IN CLASS: COLOR II
*Color Refresher (Hue, Saturation, Value, Temperature)
*Discuss Color Harmony - Translation/Transition from photo-->paint
*Sonic Landscape Discussion: Apply visual design vocabulary to music.
*Studio: Color Scheme Paintings
HOMEWORK:
*Finish 5 Color Scheme Paintings
*One page essay: Sonic Landscape
Color Scheme Paintings:
Materials: Paints, brushes, mixing tray, water/jar, paper towels, pencils, Bristol, tape
Description: You will utilize 5 of your Color Scheme Photographs as source information or a reference to create 5 Color Scheme Paintings (8" x 10" on Bristol). As you make the transition from photograph to painting, you will:
Choose 5 color scheme photographs (if you were in class they were chosen for you) and create one painting for each. Use the photographs as source material - as a source for specific visual information. You are NOT copying the photograph. You are using the photograph for it's visual information (shapes, linear qualities, color) and creating a wholly new and unique composition. This concept is similar to our "Linear Systems" assignment, whereas you have a specific amount of visual info to work from and you elaborate in the process of making a new painting/new composition. Make sure the corresponding color scheme is perfect!
...Edit, simplify, and refine each respective color scheme and composition (make more true to respective scheme as well as adjust focus, crop, scale, zoom in/out, etc.)....
Objective: Investigate your images by deconstructing your color scheme photographs and simplifying, editing, refining this information in a transition towards painting. Points of emphasis: Color, Balance, Harmony and including the cumulative expectations of properly executing shape, line, value, texture AND color relationships.
1. "Tapeframe" each Bristol (5). Your paintings may be vertically or horizontally oriented - my measurements are from the vertical perspective (creating an 8" x 10" work space):
TOP/BOTTOM: 2"
LEFT/RIGHT: 1.5"
2. Sketch/Notes. In your sketchbook:
*Remember that your photos are filled with information, some necessary some not-so-much.
*Record/trace/edit major movements of your photograph in order to more completely understand the OVERARCHING systems and structures (shapes/lines/darkest dark-lightest light, etc.)
*Make notes concerning color. Remember you are "shoring up" and refining the color schemes (fixing any mistakes and making them more accurate) - so jot down some notes concerning colors you need to fix or strengthen. You should know the color scheme and the colors you will be using (your palette) BEFORE you paint.
*Create a New, Stronger Composition - you are going to work with the information in your photograph but you now have the ability and FREEDOM to change your angle, crop the image, adjust focus, scale, etc. In short: Simplify/edit those elements that are not essential, and EMPHASIZE those that are essential. You ARE NOT copying the photograph!! You are using it as a reference - as source material.
3. Painting. Where and how do I begin? You should have your photographs, notes, sketches, and vellum drawings all ready to help you start your painting. From the information you've gathered I will offer a variety of ways to proceed, and to finally put paint onto the page. Again, BEFORE you paint you should understand which color scheme is emphasized in each painting and have chosen your palette (the colors you will be using).
Here are some suggestions:
*Pencil. Use your pencil to make a light/gestural underdrawing to help locate those major movements (shapes, lines, values, etc)...and guide your compositional choices. Avoid getting too detailed with this drawing and then "filling in" your drawing with paint.
*Underpaint. Get rid of the pencils! Use your paints (diluted), brushes and a limited palette (light, unsaturated, warm colors) to "BLOCK" in the major forms, movements, and locate the lightest light (keeping white) darkest dark (more color). Keep the underpainting one hue that is light enough to cover later, but versatile enough to create a readable grey scale (as in more paint=darker, less paint=lighter).
*Grounding. Create a wash or layer of opaque color/tone over the whole picture plane...FIRST! This will allow your proceeding marks to have some context (COLOR IS CONTEXT). DO NOT ADD WHITE OR BLACK!! Historically this method requires earth tones such as burnt sienna, ochre, umber, etc. These will work for you too, but remember to stay true to your color schemes (yellow may not be true). After the ground is dry, begin your painting with your full color scheme. The ground hue should be in the warm areas of your color schemes and should be closer to light than dark (as a place to begin).
HINTS:
*Remember opacity and translucency of your paints. Thin veils of color can add a layer of nuance, subtlety to your images.
*One painting per photo (=5).
*You ARE NOT COPYING THE PHOTOGRAPH EXACTLY. You are using the information it contains to make further editing decisions (color, composition, focus, emphasis, etc)...and then creating a painting based on this further refinement.
*Remember: Texture (implied, invented), Shape Relationships (scale, proximity, location, pos/neg, org/geo), Color Relationships (clear order, hierarchy).
Here are a few examples of student work:
Student Example 1
Student Example 2
Student Example 3
Student Example 4
Student Example 5
Song Description
Next week we're beginning our investigation of SPACE. For this assignment, I want each of you to choose a song you're familiar with, give it multiple listens and focus on the space in the song. I would like you to write one page about this song. Describe the sound, the shapes, colors, linear qualities, light...is there a mood? Does the mood affect the space? We are applying the vocabulary of visual composition to musical composition.
Music is in many ways a sonic landscape, an aural space in which we are participants. We are hearing a landscape of sound. In many ways songs are places we visit, whether in moments of nostalgia, or challenge - for remembering or forgetting. Music composition has been related to visual art composition for quite a long time (Isaac Newton's 7 colors, ROYGBIV and the relation to 7 scales). Think of album art - from Kanye West (sharp urban and fluorescent) to Wilco (usually neutral colors, gritty and nostalgic), poster art of the 60's (explosion of organic type and hallucinogenic graphics), and the rise of MTV and music videos (including videos in our palms-iPod) - we all have distinct connotations of color schemes, and shapes, and compositional relationships with each type of music, each scene, each bit of narrative.
For our purposes here SPACE is the key word. There are differing textures, rhythms, shapes, relationships, etc., in these SoundScapes. We may also imagine colors and movement within this space. What images pass through your mind when you listen to this song? If a specific narrative plays through your mind, focus on the formal qualities (line, shape, rhythm, textures, etc) - and specifically, how those elements fit together in space. What does the SOUNDSPACE of your song look like? Is it hard edged and jagged? Chaotic or organic? Bright colored and wavy? Are things all bunched together and chaotic, or linear and even (repetitive)? What are the shapes or the character of the lines? Most importantly what can you find out or discover about the space?
Your song can be lyrical or instrumental. I'm interested in the lyrics of your songs - but only in their relationship to the SPACE and qualities, objects and movements within your song.
Write one page (single spaced/typed) about your favorite song - or a song you resonate with...specifically concerning space. Allow yourself to imagine the other elements and principles within your piece (go through the principles and the elements of design and decide - generally - what the line qualities might be, scale relationships, rhythms, patterns, etc.). You will be presenting these in class and working on an accompanying piece based on this song (utilizing the elements and principles you have defined). Find a representative example of this song on the internet (last.fm, youtube, etc)...we will listen to your song and you will present your essay to the class.
Include:
*Title of Song
*Artist
*Your findings...
BRING TO CLASS:
*5 Color Scheme Paintings
*Essay: Sonic Landscape
*Find an online source for your song (youtube preferably). Basically I am looking for an efficient way to share your song to the rest of the class - in class.
*REMEMBER: Arrange Portfolio - you will hand it in for grading AND
..."Study" for the midterm exam
