Surface and Texture Painting/ Final Reflection

I finished the surface and texture painting! I worked very hard on this painting, coming in the morning and after school to complete it. It took me a long time, but the end result was worth it.

I created an intricate composition in the windowsill with the visor, yarn, glass, light bulbs, and cloth. I placed the first light bulb in a higher position behind the transparent green cloth to show how distant it was from the visor, glass, and sunglasses. I combined different hues of green to make the leaf pattern stand out. I used highlights and shadows to bring out the little folds of the silver cloth. In the background, I painted the window frame and depicted the scenery I saw through the window. I used little details and made the twigs smaller and blurred so the main focus would be on the objects in the foreground.

I am very happy that I was able to portray all the textures of the cloth and make them seem realistic. I have also learned how to paint light bulbs and show highlights and shadows in each object; these were the most challenging parts of this painting.

I am so glad I took this course because I learned a lot; I have improved a significant amount since last year. I have learned many great techniques on how to use oil paint. I really enjoyed oil painting and I had a great time with everyone in the class.

Progress on Surface and Texture Painting

This painting is going well. There were some difficulties I had making this painting and I am still battling them. It is challenging to make glass seem transparent. It is also hard for me to get the right texture of the fabric and make the leaf pattern of the cloth really pop out so you could feel it. I am working on fixing up the fabric and getting the right hue for the silver color of the fabric. I wanted to start another small painting, but it looks like there is no more time left. Hopefully, I can fully develop this painting and make it look finished before the end of the week.

Observations on the History of Oil Painting

The major players in the history of oil painting are Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, and Dali because they have all made paintings and portraits that impacted people. They have contributed many paintings in which they expressed their views and emotions. Their artworks have powerful meanings and messages behind them and most of them tell a story. They are the most influential and use symbolism the most to create masterpieces.

I don't really know who is missing from the list.

Most of oil painting seems to take place in Europe.

All the paintings are held and kept in museums all over the world for people to admire them. Paintings have different influences on people depending on where they live. If they are held in Europe, the people there will be inspired by the artwork and try to recreate it using a different new style. Where the paontings live affects the public and inventors.

Process of Surface and Texture Painting

Why Oil Paint?

Painters choose to use oil paint because it offers more freedom. With oil paint, an artist can always change the painting at any time and and there are unlimited designs the painter can make on a canvas. Oil paint is pigment mixed with oil. Oil paint dates back to the 15th century, when it was used in Europe.
Once a canvas is stretched, many coats of gesso are applied to shrink the canvas. The canvas is then sanded with sandpaper to make it smoother and easier to paint on. Once that is done, creativity begins.

The artist or painter applies turpentine all over the canvas, so it will be easier to erase or fix mistakes. This is true because oil paint dries slower than most paints.Then the artist sketches the forms and step by step builds the up the painting with color. The oil paint and linseed oil used serve as varnishes to produce bright vivid colors. These oils give the painting a glossy finish. Regular paint hardens and you can not go back to fix a mistake; therefore, it shows up in the end result. Oil paint lets one blend colors and show the highlights, mid tones, and shadows of an object, setting, or person more effectively. No brushstrokes are shown; with regular paint the strokes are more visible.

Plus, the artist's style shows through the painting. Glazing is a technique Leonardo Da Vinci used in the painting The Mona Lisa. He kept building up a thin layer of paint upon another thin layer of paint to give the painting depth and texture.


Overall, oil paint has more benefits and advantages than normal paint.

What is a Portrait?

A portrait is a painting or picture that depicts a person's face through visuals and color. A portrait captures a person's characteristics and mood at a certain time.

In the Self-Portrait of Chuck Close, Chuck Close uses a grid to paint his face. Each tiny section is made up of little images using a variety of colors and geometric and organic shapes. This is called minimalism. Chuck Close uses a lot of warm vibrant colors in his face and uses dark cool colors for the background. The black turtleneck fades into the background; this draws the focus to his face. He also uses techniques such as photo realism and pointillism.

Photo realism is when a lot of detail and normal everyday items are used to make an image look like a photo. Pointillism is a style using tiny dots of color to produce a cohesive painting.

These techniques give the portrait a pixel photo feel. This painting shows Chuck Close is a very meticulous and successful painter.

The person painted in the Librarian by Giuseppe Arcimboldo really loves books and probably loves to read. The open book used for the hair could mean the person has an open mind.

Giuseppe Arcimboldo really arranges the books well to compose the nose, cheek, and lips of the face.

In the painting Diego on My Mind, Frida Kahlo has an image of Diego Rivera above her eyebrows to show she is always thinking about him. Diego Rivera was married to Kahlo, but they had a rocky, unsteady marriage. They had their ups and downs. tears fall down Kahlo's face to show how worried she was over Diego whether they were together or not. Kahlo also uses warm colors to bring out the features of her face and Diego's.

Although all these artists answer the concept of portrait, they do not convey the concept in the tradtional way. Close, Arcimboldo, and Kahlo reinvent the idea of portrait through different styles, shapes, and forms. They use images and symbols to make a unified portrait of a person.

Reflection on White Objects Painting

Completing the White Objects painting was a real challenge for me because I had a tough time adding the shadows, making highlights, and getting the right color and texture of the fabric.
I spent too long outlining the objects and fixing one part at a time. I finished the painting yet I do not feel as though i really completely finished it. I would have worked more on adding details to the fabric and the cups.

For the next painting, I plan to pace myself and not take so long on one part of the painting.