Instructor: Professor Susan Harlan
Winter 2011
Mapping Booklet: project in process
The assignment is to create a large book (at least 8"x10" with at least four pages) of watercolor paper and fill it full of images made of mixed media of an area of your choice. Specifically focusing on mapping the area/space which can be done literally or abstract and conceptually. We should use portraiture, landscape with sketching, watercolor, sumi ink, collage, etc.
I chose to create an accordion style so I first made a small size book to play with a few of my ideas before I add them to the big book. Below are images from my test booklet.
The first three panels of the test booklet.
I keep a messy palette, but I love the bright colors.
One thing I really like about using watercolor is that even if it dries you can rewet the medium and use it.
A close up of the middle page. I love how the colors blend and create layers of pattern.
A close up of the left side page.
A close up of red strings hanging from a red bar. It's actually an installation/performance art idea I've been thinking about lately. Thought I'd paint it and see what I think. I'll probably add this into the final book, but with red yarn.
A close up of the middle panel. Again the colors blend so well and I love the texture of the paper.
Autobon Watercolor: Project Finished
22"x28"
This was our second class project. We were to paint a large scale watercolor of an animal of our choice in a strange or odd environment. Walton Ford was our inspiration artist. I originally was going to paint a tortoise, however, it just wasn't working for me and then my cousins brought over a baby owl to my house one weekend during this project. They had found the baby owl on the road and didn't know if it was hurt. They brought it over to my house not knowing who else to bring it to. The poor thing seemed to have an injured wing, but it was so sweet. They ended up taking it to a 24 hour vet clinic who sent it to the local Autobon Society. They were going to fix it's wing and then release it back to the area where my cousins found it. A happy ending.
So after that I knew I had to paint an owl. I chose this particular pose because it's full of action and you can see detail of the wings. As part of the assignment we were required to either trace the basic shape of the animal or project it onto the large paper. This was to maximize the "real-life" effect. So the proportions are very realistic, however, it's my own skills that painted the details and shadows.
I was too careful with the background so I need to go back and add more detail to the landscape. I'm very proud at how well the owl turned out.
The watercolor is very light, but the lighting in the photo is very dark and yellowed. I'll take another photo of it in the nature lighting tomorrow.
20 Portraits: Project Finished
9"x12" each
This was our first project in the class and I really had a difficult time with it. I'm not one for realism and I'm terrible at rendering faces. I became very frustrated many times during this project, but I learned so much. We were required to use sumi ink and watercolor. We could work from a live model or a picture. I naturally want to abstract things and I struggled to bridge realism and abstraction. Some I was successful and other I was not. I only added a few of my favorites to this post.
A beloved elder. It doesn't look too much like him. I think he would have laughed at this portrait of himself.
A self-portrait. My professor loved this one. I think it's okay.
I see this one as a rocker girl. I ended up really enjoying adding sumi to my watercolors.
One of my favorite portraits. This is the one where I finally got my inner judge to shut up and just went with it.
This is one of my favorite, favorites. It looks nothing like the live model we had in class, but I just love the shadows and abstraction. This portrait and the one below are the same model.
I did a good job on the neck shading.
