Homage to the Palette

Recently I visited the home of American Impressionism, the Weir Farm in Wilton CT. As I walked the beautiful grounds I came upon this cutout of a bison. The image painted on it is of Weir's Palace, a portable artist studio that was dragged from location to location.

Weir's Palace

Naturally I thought my students would enjoy creating paintings on some kind of cut-out. Later I recalled a project in my copy of Problems:Solutions, Visual Thinking for Graphic Communication.  

Homage to the Pallette

"Within the confines of the traditional palette, either rectangular or oval shaped, transform the palette into a portrait that reflects the essential characteristics of any chosen individual."

Here is my modification:

Select a famous artist whose style interests you. Research their work and write a one page paper giving a brief description of their work and life. 

Using your own reference photograph (or paint from life) create an image that tries to emulate the feel of your artist work.

Specifications

1. Cut our your pallette from cardboard.
2. Trace out your pallette from my oval template.
3. Cut with x-acto knife. Use a fresh blade as cardboard will quickly dull you knife.
4. Prime with white acrylic.
5. Paint your image with acrylic paint.
6. Submit your paper along with your pallette.

The Process

Cut out the pallette from thick cardboard.

Prime with Gesso.

Use your own photo for reference.

Add depth of color.

My finished palette. Monet I'm not!

Fractured Self-portrait

My Fractured Self Portrait

I drew my portrait by looking in a mirror and you may draw directly from observation. You may borrow a mirror if you need one.

This assignment is typically given to photography students who cut and paste their images to get the result they have in mind.

• Take several photos of yourself. Print the images out changing scale, color etc.
• Use a glue stick to to reconstruct your image. 
• Use this reference to draw your self portrait.

Guidelines

1. This assignment is a drawing assignment!
2. It should be completed by the time your come back from Holiday Break. Yes, that means it’s Homework! This is not a short sketchbook assignment. The resulting image should be "Breadth" quality.
3. This is a pencil assignment. You can work in color or black and white. I used a triadic color scheme with the primary colors.
4. Use white sulfate paper. 
5. Size 12”x18”

But Mr. Boccini, I have an amazing ideas that "____________". Ok, I'm open to different ideas, but you need to sell me!

Self Portrait and Identity

Mr. Boccini, 1982

I created this pencil drawing in an illustration class many years ago. Our professor wanted us to create a portrait that communicated our personal identity. What can you tell about me from this portrait? (besides the fact I lost a lot of hair!)

• What defines you as a person? Is it your Culture? Personality? History? Gender? Your interests or activities?
• How can your choice of medium be used to represent these aspects of identity?
• What do you wish to share about yourself? What do you wish to keep private? How much can a portrait show about a person?

Directions for this Assignment:

1. Create a self portrait that will tell the viewer something about your identity. 
2. Include objects/imagery that helps reflect who you are. 
3. Create a "Collage" canvas out of cut paper to paint on.Use magazines, maps, concert tickets etc. We have a scanner so you can copy photos or documents that might add to your image. (ie. a birth certificate)
4. Incorporate a "Word" or words that helps communicate your identity. Use repetition to emphasis your particular word.
5. Use acrylic paint over your base collage.
6. Do not cover up all of your collage, try and let it bleed through and become part of the overall image.

Mixed Media Demonstration

Mixed Media Collage Technique

Fear Sketchbook Assignment

Through drawing, convey your greatest fear.

Here is a list of the top 15 fears. Do you have one of these?

1.    Arachnophobia – The fear of spiders affects women four times more (48% women and 12% men).

2.    Ophidiophobia – The fear of snakes. Phobics avoid certain cities because they have more snakes.

3.    Acrophobia – The fear of heights. Five percent of the general population suffer from this phobia.

4.    Agoraphobia – The fear of open or crowded spaces. People with this fear often wont leave home.

5.    Cynophobia – The fear of dogs. This includes everything from small Poodles to large Great Danes.

6.    Astraphobia – The fear of thunder/lightning AKA Brontophobia, Tonitrophobia, Ceraunophobia.

7.    Claustrophobia – The fear of small spaces like elevators, small rooms and other enclosed spaces.

8.    Mysophobia – The fear of germs. It is also rightly termed as Germophobia or Bacterophobia.

9.    Aerophobia – The fear of flying. 25 million Americans share a fear of flying.

10. Trypophobia – The fear of holes is an unusual but pretty common phobia.

11. Carcinophobia – The fear of cancer. People with this develop extreme diets.

12. Thanatophobia – The fear of death. Even talking about death can be hard.

13. Glossophobia – The fear of public speaking. Not being able to do speeches.

14. Monophobia – The fear of being alone. Even while eating and/or sleeping.

15. Atychiphobia – The fear of failure. It is the single greatest barrier to success.

                                               

Make this a dynamic and powerful drawing that illustrates your fear.

