it because it shows how messy and fun mixed media can be. I also just love the energy of the artist. She uses so many things in her art: felt, gesso, paint, water, sponges, and much more. It’s just super. Very inspirational!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUZMKM2U1gw

Part 3
Choose one painting and discuss the question located below each image. Be specific.

Some illustrations focus on color rather than form. Do you think this approach would work better for a technical article or one that is more subjective in nature? Why?

I often like to do my illustrations focusing on color rather than form. I think it catches the eye and requires the viewer to really focus on the piece. I think this would work better for a subjective article, simply because it is almost subjective in its creation. It could be used in a technical article but to do so might take away the preciseness needed in most technical articles.

Assignment 3: Project 3: Concept Sketches

By Week 4, Day 4, select your best five or six concepts, scan them in, and post them to the Discussion Area so that your classmates can view them.

Now is the time to begin generating concepts for this project. The project is to create an illustration with appropriate copy, suitable for use as a poster to announce a special event of your choice, such as a music festival, carnival, parade, etc. The design should be primarily based upon visual imagery, not type. Siince this is a course based upon the use of traditional media, the illustration is of primary importance, as well as the tagline and concept.You may use your own method of approach for this stage or try some of the suggestions given. Keep in mind that the copy will be superimposed over the acrylic illustration. No digital backgrounds are acceptable, so plan your design accordingly.

Once you have collected several ideas, make small sketches for each (pencil is fine) with the intended copy printed beneath each one. Please indicate within the layout where you plan to place the copy. You can do this using double lines or pencil in the text. Prepare your sketches for professional presentation by formatting them with a black line around each one and space in between them so that they are not run together. Be sure to write your name on each sheet as well.

Sheri Gruver Wk4As1

Part 1
Study the following three acrylics paintings. Using your acrylics, try the techniques mentioned in the lectures and in these three paintings. Try at least four of the techniques shown in your textbook or from other sources. Use the “Teapot, Teacup” sketches from week 1 as a starting points for all four. Provide a verbal description of the techniques used.

Once these images are scanned place them in one document (DOC or PDF will be fine). Write your name on each sheet, and submit four sheets of your most interesting work to the Discussion Area. Submit your work as early as possible to the Discussion Area.

original teacup composition concepts

COLORED

Part 2

3) Did you discover any additional techniques not shown in the lesson or text? Tell us about them.

A technique I like to use is to try to be as loose as possible. Just trust your hand to make the correct choices in colors and placement of the paint. Just let your brain relax and focus on shadow, mid tones, and highlights. Take a step back every once in a while and look at your painting from a distance.

4) If there is a concept of using acrylic, how can it be improved?

A concept of acrylic is the fact that the paint dries so fast. The best thing of this is to use it to your advantage. Think of your painting in layers: background and foreground. Do your background first, and then apply your layers. Do a final sweep with final details and highlights. It’s also fun to layer splashes of acrylic wash too!

Part 3

Choose one painting and discuss the COLOR composition. In other words, does the color balance guide us through the image or does it keep our eye from going into certain areas? Be specific.

Description: Tutti-Fruitti by Helen Frankenthaler, acrylic on canvas, 1966.

I decided to discuss this painting because it encompasses the reason I love acrylic paint. It allows the artist complete freedom with being messy (easy soap cleanup) and a quick drying time. In this painting the artist used an acrylic wash in varying warm colors. These warm colors are then broken up with cool blue and negative white spaces. The eye is automatically drawn from the warm and comforting colors to rest on the more troubled blue in the top left of the painting. The eyes are then stuck at this spot. Even after looking at the painting again after a few minute, the viewer is automatically drawn to the bright blue area

I haven’t been able to do an update lately because work has been kicking my butt!  I’m really looking forward to the overtime paycheck though.  Here’s any art or assignments I’ve missed in the last week or so:

Week 3

Experiment with watercolors.  Again, using the teapot compositions.

Concepts:

Create concepts to create a poster focusing on the beach or a bath.  Will be using watercolor and superimpose copy.

Since halloween is right around the corner I decided to do a zombie-skeleton theme for our copy/ image project.  We are supposed to use a quote or section of “copy” that we like and create a smart chalk pastel picture to go with it.  Then, superimpose our text to create a poster.

Concepts:

Mid project:

This assignment is for a poster or calendar art with the text superimposed digitally over a traditionally rendered illustration. No digital backgrounds are acceptable. You were asked to design the illustration to accommodate the placement of text. Post any preliminary color roughs in Assignment 2 for feedback from your classmates and from your instructor before posting your final in this thread for a grade. As mentioned earlier, you may photograph the image using a digital camera or scan the image directly.

No text:

With text/ final project:

50 concepts on teapot and tea cup composition.

Going to be turning all of this compositions into 50 individual pieces using different mediums.

So far our assignments have been chalk pastel:

and watercolor:

This was accompanied by lots and lots of essay, but I won’t bore you with my ramblings.

Assignment 3: Discussion and Experimentation

By Saturday, October 10, respond to all three PARTS of this assignment. Submit your responses to the appropriate Discussion Area. Be sure to give the reasoning behind your responses.

