Working on the Van Gogh Paintings
Through preparatory drawings, students practiced a number of perspective drawing skills in preparation for this painting. Students learned about:
- Landscape: Informal perspective techniques such as page placement, horizon line, overlap, convergence of receding lines, diminishment of distant objects, chiaroscuro and formal one-point linear perspective.
- Still Life of flowers in a vase: A variety of vases and containers depicting a sense of volume, a horizon line (table top), and overlap among the flowers.
- Still Life of a chair: A horizon line (floor) and formal, two point linear perspective.
The Paintings
Students then selected their most successful drawing. Using grid enlargement, the drawing was transferred to an 18"x24" piece of paper. Students learned about 'blocking-in' to create their first layer of color on the paper. Students then painted their design, emulating Van Gogh's impasto technique by using thickened tempera paint and forks! The forks forced them out of their comfort zone and required them to give up some control of their paintings. The goal was to loose some of the precision that was needed in the drawn designs and to replace it with the look of spontaneity and high energy.