Alma W. Thomas Colorist Painter 1891-1978 We are going to paint an abstract colorist painting inspired by Alma Thomas. Who was Alma W. Thomas? She was part of the Washington Color School movement. She lived from 1891 to 1978 in which time there were two world wars, the great depression, the Harlem Renaissances, civil rights, women’s movement, and the first rocket into space. In 1924 Thomas was the first African American Woman to Graduate from Howard University’s Art Department. In 1934 she was the first African American woman to earn a master’s degree in Art from Columbia University. From there she went on to teach Jr High Art for 35 years. Only after retiring from teaching did she focus on her own works. In 1966 she had a solo exhibition at Howard University, 1971 she had a solo exhibition at Fisk University. 1972 she was the first African American woman artists to be accorded a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art. She has had work on display at the White House. I challenge you to look up works by Alma Thomas whenever you are sitting in front of a computer.

Washington Color School Movement Morris Louis A visual-art movement of the late 1950s through the late-1960s centered in Washington, DC, the Washington Color School describes a form of abstract art that developed from color field painting, itself a form of abstract art that explored ways to use large solid areas of paint Here are some examples of Washington Color School Art: Paul Reed, Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland. Who can tell me what abstract means? : art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures. Another definition: uses a visual language of shape, form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Do you see any similarities in these three works? What do you see that is different? Now lets look at some of Alma Thomas work. Paul Reed Kenneth Noland

1966, “Leaves outside a window in the rain” Watercolor Thomas is inspired by nature. The majority of her works are in response to nature. Abstract patterns of light shining through flowers and foliage. It started with her noticing light shining through a holly bush outside her living room window. This image of her work on your right side is titled “Leaves outside a window in the rain” on your left is an image of light through holly leaves. Does anyone know what Local Color means? the natural color of a thing in ordinary daylight, uninfluenced by the proximity of other colors. The color you see when you look at something. So Did are artist use Local Color in this example? Do you think she painted all she saw outside of her window or just a portion? Is this an abstract painting? Why? Good. Now lets look at another example.

1969, “Iris, Tulips, Jonquils, and Crocuses” Acrylic Do you see any similarities in these two images? The image on your left is an Arial photograph taken in Amsterdam of the flower fields. Compare it to the abstract painting of Thomas on your right. What do you notice about Alma’s painting? Now lets look at a detail of this painting.

Know what do you notice about this painting? Look at the paint strokes. How would you describe them? Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials.  Has anyone here ever painted or mad a paper or other type of mosaic? We want to do this today when we paint. Lets look at another example.

1970, “Launch Pad” Acrylic How has Thomas intensified the feeling of light in her painting? She is using two different methods, can you tell me what she has done? (Light colored paint, white space between the color applications) Dis she paint every thing that she saw? Lets look at a detail.

Look at the paint application. Can you see the mosaic like application. Look at how she used color. Do to our time we will limit you to four different hues. What are hues? Color

1970, “The Eclipse” Acrylic Here is her work titled Eclipse. Does she always use local color? How many different Hues does she use in this painting? 3 and one none color black.

1971, “Earth Sermon” Acrylic This is one more example of her abstract colorist painting.

Aerials These are actual Aerial photographs of Amsterdam’s flower fields. Do you think you could make an Alma Thomas Color field painting from one of these?

Garden light Here are some of my photographs of nature. Do you think you could do an Alma Thomas Color field painting from one of these?

Your challenge Choose an image for inspiration. Pick up your canvas/painting surface. Using your picture and a pen block out the main shapes. Choose 4 hues to work with plus black and white. Set up your paint pallet and collect one ½ flat paint brush and one water cup and towels. Lightly sketch out your large shapes then using your ½ flat brush paint interesting mosaic type strokes. Let me show you an example of large shapes.

1. I would work with these shapes. Medium Dark Light Light 1. I would work with these shapes. 2. I would choose three hues and black and white: Green, Yellow, and Purple. 3. I would keep my interesting mosaic like brush strokes slightly separated by white space. Dark Show my example. Medium