Make your marks (pen or pencil strokes) active and support your idea.

Use Colored Pencil or Markers

Your drawing should be in your sketchbook.

See you tomorrow,

Mr. B

Architectural Concentration

Take photos of architecture for reference.

Make a tight drawing of the image.

Create a Mono Print from your drawn image.

Watch the video "Monoprinting with watercolors".

Paint a “Abstract Impressionistic” painting based on the shapes found in your original image (acrylic)

Fairy Tale Sketchbook Assignment

Illustrate a segment out of a children’s fairytale using fine tip sharpie marker. Do not copy an already existing illustration. (You can use them for inspiration) Fill the page. Consider illustrating a lesser known tale from another country.

If you don’t have your sketchbook, complete the drawing on 9x12 inch white drawing paper. (In front of the room)

This is a line drawing. Shade your illustration using crosshatching.

Fine point sharpies are in the front of the room. (Black only!)

List of Fairy Tales

Aladdin

Alice in Wonderland

Beauly and the Beast

Briar Rose: Sleeping Beauty

Cinderella

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Hansel and Gretel

Jack and Beanstalk

Little Red Riding Hood

Peter Pan

Pinocchio

Puss in Boots

Rapunzel

Rumpelstiltskin

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Snow White and Rose Red

The Grog Prince

The Little Mermaid

The Emperor’s New Clothes

The Snow queen

The Little Match Girl

The Elves and the Shoemaker

The Selfish Giant

The Nightingale

The Fox and Hound

The Little Pigs

The Ugly Duckling

The Gingerbread Man

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

The Princess and the Pea

Thumbelina

Tom Thumb

Negative Tool Drawings

Unfinished Drawing, Mr. B

1. Select several tools (power or hand).
2. Create a compositon using the tools.
3. Work on black paper or cardboard that has been primed with black acrylic paint.
4. Use White pencil or charcoal. 

This is a reversal type of image.

Watch the video "How to Draw with White Charcoal on Black Paper".

Flower Paintings

Purple Cone Flowers, Boccini 2017

Look to Georgia Okeefe for inspiration. View these two videos.

Georgia O'Keeffe a Life in Art

Georgia O'Keefe Flowers

You may work realistically or abstract the flowers.

1. Get close to the subject. It is not necessary to show the whold flower. Cann part of the flower make up you compositon.
2. Shoot photo references with your smartphone. Crop the images in your phone.
3. We will work on cardboard or canvas board. Prime the "canvas" with white acrylic or gesso.
4. Work with acrylic paint.
5. Minimum size of 16x20 inches. Don't go too large.
6. Estimated completion date is next Friday.

Don’t be complacent! Use different materials and methods.

Not every thing you do will be great, but your will learn through the experience! These images were created in two after school periods of exploration.

Candy Image

Color Study for Tootsie Pops, M. Boccini

Wayne Thiebaud's whimsical cake and pie images make simple consumables into art. Food is a wonderful subject and a great place for us to start our AP journey this year.

Kelly Reemtsen's work has a similar quality to the work of Thiebaud. Notice the heavy "imposto" and the vibrant colors. Her images of women in colorful dresses contrast with the perceived masculinity of the objects they carry in their hands. The images communicate ideas of traditional female beauty, but the underlying message is women can do anything.

Would you consider Reemsten's images to be a "Concentration"! I certainly do.

Your Assignment:

1. Create a composition from the provide candy. (Tootsie Pops, Mike & Ikes, Dots, Smarties) Use a hot glue gun to firmly position your subject to a piece of matte board.
2. Make several sketches to solidify your composition. (in your sketchbook)
3. Draw and shade (Colored Pencil) or Paint (Water Color) a finished image that is 12x18 inches in size.
4. You may add colored pencil over your water color if you wish.

Continue working on your Summer Homework assignments outside of class. Remember, they are due by the end of the month.

Cheers,

Mr. B