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!

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!

Draw a Crumpled Paper Bag

Drawing form life is an important skill. For this assignment you will  take a paper lunch bag and crumple it.  You decide how distorted the bag should be.  Create your composition and start by laying out the image in light lines. Consider the shapes that are created when the bag is crumpled.

Add texture and value to complete your image. Don't forget the cast shadow that will put the bag into an environment. Good luck, this is a challenging drawing. 

This should be of "Breadth" quality!!

Due date: December 7, 2018

Architectural Mini Concentration.

When you are finished, you will have three different works of art, that all relate to one subject.  Each will have a completely different look. We walk through this building everyday, but do we really see the minute details. Artists must learn to see, not just take a quick look. Your subject for this assignment is "Architectural Details".

Step 1 - Take photos of architecture for reference. Walk around the school and take photographs of architectural details. (hinges, outlets, vents etc. 

Make a tight drawing of the image. Use Prismacolor Pencils. The image size should be he same as the piece of Plexiglas that you will choose for the second step.

Step 2 - Create a Mono Print from your drawn image. This is a much looser technique. Don't worry too much about perfect accuracy. Your first image will be the darkest. Pull additional images without using more paint. These will have a watercolor like quality. If you wish, you can add additional media (ie. colored pencil) to the images.

Watch the video "Monoprinting with watercolors".

Step 3 Paint a “Abstract Impressionistic” painting based on the shapes found in your original image (acrylic on cardboard)

Students who did this project last year will use their concentration subject to create their three images. 

Fairytale 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

1. 

   Unfinished Drawing, Mr. B

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

This is a reversal type of image. It may seem difficult at first. Remember the areas that are dark on the original image, will be light on your drawing.

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

Students who took AP Portfolio Development last year will use the same technique, but will be drawing lanterns and camp stoves.

Here a a few more examples from last years class.

Isabel Perez

Leanna Machado

Alana Green

Andrew Coletti

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 October 7th.

Not every thing you do will be great, but your will learn through the experience! Part of growing as an artist is to experiment. The AP board wants to see growth. Try and stretch yourself as an artist!

Second year students will be painting "Doughnuts and Gourds" in a similar style. I'll shop for your "subjects" tonight!