Jul. 14, 2014 | Posted in Reports, Painting and Drawing, Summer Course , Student Reporter | Tags:Natasha Cigarroa, Painting and DrawingReporter: Natasha Cigarroa | Course: Painting and Drawing

Painting and Drawing

Depicted below is the first technique we learned in class. As a part of the art process one must begin creating a base for their painting, constantly manipulating their structure as it becomes clearer. The technique seen above uses the colors umber, a lot of solvent, and a paper towel to show both structure and light and dark.

Having been here a week longer, Ines’ already had been introduced to color. Here she works on her piece from the week before. The importance of value can be seen in the background of her picture as she changes from light to dark.

Lucia poses for a picture as she continues her piece from the week before. She begins her background and decides whether she wants it to be warm or cool to best compliment the rest of her piece.

Tuesday’s class was an introduction to the face. I learned the basic face proportions and how to use vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines to bring a face to life. For homework I was assigned 5 face studies and 5 mouth studies.

Wednesday we began to familiarize ourselves with the color palette. Using the same ideas from Monday we began by establishing the background. Then we slowly add warm and cool colors to create a coherent piece whose colors compliment each other.

Here Andi emphasizes the point that painting is a conversation using Jill‘s work. One must listen and respond in order to truly capture what lies in front of us. We should always spend more time observing a painting than actually painting it.

Thursday we changed instructors and learned how to add texture to our canvas paper using plaster and sand. We created visually stimulating backgrounds using a spatula and plaster, making the art protrude from its surface. We had to leave them to dry but will begin painting the canvas next week.

In the same Thursday class we began sketches while waiting for our canvases to dry. Drawing inspiration from magazine pictures we began sketching portraits of faces as practice for the painting that is to come. I used a technique called hatching to create depth and show value.

Our trip to the Terracotta Lab in Impruneta was beautiful. The pottery factory is especially intriguing because each piece is hand made. We were able to see the process and even the ovens used to cook the finished pieces of work.

Later on the trip to the Terracotta Lab we trekked back into the main city of Impruneta. The view was incredible from the landscapes to the pieces of pottery laid throughout the city made in the Terracotta Lab. We were welcomed into the city with rain but luckily we were able to find a cafe to wait it out in.