White Objects Thumbnail Sketches

These are the possible compositions for my oil painting.  I chose the middle one because it was very close up, and i can concentrate on getting the correct shading, and not have to worry about doing many different objects.  I think that it is the easiest, and i am going to have the easiest time doing it, and not have to struggle through it.  It will really help me learn basic techniques, so i can maybe try a harder set-up the next time, and feel more confident about tackling it.

Studies In Smallness: Finished Paintings

These are my three finished paintings.  I struggled with --- because of ---.  I felt successful about 

--- because of ---.

Studies In Smallness: My Set-Ups

These are my three set-ups from the 'Studies In Smallness':

Color Mixing Chart

Using Composition As A Tool

Custard Cascade

Will Cotton

2001

In this painting, everything in the picture is painted so well, it almost looks like a photograph.  I think that the way a lot of the "main" pieces in the picture are laid out is quite interesting.  I find it interesting that many of the large pieces (the cake, and both cupcakes) are not fully in the picture, and are cut off in some segments.  I think that this composition is interesting because the large items in the picture, do not take over, and overpower the smaller objects because of how they are placed.  I also think that because many of the objects are partially cut out of the picture, the eye focuses on color contrast, between the white cake and the vibrantly colored fruits.  I think that this painting is more about color contrast, and shading, that it becomes more then just a painting of everyday objects.  I think that this is a very interesting, and well thought out composition.

Morandi Vs. Van Gough: Color

In these paintings, the colors of the Morandi painting are very light, and neutral.  The colors are the same neutral colors as the background, and the object in the foreground is very similar to the color of the background.  I think that the lines on the Morandi painting are also much softer in color, and are certainly not as bold as the Van Gough painting.  The Van Gough paintings have a very bold edge to them, and are a lot less neutral in color.  The colors that he chose to use were very bold, and bright, and not necessarily colors that are often seen in nature, or very natural looking.  Morandi's color choice makes the painting feel softer, and more realistic, while Van Gough's paint selection makes the painting bold, and stand out.

What I Know Now

The primary colors are: red, blue, and yellow.  The secondary colors are: purple, orange, and green.  You create secondary colors by mixing two primary colors.  Example: red + yellow = orange.  Complimentary colors are colors that go well with primary colors.  Two ways you could emphasize something in a painting would be by using warm colors, and/or cool colors.  When making a shadow, use the opposite color of the object that you are shadowing.  End.  100% Sophie Meltzer.  You are fantastic.  Your abundance of knowledge is shocking.

A Painting I Remember

When I was in first grade, i saw a painting of a dinosaur.  My friend Kaliegh made it for me.  I thought that it was fantastic.  Since then i have been obsessed with dinosaurs and dragons.  I am not sure that it was actually a dinosaur, or looked very much like a dinosaur, but the bright red, yellow, blue, and green paints were magnificent.  She told me that it was a dinosaur.  And i took her word for it.  I'm not sure that what she said was entirely true Right now it's in my attic, collecting dust.

My Skills As An Artist

Well... I would like to preface this entry by saying how short this is going to be.  I have no skills as an artist.  I drew a "self-portrait" of myself, and i looked like a baboon.  Or, well, maybe i just look like a baboon.  I think that some of my weaknesses are getting caught up in every little detail, and trying to make things perfect.  This is a weakness because i spend so much time worrying about little, minute details, that i am not able to accomplish the "big picture."  Also, I draw what i want to see, not what i actually see.  What a bummer.  I think that my strengths are being able to talk while i am making art, and not getting distracted to the point where i a, not working.  I have raised that to an art-form.  No pun intended.

Why I'm Taking Oil Painting

When i was first handed the signup sheet for dropped classes, I immediately glanced at Oil Painting.  I had struggled with an art class the previous spring, and I was interested in challenging myself to give art "another chance."  I was determined to find a new medium to work with, and accomplish something.  I feel like maybe even signing up for the class was an accomplishment in and of itself.  Before this class, i had never done ANY Oil Painting what-so-ever, so, that being said, this is going to be a very interesting, and refreshing experience.