Collage Workshop -Day 1

Today was the first day teaching my new collage workshop. We only have 7 students, so there is lots of room for everyone to spread out and make a mess, which we are certainly doing!  The exercise to begin the workshop consisted of painting three 8x11 sheets of photocopy paper, one sheet with mid-value grey, one with white gesso and the last one with black gesso. Then we the made nine 3.5 x 3.5" squares in our sketchbooks -three of them were painted black, three the mid-grey, and left 3 white. After a discussion of some compositional formats, the students plowed ahead to make their collages, using torn and cut pieces of the painted papers. One of my students commented "This is HARD, you really have to think!", and she was right. I had them focusing on value dominance and repetition with variation in the shapes and lines. There is a lot to learn here, and the learning happens best when you actually put the time in and make these sample collages. Hopefully they will be ready to put colour and pattern to work in a couple of days, once they really get the idea of designing with just 3 values. These collages need to be interesting enough so that they will work on a much larger square.

 

My first composition is a T composition on a white square. Things to remember in this composition are:

       -1 positive shape which touches 3 sides 

       -makes 3 negative shapes, each needs to occupy a different volume

       -positive shapes should interlock with the negative shapes to make interesting shapes

       -design the location of the focal point (a logical place is where the arms of the T meet)

       -the focal point will have the most detail, the smallest shapes and the highest contrast

       -must design the movement around the T as well as the focal area, being careful not to lead the viewers eye right out of the composition

 

The 'bridge' composition came next, it was done on a grey square. Points to remember:

       -1 positive shape which meets two sides

       -2 negative shapes which should be different in volume from each other and from the positive shape

       -positive shapes should interlock with the negative shapes      

       -design the location of the focal point -off centre along the bridge shape in one of the 'sweet' spots of the rule of thirds

        -the focal point will have the most detail, the smallest shapes and the highest contrast

        -the use of line can be used to create movement within the positive shape
        -the two negative shapes do not need to be the same value

 Lastly I did a cruciform composition on a black square. I combined the cruciform with a radial design for this one. Things to remember include:
          -1 positive shape which can be interupted by other values
          -4 negative shapes, all of which should occupy different volumes
          -positive shapes should interlock with the negative shapes     

          -design the location of the focal point (a logical place is where the arms of the X meet)

          -the focal point will have the most detail, the smallest shapes and the highest contrast

          -the use of line can be used to create movement within the positive shape
          -the use of the circle in my focal point is repeated in different sizes and values elsewhere to lead the viewers eye around the painting
          -in all of the designs make sure that when an arm hits the outside edge, that it breaks up the format's edge in uneven intervals

A lot to think about eh? Give this exercise a try to teach yourself about design. Stay tuned for tomorrow's lessons.

Enjoy!

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"My Favorite View -Fall", plein air oil painting, Sharon Lynn Williams

"My Favorite View -Fall", plein air oil painting, 8 x 10"
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This is, as the title suggests, one of my favorite places to paint the rolling ranch and farmland of the Rocky Mountain foothills. This view changes dramatically in colour with the seasons, and the field colours change with the crops. Of course the mountain shapes never change, but their colour and value sure do depending on the weather and time of day. So it is always an interesting scene.

By the way this is the 201'st post on this blog -what a milestone! (didn't notice the 200'th one :0) I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of you who read this blog on a regular basis. You make doing this an incredible joy, and I owe a large part of my growth as a plein air artist to this 'almost' daily commitment along with the kind words and encouragement that you share in your comments. So thank you again, and please stay tuned!

I have just returned from an invigorating 3 day artists' retreat at the new Diamond Willow Artisan Retreat in Turner Valley, AB. Owners Pat and Doug have built a dream home on the Highwood River that is absolutely amazing. They are planning on hosting art workshops and retreats, and I would HIGHLY recommend signing up for one. We were extremely pampered and well fed while we painted on their gorgeous property. With 10 high spirited artists painting and living together, I can say I haven't laughed that much in way too long! I will post those paintings in a couple of days (they need to lose their shine so I can get good photos).

Workshop Lesson #14: I believe that God has called me to be an artist, although sometimes it seems so incredibly hard. I need to remind myself that He will enable me to what He has called me to do. When I lean on His strength rather than my own, and trust that He will pull me through, painting becomes full of joy and life.

Enjoy!

To purchase this, or commission your own painting, please email me.