Projects #6, 7, 8
STA 113:009
Schedule:
2/26: Complete Grayscale, begin pixel portrait
3/2: Work Day
3/4: Work Day/Critique
Objective:
You will learn to mix paint by only using black and white. The middle grays created will be explored in their entire nuance. Additionally, you will learn how to cleanly and evenly apply and use acrylic paint.
First, you will make a 9-step grayscale on Bristol. This will act as a reference for the next projects. Sensitivity of value will be practiced.
Second, using the ranges of gray you created, you will make a self portrait where the average amount of value in the grid squares will be represented by one shade of grey (or white or black) per square on the larger grid painting. You will use economy to distill a small part of an image into one value. The combined result in a “pixel-like” painting (more abstract).
Lastly, you will make a more representational painting while still adhering to the grid and value scale. Detail and abstract shapes within each square can more realistically represent the portrait, while still accurately describing the value range given.
Step 1: Project #6 Make a value scale
On a sheet of Bristol, measure out 9-1 inch squares in a row (centered) without any white space in between. Mask off the edges of the row of squares with tape. #1 will be pure white paint and #9 will be pure opaque black paint. Begin by filling in #1 and #9 first, then mix your middle gray (#5). Check my example gray before moving on. From here, mix the middle grays between #1 and #5 and between #5 and #9. Tape cleanly between squares as you work on them.
Step 2: Project #7 Pixel Portrait
Take the photo that I took of you and grid it out into ½ in squares. On Bristol, leave a 1-inch border and grid out ¾ in. squares. Tape off the surrounding border. You will then estimate the average amount of value in each square of the printout and assign a level of gray to it (refer to your grayscale to choose). To help grid out the entire portrait, assign numbers to the grayscales and fill in the squares on the Bristol with the corresponding gray before applying any paint. Cleanly paint in each square opaquely, taping off larger blocks as you go. Fill in the entire painting- when the values are approximated well, when you un-focus your eyes, the image will make more sense.
Step 3: Project #8 Chuck Close-ish Portrait
Using the same grid over the same printout with the same grid dimensions, you will again paint the portrait, but you can now use more than one value within each square- this will give you more specific control over the image. Still work square by square, using the numbering method (think paint-by-numbers).
Grading:
Grayscale Completion
Accuracy
Cleanliness 10 pts
Pixel Portrait
Range of grays/black/white
Readability
Craftsmanship 40 pts
Chuck Close-ish Portrait
Range of grays/black/white
Specificity within grid/Readability
Craftsmanship 50 pts
————–
100 pts
Paint Application Tips:
o Apply paint in one direction to make an even square. After the first initial covering, lightly brush over the square (with less paint on your brush) to smooth ridges.
o The blacker the gray (esp. #7, 8 & 9), you may need to give two thin coats of paint to get good opacity.
o Between each gray, clean your brush in water. Be sure to dry your brush before going to the next color. We will not be thinning paint at all- this will warp the Bristol and make the paint transparent.
o Do not slop paint down- this will be harder to control and to make look even. Apply in short, thin strokes. You can always give another thin coat of paint if it doesn’t cover well. Excess paint will also warp the Brisol.
o Be sure about your numbering in the pixel project before diving in with paint- you will want to do all of the same number at one time so you don’t have to remix a batch of paint.