Assignment 12: Texture

I really love texture in art work. The most texture I've ever seen in an oil painting was Van Gogh's. I was completely amazed at how much paint was on the canvas and how much physical texture his paintings had. I haven't ever found a nice photograph that actually shows the texture his paintings have but here's an artist I found that does use a lot of texture and it is photographed well to show the texture. Debra G. Campbell did the art piece below. You can see how much physical texture it has. Click on her name to see more paintings done by her that show a lot of texture. To view information on the specific painting below click here.



You can show texture without using a lot of materials though. Below is a painting done by Gabriela Stauffer. Notice how she uses texture to create more interest in the bottom half of the painting. You can see more painting by clicking on her name and more about the painting below by clicking here.




Even if the painting is physically smooth (like when using watercolor) you can still add texture.

Yuri Trushin has many watercolors and other artwork that shows texture without the thickness in paint or other media. Click on his name and take a stroll through the galleries. I especially like his water based paintings.


This week we'll create an art piece that has a lot of texture. You can do a lot of physical texture like Debra G. Campbell did. Or use very little to not physical texture. Please try to have at least 3 different textures in your art piece (remember that smooth is considered a texture too.)

All assignments should be turned into by next Monday Sept 8th by 9pm.

If you would like a little help on subject and medium try doing flowers with acrylics and string on canvas or paper.

Results of Assignment 11: Mood

Artist: SMAshby - Roy, UT
Title: 'Lonely Halls'
11" x 11" - Graphite

Rett Ashby - Provo, UT

Oil - 15x18

Title: Peaceful

Artist: Sandra Faye

Title: Green With Envy

Medium: watercolor

Size: 7" x9"

Artist: Sandra Faye

Title: Peace Like a River

Medium: watercolor

Size: 9x10

Artist: Haleigh Ashby- Provo, UT

"Alissa Content"
22x30 - charcoal
"Bubbles"
9x12 mixed media






Artist: Karleigh Heywood
Title: Happy Happy Sad
Mixed Media 13" x 5"

Assignment 11: Creating mood in our artwork

For this week's assignment, we'll be working on creating mood in our art work. The paintings below were done by Marti Jones Dixon. Please review her website and take a stroll through her galleries. Notice the moods she creates in her portraits. The way she uses not only body language to show the mood of the person but the way lighting is done and which colors are used. I also like this idea of an interchangeable portrait. 5 paintings that create an interesting piece when displayed together.
For our assignment, please pick one of the moods below and try to incorporate it into your art piece for this week. There are also a list of questions below for you to ask yourself before you create your piece. This assignment will be due Next Monday, September 1st by 9pm. If you have the time, try doing more than one piece and choose different moods for each piece.

As always, you can use any medium and do the assignment in any dimensions or size but for those who would like a little more help getting started recommendations are also listed below.

Moods to choose from:

• Love
• Anger
• Envy
• Disappointed
• Cheerful
• Content
• Peaceful

Questions to ask yourself before you start your piece:

• What color/colors represent the mood best?
• What type of lines would represent the mood best? (thick/thin, feminine/masculine, Horizontal/vertical)
• What perspective or view should the subject be in to best display the mood?

Recommended Materials and Dimensions: Use oil paint or pastels. Pick your mood and write a list of ten things you automatically think of when you hear that mood. Pick a subject from your list of ten to portray in that mood. (for an extra challenge, try displaying that same subject in a different mood than you first picked.) Remember to ask your self the questions above to help guide you. Your finished piece should be at least 11" x 14"

Assignment #10: Critiquing

Due to the schedule change, our week is shortened. I encourage you to continue with your artwork but these next few days I would like us to focus a little bit on critiquing. Please use the comments section of each past assignment to leave comments on specific pieces. Also, please use the comments section on this post to give your two cents about critiquing and the benefits of critiquing.


This might help those who have little experience with critiquing:

How to prepare for a critique by Leslie Koptcho

New Assignment Due Date

I'm having a difficult time with my current schedule and trying to fit everything in. So I'm moving the due date for the assignments to Monday Night at 9pm. That's right, no more starting it at 10pm...two hours before it's due (mostly talking to me...and one other person which I won't name.)

Each week's assignment will be posted early on Monday Mornings. The assignment from the following week will be due that evening and those will be posted Monday Night before I go to bed.

Please try and shoot for a finished piece by Saturday and only use Monday's as sparingly needed to finish your artwork.

Since this week has been shortened and your assignment is due on Monday I've decided to do something different but very beneficial for this week's assignment. Please see the post above on critiquing.

Results for Assignment 9

Artist: SMAshby, Roy, Utah
Title:The Mermaid's Flower
Medium & Size: Pastels - 12.5"x 14.25"






Artist: Haleigh Ashby, Provo, Utah
Title: Apple
Medium & Size: Crayon - 9"x 12"




Artist: Calixta Ashby, Provo, Utah
Title: Shaded Tree
Medium & Size: Colored Pencil - 8.5" x 11"



Artist: Sandra Faye, Roy, Utah
Title: Sunflowers
Medium & Size: Watercolor - 5" x 6.5"




Artist: Karleigh Jae Heywood, Rexburg, Idaho
Title: Hummingbird
Medium & Size: Sharpie Marker on white BFK - 8.75" x 13.5"

Assignment #9: Contrast in Color

We've done contrast in values and worked with black and white and the whole scale. For this next assignment I would like us to do a piece that has contrast with color. By using complimentary colors we can create contrast as well as when we use cold colors vs warm colors. (although that might often lead to an non harmonious piece) Here are some examples of color contrast:

Pop art has shown some change from using contrast in values to mostly contrast in color to create that certain pop art look. Andy Warhol has several images that show this color contrast. He still uses a little bit of value contrast but see how the drastic color scheme is very noticeable.

Another artist that uses color to aid in contrast is Vangogh. This painting below actually has a lot of value contrast but notice how the colors help aid in the contrast as well.

Haleigh showed us a very good example of color contrast in this piece from a few assignments ago:


It still has value contrast but the colors help aid the contrast in value range.


This assignment will be due next Wednesday, August 20th by midnight. You can choose any subject/object for your art piece. As always, all assignments can be done using any medium and any dimensions but for those who would like more guidelines, recommendations are listed below.

Recommended Materials and Dimensions: Use acrylics. Pick a flower or some type of flora. When painting it, try using very little value contrast and focus more on color contrast. Your finished piece should be at least 8" x 10" (or 20 x 25 cm)