Friday, March 20, 2009
Bananas
Doug Martenson's homework assignment from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) was to paint a banana against a purple background. His object was that we paint a familiar round object with strong color against its complementary color. Also, to use contrast in values to indicate the light parts of the painting instead of relying on white - which would tend to make the painting look chalky and weak.
I was concerned about finding a purple base to set up the painting. But, fortunately, I found an old sweatshirt that was exactly the color of dioxazine purple right from the tube. And as usual, I wanted to paint several bananas rather than a single object. When I got into it today, the painting used an amazingly small pallet - dioxazine purple, cadmium yellow medium, just a touch of burnt umber for darker shadows than result from mixed yellow and purple alone, and a few dabs of cadmium orange and green for the stems. And Doug's point is clear: It is much better to use relative values than relying on white to portray highlights. I rather like the way it turned out.
oil on board, 8" x 10"
I was concerned about finding a purple base to set up the painting. But, fortunately, I found an old sweatshirt that was exactly the color of dioxazine purple right from the tube. And as usual, I wanted to paint several bananas rather than a single object. When I got into it today, the painting used an amazingly small pallet - dioxazine purple, cadmium yellow medium, just a touch of burnt umber for darker shadows than result from mixed yellow and purple alone, and a few dabs of cadmium orange and green for the stems. And Doug's point is clear: It is much better to use relative values than relying on white to portray highlights. I rather like the way it turned out.
oil on board, 8" x 10"Tonight I need to get busy and write a proposal for studio space on South Street. I will be pulling the whole thing out of my head, but you have to start somewhere. So -- maybe space for 5 to 7 artists at 100 sq. ft. each for working and exhibition space, plus maybe 200 sq. ft. for mixed commercial space and group activities like yoga or aerobics or art classes?
