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Watch the video to learn more about Abstract Expressionist Wassily Kandinsky to create a mixed-media Kandinsky masterpiece.
Make a Sketch
Choose your inspiration from your previous works, a few photographs may work best. Sui chose some photographs of South Korea, where she grew up, which represented a time of change and excitement in her life.
Draw some sketches to map out your painting. What aspects of your photographs do you want to focus on? Which bits do you want to highlight?
Apply Base Layer
Mix some light colours, to cover the white canvas. Apply the paint quite freely, leaving some gaps.
Remember to clean your brushes between applying each colour and wipe any excess water onto some paper/cloth.
Apply Second Layer
Once the paint is dry you can begin to add the second layer with either paint or colour pencil. Don’t worry too much about filling those gaps and let them layer up.
The Outline
Lay your work flat. Use darker colours to create a similar effect to the bold lines Kandinsky used in Cossacks. Think about keeping things minimal. Simplify the elements of your photograph. Then take a break, to let your outline fully dry before applying the next layer of colour.
Add Colour
Work with each colour individually, building the layers. Sui chose her colours based on the colours in Cossacks but you can use other colours if you so wish. While your work is still flat, apply more layers of colour that could drip or bleed.
Final touches
Stand back from your work and think about how it could be improved. Go over some of the lines which you think need to be a little bolder or colours that need to be more vibrant.
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/kandinsky-cossacks-n04948/how-paint-kandinskyLet's take a look at Dan Huston, Brooklyn-based colour artist's works.
CREATE
Select one of your 3 photos you have uploaded on Padlet: Appetizer and transfer the design onto watercolour paper.
Apply the watercolour techniques you have learnt and interpret the photo. Pay attention to the elements of art and the principles of design (pattern, emphasis, contrast).
Do not use more than 3 colours. The lightness and darkness of a colour (value) is still considered as one colour.
You can use colour pencils and marker pens to enhance the painting after it is dry.
ROLE: Shoe designer
TASK: You have been commissioned to launch a new design for a shoe company. The target audience are young adults aged between 13 to 18. Using 1photo taken on Emphasis, Contrast or Pattern/Repetition as an inspiration, create a shoe design for your client to see.
CONSTRAINTS:
No more than 4 colours
Show the relationship between the photo and the final design
ENABLERS:
Can use colour pencils, markers to enhance the visual elements
Make adaptions to the original photo's composition and colours
PROCESS:
Print out 1 photo taken on Emphasis, Contrast or Pattern
Plan 3 designs in your sketchbook. Choose 1 as a final design.
Draw out the shoe lightly with a pencil. Transfer the design on the shoe. If you use watercolour over the pencil mark, it will not be erasable after that.
Wet technique is only useful for large areas. Use dry technique (wet a little bit will do) to paint most of the areas.
Use the Principles of Design (POD) - emphasis, pattern, contrast when you are designing the shoe.
The shoe design is created using the linear lines, circle and the actual texture of the bricks. The pink tone is also inspired by the rich pink in the photo. Touch up your work with colour pencils and a fine black pen.