Lesson 3, Part 2- Principles of Design

Last week we reviewed the elements of design.   This week we will look at the principles that describe and effect the compositional power of the respective elements.
 In class we  discussed these principles.  Also the book "You Can Do It" by Tony Couch gives an explaination of these principles in operation.

Elements of Design Lesson 3, Part 1

There are seven elements of Design.  We discussed them in class twice this summer.

As you may know I had a wonderful learning apportunity to study with Derek Davis this summer for several hours up in Cedarburg.  He is an experienced and award winning artist who has given much thought to painting.

Even though he is primarily an oil painter, he recommended two watercolor teachers because of their excellent instruction on  artist intent and composition.  They were Edgar Whitney and Tony Couch.  One particular book by Tony Couch called "You Can Do It."   I reccomend that book to you.  I purchased mine on Amazon at a very reasonable price....under $10.

If you were in class you should be able to answer these questions below.  HOWEVER if you were not in class you could get the answers and an explaination from those students who came to class and took notes.  Or you could get the book and read it yourself.


No matter what you have a chance to win a free weekend workshop.

Lesson 2 Part 1 Finding Your Voice as an Artist or WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ARTIST?

Before I continue in our next study of composition, I want to discuss finding YOUR VOICE as an artist.

Besides some of my children, my students are some of the most engaging people in my life.  I am continually challenged by them and opened to new ways of thinking by them either technically in terms of painting or drawing or creative ideas but more significantly in terms of the question...

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ARTIST?   OR
WHEN WILL I KNOW WHEN I AM AN ARTIST?

I am sure there are many people who have a clear idea how to answer that question.  But I am not sure the answer is that clear especially for so many of us.

To me it is an identity question.  A child may come up the question.  WHEN WILL I BE A GROWNUP?  To me that is like asking when will I qualified as a bona fide adult with all the privileges of adulthood (responsibilities not under consideration in this questions at this time.)  That is a cultural and social question looking to a specific cultural and socially acceptable goal.  Meeting the standards of a socially acceptable cultural concept of being a grown up can often feel less than fulfilling.  One could be classified an adult, with adult privileges and responsibilities and still feel something is MISSING.

For some students that idea of becoming an ARTIST appears on first blush to be  answer to that missing part in their life.  For other students making paintings is something they do....nothing more.  I am speaking to those students who look to MAKING ART AS AN ARTIST as a way to FILLING THE MISSING PART.

The question goes to the core of your humanity.  Why are you here? Many of our social, political and religious institutions have answers for you providing you with causes and purposes to drive your life.  But can you unabashedly embrace any of them wholeheartedly?  If you can  you may have a place to find a VOICE. BUT IS IT YOUR VOICE?  Perhaps!

But for me it has not been that easy.  Perhaps I am disillusioned.  Perhaps I am stubbornly independent. Perhaps I don't like the feeling that I am putting on someone's worn and used garment.  Perhaps I am conflicted because the people I love  or feel I must answer to have no use for MY VOICE. Finding ones personal VOICE is a self journey into ones motivations.  It is not a journey for the faint hearted.

For me social causes do not ring true.  I have a metaphysical side that is empowered by the BIG questions and dwells in the wonder and beauty I have an eye to see in spite of life's sojourns into disillusionment.  I am blessed in that I have not lost heart or sight of the light at the end of the tunnel, like so many tired souls in retirement years.

My journey is not identical to your journey nor can it be.  Every artist you will look at will be different.  Each must find their own way.

One such artist I  want to look at was brought to my attention by a student recently.  This artist has work that has compositional elements that I think would be interesting to discuss but also has a VOICE that speaks to the cyclical story about the rural American.  The name of the artist is Edward Hopper.

In the next  post we will look at Edward Hopper "Cobb's Barns, South Truro"

From the INTERNET...


What does it mean to be an artist?
Being an artist means putting your best feet forward everyday and to create things that makes a difference; whether that difference is for you, or for others. ... That's what being an artist means to me. Being unsure if what you do will resonate with others, but you need to say something all the same.Sep 24, 2013

An artist is a person engaged in an activity related to creating art, practicing the arts, or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only.

Artist - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist

Artist | Define Artist at Dictionary.com
www.dictionary.com/browse/artist

a person who practices one of the fine arts, especially a painter or sculptor. 3. a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.: a commercial artist. 4.

I highly recommend that you take a good long look at this artists journey not as a model but as a story of his artistic journey.  And don't forget to read the comments, which are equally insightful.

Check out

http://www.vulture.com/2017/04/jerry-saltz-my-life-as-a-failed-artist.html

The Art Story: Modern Artists Full List

www.theartstory.org/section_artists.htm

Below are biographies and analysis of the work of all the artists who were central to modern art.

Judith Reidy's Students Plan a Floating Painting Class for Friday 10:00 AM

Judith Reidy's Students Plan a Floating Painting Class Friday 10:00 AM

You are welcome to come to

A Painting Class 

this 

Friday, January 27,2017 

at

10:00 AM

at

Judith's Glass and Painting Studio

 5121 South 115th Street

Greendale, WI 53130

Please let me know if you are coming as space is limited.

My latest painting in progress.

Judith Reidy art classes

Today December 17 Judith will be teaching her last open studio class 1-3pm  in 2015.  You are invited to attend.  

Art Classes will resume Thursday, January 7, 2016, at 1pm.

In 2016 classes will be in a new format. Details will be forthcoming in the coming weeks.

Have a wonderful Holiday season

Judith Reidy's students' work from Wednesday evening.

Check out wednesday evening classes with Judith Reidy as an instructor.

Wilson Senior Center Painting Students of Judith Reidy

Hope you enjoy these projects from the painting students at the Wilson Senior Center.   Judith Reidy taught a painting class this past Tuesday at 1:00 pm there.

Pat Wachall Painting Flowers

Check out the glow of these flowers.

Winter Trees in Glass (Before and after Firing)

This is an example of painting on glass with glass frit and glassline, a glass powder suspended in a liquid medium for ease in paint application.  After applying the glass frit and glassline then firing the glass panel at full fuse to melt the glass together. 

More of Judith Reidy's Students Artwork

This is some work from the Wednesday evening class.

Check out Student work from Wilson Senior Center Class

TWO HOUR painting.  What a hoot to accomplish this as a first time painting.

Rhonda Simonson " Quiet Villa" in Art Instructor Judith Reidy's Students' Exhibition

This is an oil painting created by Ronda Simonson, one of my students.  Rhonda has been painting with me for little over a year. In this painting Rhonda was working with acrylic mediums to create a textured undersurface before she began painting with oils to finish the painting. 

This is a must see painting, which will be on display at my students art exhibition at the Greenfield  Public Library near South 60th and Layton in February.

Judith Reidy's Students' Work

Now three of these students have been with me for close to a year.  Why Not Sign Up For A Painting class with instructor Judith Reidy?   Check out her schedule of classes at 

http://www.judithreidy.com/calendar-of-events.html .

Rhonda, Judith's student, poppy painting

Dell, my student, has completed her painting

See Dells completed acrylic painting.  This is Dell's fifth painting in my class.

Kathy's Poppy and Ellen's Iris in Progress

Ellen's Iris Completed

Student Still Life

David' s Painting