Part 1
Study the following three pastel paintings. You are not being asked to duplicate them, just to analyze how they are done. Using your pastels, try the techniques mentioned in the lectures and in these three paintings. Try at least six of the techniques shown in your textbook. Use six of your teapot-teacup thumbnail sketches as basic layouts for each of your compositions. Each week you will be using layouts from your fifty thumbnails as you experiment with each medium. At the end of the course you will create a poster or postcard compiled of all the compositions to showcase your work in this class. Provide a verbal description of the techniques used on each composition.

Be sure to spray them lightly with fixative before scanning. Once these images are scanned place them in one document (DOC or PDF will be fine). Use your name as the first word of your file, and submit three compositions of your most interesting work to the Discussion Area. Think about using some of the compositions you completed as part of your teapot/teacup assignment last week. Submit your work as early as possible to the Discussion Area.

Part 2

Think about the following discussion points. Post your thoughts on any 2 of them in the Discussion Area. Your response should be no more than three paragraphs long. You may then respond to your classmates’ comments by the end of the week and submit your response to the Discussion Area. Try some of the techniques that others liked and report your results. You may also let us know about any new discoveries you have made since your initial response.

1) Of the pastel techniques you tried from the lesson and text, which one do you find most interesting? Why?
2) Did you discover any additional tips or tricks for using these techniques?
3) Did you discover any additional techniques not shown in the lesson or text? Tell us about them.
4) If there is a concept of using pastel, how can it be improved?
5) Share links to demos or tutorials showing pastel techniques. What did you learn from these and how can others benefit?

Part 3

Choose one painting and discuss what message the color or combination of colors tell us about the scene portrayed? In other words, does the color imply mood and/or tell a story or does it come down to a personal preference?

Note: Discuss any challenges you encounter in this assignment or any other assignment in this course in the “Problems and Solutions” Discussion Area. Also share useful tips and tricks and possible solutions to problems posted by your peers in this forum. The “Problems and Solutions” Discussion Area will be present each week. Therefore take advantage of this discussion forum as much as possible.

Gruver Wk1As3 1-6 Teapots
I had fun with this assignment. I had purchased cheap pastels from Hobby Lobby and I’m not entirely pleased with the color values. I think I will have to scrounge up some money and invest in a set that has deeper hues.
Here are the first six thumbnails of the teapot composition project:

Here are my 6 pieces made with dry chalk pastel:

Started a new class this week, and I’m really excited for it.  Seems like it’s going to be very hands on as well as research based.  Very exciting!!

Here’s the first assignment:

Assignment 2: Design and Composition Exercise

Teapot, Teacup composition drawing exercise.

By Thursday, October 8, respond to all PARTS of this assignment. Submit your responses to the appropriate Discussion Area. Be sure to give the reasoning behind your responses.

This exercise is to help you develop your design skills and to push your thinking beyond standard image layouts. What’s so hard about drawing a teacup and teapot in an interesting composition? Not much actually. However, the real design journey begins after the first dozen or so. What happens is that you will resolve the simplest and most straightforward solutions and then begin to struggle with unique and interesting element compositions. This is where the true designer/artist begins the process of creating a unique picture. .

Exercise
Layout a 1.5’’ by 1” grid on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of white paper.
There should be fifty rectangles.
In each rectangle draw a teapot and teacup. Each rectangle must be different in composition.
Use scale, proportion, viewpoints and cropping to generate 50 unique drawings.
You should not spend more than 30 minutes on this exercise. (Don’t use a stopwatch, just draw until you’re finished.)
Scan the drawing and save a JPG image file.
Post to the discussion thread.

Think about the following discussion points. By day 4, post your thoughts on any 2 of them in the Discussion Area. Your response should be ten to fifteen sentences long. You may then respond to your classmates’ comments by the end of the week and submit your response to the Discussion Area. Try some of the techniques that others liked and report your results. You may also let us know about any new discoveries you have made since your initial response.

1) Of the design techniques you tried, which one do you find most interesting? Why?
2) Did you discover any additional tips or tricks for using these techniques?
3) If there is a concept of using composition, how can it be improved?
4 How successful was this process in actuality? What can you learn from it for future reference?

Note: Discuss any challenges you encounter in this assignment or any other assignment in this course in the “Problems and Solutions” Discussion Area. Also share useful tips and tricks and possible solutions to problems posted by your peers in this forum. The “Problems and Solutions” Discussion Area will be present each week. Therefore take advantage of this discussion forum as much as possible.

For the two discussion questions I chose:

Of the design techniques you tried, which one do you find most interesting? Why?

I tried a couple different techniques for this assignment.  I tried to use some aspects of distance and size by using different sized pots and cups.  I tried using different types of cups and pots, mostly just by altering the size and placement of spout and handles.  I also tried changing the viewing angle of the cups and pots, some are straight on while others may be upside down or viewed from above.  I think the most interesting technique I used was having a large cup covering four rectangles, but still keeping to the rule of having a cup and teapot in each square.  It just seems to jump out on the paper as the most different of all the designs.

How successful was this process in actuality? What can you learn from it for future reference?
It was a successful process.  It required a lot of thought and planning, as well as just starting and seeing what evolves.  For future reference, this just shows how different compositions effect the final design.  It also shows that planning ahead in your rough draft stage will help you get started on the correct path.  Although the process seemed tedious at 30 minutes, it would save time from having to redo a design because the composition just seems a bit off.  It seemed a bit odd to me at first that I was doing these designs on rectangles instead of squares, but it really turned out to have no differing effects.  The pieces still felt balanced to me.  Fun project!