This week we began with a critique of our Paul Klee inspired Fort Worden color blocks. I focused on techniques we learned week one with watercolor such as layering paint, creating texture, and paying close attention to how one color affects another. We looked at various works including Fairfield Porter, Giorgio Morandi, Cézanne, and Picasso. I learned the painting term facture in which means the thickness of paint and surface texture along with learning more about planes of color as a special element in painting. Recognizing vertical small places in a the development of a painting is crucial to creating dimension, relationship, context, and structure is a key component in visual arts. We read four texts starting with an introduction and chapter of Painting Today and James Elkins “What Painting Is”. In the introduction of Painting Today, I learned about the importance of painting and the transitional artistic history and artist intent. I enjoyed the example of of Mark Rothko and Philip Guston (15-16) during an arguable crucial and confusing time of painting. I learned the importance of individual style and constant curiosity and questioning in a high stake time period from Guston’s artistic intent and speech. In workshops we played with contrast and value as seen in our ball and bottle style to understand the relationship of light and composition (frame) in our own work. I struggled with not trying to draw our still life rather than focus on the shapes of the objects themselves.
Going into Wednesday, we had the privilege to attend the art lecture series featuring Tacoma artist and a fellow Tacoma School of the Arts grad (I’m the class of 2016 wooo!!!), Christopher Paul Jordan. Jordan commonly talked about graffiti and lettering as an influence highlighting the Bronx in the 1980’s alongside the of decay of infrastructure and rise in gentrification present in his own neighborhood. Jordan emphasized the need to reclaim and take control of surroundings, environment, and public spaces that belong to the black community as the displacement of black bodies continues in gentrification. The significance of a basketball hoop in reflection of his childhood and community was a powerful image and motif in showing the audience a visual landscape of decay and displacement in local communities and cities.
Overall, I felt confident this week and learned more artistic terms in preparation for our Maureen Gallace visual copy assignment due in week three. I enjoyed the ALS and am excited to keep being challenged and pushed to learn more of the technicalities of painting through readings, visits, and assignments.
Five terms I learned this week
Facture
Context of a body (Maureen Gallace)
Altered scale
Vertical small planes
Spacial element

Ball + bottle still life. 10/01/18

week two quick still life sketch, (in personal sketchbook.)