Approach 1

This approach is defined by looking back at the past. You may choose any artists from the Prehistoric Cave Paintings, like the Caves of Lascaux, to Modern Art which ended in the 1970's. No contemporary art for this approach style.

Select an existing painting from history and allow it to be a major influence upon your piece.  You are not to copy the painting in any shape, manner or form!  The objective is to utilize the painting as a source from which you might develop your own piece.  The idea is to inject your own sensibilities into the piece, find a way of building upon the work of another artist and arrive at a very personal statement, which still gives reference to the original work.  Think of the painting you select as a guide, direction, and influence to elaborate upon.  For example, one might extract the compositional arrangement found in the painting and recreate the subject matter, or incorporate the style and techniques found in the piece into your own personal statement.  You may already know of a painting that you’d like to use for this approach; however, there are many books in the library on painting and you can go online to research artists’ work.  Please remember that you must be able to reproduce the painting in color so that your instructor can see what you’re attempting to work from.  Artists have for centuries allowed themselves to be influenced by each other's work, whether by intention or not.  So, in selecting this approach you are partaking in a long tradition in the arts.