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| This still-life is symmetrical (formally balanced), related by subject, has a variety of textures, and the choice of colors create harmony. |
A still-life is a grouping of inanimate (not moving or living) objects, arranged as a subject or reference for a work of art. Now that you are getting back into the swing of things after finishing your value charcoal drawings it is time to explore color! You will be creating a pastel drawing of "seasonal" objects. We will be taking into consideration how we arrange our objects to create an aesthetically pleasing and visually balanced still-life. Below is a great definition of balance in art to help you better understand the concept.
"Balance can be symmetrical ("formal"), where elements are given equal "weight" from an imaginary line in the middle of a piece. For the most basic example of symmetry, think of your eyes in relation to either side of your nose.
Balance doesn't necessarily mean symmetry, though. Asymmetrical ("informal") balance occurs when elements are placed unevenly in a piece, but work together to produce harmony overall."
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| This still-life is asymmetrical, informally balanced. http://www.musicfromsalem.org/specialevents.html |
Links to resources to help you learn more about balance and composition:
Working with Pastels
When I use pastels the most challenging thing for me is to keep it neat. I tend to rest my hand on the paper (not a good idea) or I accidentally put something on the paper and it creates a smudge or mark. The good thing about pastels if applied in light layers you can create depth and richness without damaging the tooth (surface texture) of the paper. You can also deal with most "mistakes" if you begin with planning your composition carefully by working it all out with thumbnail sketches. There are many ways to create a pastel painting. I will demonstrate a few in class but I would also like you to view the blog below. It shows examples and descriptions of the process the artist went through while creating her pastel painting.
Here is a link to view the entire blog:
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| Under drawing (blueprint) |
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| Foundation (blocking in color) |
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Construction, building and layering color |
Here are a couple other informative links:
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