For my prompt, I wanted to explore the art of observation, or creating art from observation. Observation can be a powerful tool where subconscious images come to the present.

Purpose:

Someone performing this prompt should experience using their eyes and memory to paint the present so they are not caught up in extraneous distractions around them, which would veer their mind from observation and the act of figure painting. Let the sense of sight along with memory aid you painting. They will also experience trying out an abstract style of painting. Painting with your eyes closed will produce an abstract and wacky image. They will also notice that attributes are most prominent on the subject, or rather what attributes resonate most in the mind of the painter. All in all, the painter will experience their subconscious and abstract art.

Directions:

1. Gather Needed Materials:

• White Canvas, any size (if canvas is not acceptable, white paper is fine)

• Acrylic Paints

• A human subject to paint

• Paint brushes

• Palette of some kind

• Two chairs

2. Pick out two of your favorite acrylic colors and get them ready to be painted with by putting the paint onto a palette.

3. Finish setting up your painting station so that you are comfortable to work at. You should be sitting on a chair with a table or easel in front of you.

4. Ask someone to do this prompt with you. Have them sit six feet away from you on a chair. Have them choose a pose with no added prompts and sit still.

5. Take one minute and observe the person sitting in front you. Again, they should be sitting completely still. This should also be done silently between the two of you. Set a timer to keep track of time,

6. After your minute of observation is up, load up your paintbrush with one color of paint. Have your subject remain as they are, and close your eyes. Paint your subject from the image in your mind of them sitting in front of you as they just were from memory. Set the timer again to one minute.

7. After the minute is up, open your eyes and stop painting. Briefly observe your painting.

8. Wash or replace your paint brush. It is important that your subject has not moved their position during any point of this activity.

9. Load your paintbrush up again with your second paint color. Set a timer again for one minute and repeat step 5 and 6. Paint the new paint on the same canvas, it is fine if they overlap. Take your time in your one minute observation to take in your subject’s features that you may have missed last time.

10. Open your eyes and observe your paintings in front of you. Your subject is free to move.

11. Take time to notice what similarities and differences you see in the two paintings, notice what features of your subject are most prominent in your painting, observe what shapes or other images you see in the painting, and where the images or colors overlap.

12. Write out these observations to complete the prompt.