THREE TINY PAINTINGS

You will create three tiny paintings (roughly 5”x7”) that feature gestural – maybe even abstract – faces as their focal point. You will take cues from the artwork of Donna Fester, an artist and professor based in Maine. Your goal is to emulate her style.

You will create three tiny paintings You will create three tiny paintings. Each painting should feature a different person (a friend or family member…this must be a human, not a celebrity). You will need three reference images, and they should be printed out on 8.5”x11” paper. From those reference images, you will need to develop three quick, gestural drawings that you will use as a reference/practice to develop your paintings. You then will need to choose three distinct color schemes, one for each painting. Consider what colors you think best depict the given person. You will need to be able to articulate your choices during critique.

You will begin by first laying down a coat of gesso on each side of your three panels. Put two coats on the back side. Then, you’ll lay down a flat background color (different one for each). Once you are ready to start developing the image, you will freehand “sketch” the image with your paint brush first, and then begin manipulating the paint. Aim for thicker application of paint. You may use any combination or acrylics and oils (just remember that they do not mix, and acrylics must be painted first) – and you do want to make sure that you use oils, even a little. Keep in mind that oils allow for softer and more subtle blending, which can be a critical component in this type of painting.