Watercolor Assignments
Critique #1
Critique #2 |
Look over the CRITIQUE GUIDELINES-link
Goals of the critique: -everyone receives feedback on 1 of their artworks -everyone in class offers verbal feedback at least once, and offers written feedback on the slides Comment on: -observation-proportion and likeness of shape, horizon line -values: does it lend to the illusion of dimension? -values: gradient blending -values: high contrast/low contrast -light source and shadows -texture, mark-making -color: color mixing -color: color palette (selection and limitation of colors used) |
Watercolor assignments will consist of painting projects that are more resolved works. Most watercolor assignments will entail some skill practice to be completed beforehand.
List of Painting Assignments
1. Monochromatic Still Life
2. Color Still Life
3. Abstract Patterns
4. Landscape/Seascape painting from a photo
OR
5. Negative Painting
OR
6. Monochromatic Portrait
Monochromatic Imaginary character (based off random phrases)
Food painting (vegetable, dessert, breakfast, pastry etc.)
Collection
Abstract landscape
Portrait from a family photo
2. Color Still Life
3. Abstract Patterns
4. Landscape/Seascape painting from a photo
OR
5. Negative Painting
OR
6. Monochromatic Portrait
Monochromatic Imaginary character (based off random phrases)
Food painting (vegetable, dessert, breakfast, pastry etc.)
Collection
Abstract landscape
Portrait from a family photo
1. Monochromatic Still Life
For this assignment, you will do 2 paintings of the same composition: 1 that is monochromatic, and 1 that is in color. Doing this first in a monochromatic color scheme will have you practice using the entire range of the value scale, as this is hard to learn when working in color right away.
Before starting this assignment, make sure you have completed the 2 value scales listed on the skill practice page: Value scale in steps, and a blended value scale in a gradient.
Below is a B&W image of the still life with a 4 quadrant grid added on top of it.
I recommend working from the photograph with the grid as this will help you with your proportions when you are sketching the composition onto your paper.
Before starting this assignment, make sure you have completed the 2 value scales listed on the skill practice page: Value scale in steps, and a blended value scale in a gradient.
Below is a B&W image of the still life with a 4 quadrant grid added on top of it.
I recommend working from the photograph with the grid as this will help you with your proportions when you are sketching the composition onto your paper.
Part 1: Monochromatic Still Life |
Part 2: monochromatic still life |
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2. Color Still Life
In this painting assignment, you will use the same still life composition you painted for your Monochromatic Still Life, but this time, employ your color mixing skills and your knowledge and application of a range of values.
Before you begin this assignment, you should create a watercolor color wheel using the 3 primary colors to mix all the other colors on the wheel. This will give you a helpful warm up of color mixing BEFORE beginning to paint in color. Details are on the Skill Practice page.
Before you begin this assignment, you should create a watercolor color wheel using the 3 primary colors to mix all the other colors on the wheel. This will give you a helpful warm up of color mixing BEFORE beginning to paint in color. Details are on the Skill Practice page.
4. Abstract Patterns
Before you begin this assignment, you should do the Wet on Wet Technique Practice. This will give you a helpful warm up of the WET ON WET technique. Details are on the Skill Practice page.
For the Abstract Pattern Assignment, you will create a page of a unique and unified pattern. Your pattern can be organic or geometric, regular or irregular.
For this assignment, you must use:
-the wet on wet technique
-demonstrate your knowledge of color blending
-a range of values
-a particular color scheme
Some abstract pattern examples made in watercolor:
5. Negative Painting
Negative painting is a technique where you outline a shape (like a tree, leaf, or mountain) and fade the paint around that shape, surrounding the shape with a darker color. It is called negative painting because you are working with negative space. When you do this with multiple layers, you make each subsequent layer darker, which adds depth to the painting. Negative painting ensures that the items closest to the viewer are lighter and the items furthest are dark and shadowy. In your Negative Painting, you will practice: -color mixing -wet on wet -values -painting a hard edge I recommend using an analogous color scheme for your negative painting as these colors will blend easily together. I also recommend using a shape that is repeated in your image. You could cut out a stencil in the shape you'd like to repeat in your painting. Leaves are a common shape, but you could also use trees as your subject. Below are some examples. Watch the in depth tutorial below to see the steps of negative painting. This is an empowering exercise as it creates a convincing illusion of depth by using the whole range of values. |
Analogous Color Scheme
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Negative Painting Tutorial
6. Monochromatic Portrait - inspired by Ali Kavanaugh's portraits
In this assignment, you will use a monochromatic OR analogous color palette to paint a realistic portrait.
For this assignment to be successful, you should work from a close up portrait of a person where there are clear values on the face. Like our monochromatic still life, work from a B & W photo of a person. This portrait photo should have a distinct light source as this will help you with the actual painting step in terms of capturing values.
As a shortcut and to help you with drawing a realistic face, I encourage you to print this B&W portrait photo on printer paper a and create a graphite transfer. You can print out this photo and then follow the transfer tutorial below to easily transfer your portrait photo lines onto a piece of watercolor paper.
GRAPHITE TRANSFER TUTORIAL
After you trace/transfer your portrait image onto watercolor paper, you can begin painting in the values with the skeletal lines you've drawn . I suggest starting with your lighter values and building on them with darker values of your chosen color.
Watercolor Portrait Tutorials
No verbal directions, just process documentation of starting the watercolor painting after the pencil drawing has been sketched. This artist begins with the dark values and seems to work backwards.
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No verbal directions, just process documentation of starting the watercolor painting after the pencil drawing has been sketched.
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Pencil drawing to watercolor-entire process
Watercolor painting begins at 27:50 |
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