Welcome to the MRHS advanced art student blog. Here you wil find assignments, due dates anduseful information to help you succeed as an art student in school and outside of school. Please
visit the blog often and post school appropriate comments and art works and websites related to each assignment.

Franz Kline, #4

Assignment #1: Black and White

Objectives:
•You will learn how the art principle of contrast is used to create interest in art works.
•You will use a variety of art media to produce 3 distinct pieces of art.
•You will improve your observational drawing skills.
Vocabulary:
Contrast: Contrast refers to the arrangement of opposite elements (light vs. dark colors, rough vs. smooth textures, large vs. small shapes, etc.) in a piece so as to create visual interest, excitement.
Examples of Contrast in art works and movements:
Picasso's Guernica
http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/guernica_nav/main_guerfrm.html

Abstract Expressionism:

A painting movement, 1940’s to 1960’s, in which artists typically applied paint rapidly, and with force to their huge canvases in an effort to show feelings and emotions
They painted gesturally, non-geometrically sometimes applying paint with large brushes, sometimes dripping or even throwing it onto canvas. Their work is characterized by a strong dependence on what appears to be accident and chance, but which is actually highly planned.
Usually there was no effort to represent subject matter. Not all work was abstract, nor was all work expressive, but it was generally believed that the spontaneity of the artists' approach to their work would draw from and release the creativity of their unconscious minds. The expressive method of painting was often considered as important as the painting itself.
http://www.artlex.com/

Jackson Pollock: http://www.nga.gov/feature/pollock/pollockhome.html


Franz Kline: http://www.artchive.com/artchive/K/kline.html

Willem de Kooning: http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A3213&page_number=1&template_id=6&sort_order=1

Willem de Kooning

Assignment
•Create 3 black and white art works following this criteria
1.One drawing
2.One acrylic painting
3.One mixed-media
•Use only black and white and gray.
•Consider contrast and positive and negative space
•One abstract, one realistic, drawn from life, one free-choice
•One of each of these sizes
1. 18 x 24”
2. 16 x 20”
3. 11x 14”
•If you finish early do as many as you can.
Take Risks!