Research the Vanitas tradition within the genre of still life painting. Vanitas as still life dates back to the 17th century and continues to the present day Contemporary Vanitas
Draw a skull (or more than one) from direct observation. Include shading to describe the characteristics of the form and position and source of light.
Shade it using hatching/cross hatching technique derived from etchiing and engraving with ink and brush/pen and /or sharpies.
Add other images that will function as symbols relating to a theme of your choice.
Possible themes: Bullying, Global warming, Environment, Endangered species, Diseases and/or their cure, War, War on drugs, other issues of contemporary concern.
You may also reference popular culture-rap, music, text, poetry, fashion. If you include text, stylize, trace or collage lettering-may use effectively in a layered composition.
Composition: Use superimposition (layering), or repetition or 3 point triangular composition. (see below)
Add color (see below) to selected areas, for emphasis and to enliven surface.
Size: 12" x 16" or larger
Medium: Ink (sharpie or India Ink or a combination), with color added in selected areas-colored pencil or water color
Duration: 3 - 5 classes
POST PHOTO of finshed piece into Canvas. In writing, in Canvas, explain what you did to make this picture part of the Vanitas tradition. What message did you mean to communicate?
Assessment based upon:
How well were you able to represent the skull lit by a single light source (shading)
How well you handled the mediums, tonal and color. Is there a range of tonality from white to black?
How inventive you were in incorporating images/objects that function symbollically
Is composition organized utilizing one of the schemes above?
EXAMPLE TRIANGULAR COMPOSITION
CEZANNE, Still life with Skull
EXAMPLES OF LAYERED COMPOSITION
SIGMAR POLKE, (German, contemporary), Watchtower with Geese
SIGMAR POLKE,Treehouse
Andy Warhol
EXAMPLE OF USE OF REPETITION
ANDY WARHOL, Electric Chair Orange
JIM DINE, Garrity's Necklace Vanitas
17TH CENTURY VANITAS BY PHILLIPPE DE CHAMPAIGNE, "VANITE", OIL ON PANEL
Phillippe de Champaigne, Still Life with A Skull
LATE 20TH CENTURY VANITAS BY AMERICAN AUDRY FLACK, "VANITAS, MARILYN", OIL ON CANVAS
View HOLBEIN'S SKULL video
HOLBEIN THE AMBASSADORS, NATL. GALLERY
Anamorphic Skull in Holbein's The Ambassadors
HOLBEIN'S ANAMORPHIC AMBASSADORS
ANALYSIS OF HOLBEIN'S THE AMBASSADORS
Analysis of Holbein's The Ambassadors
Vanitas Assignment:
VANITAS TRADITION
Assessment based upon:
- How well were you able to represent the skull lit by a single light source (shading)
- How well you handled the mediums, tonal and color. Is there a range of tonality from white to black?
- How inventive you were in incorporating images/objects that function symbollically
- Is composition organized utilizing one of the schemes above?
CEZANNE, Still life with Skull
EXAMPLES OF LAYERED COMPOSITIONEXAMPLE TRIANGULAR COMPOSITION
EXAMPLE OF USE OF REPETITION
17TH CENTURY VANITAS BY PHILLIPPE DE CHAMPAIGNE, "VANITE", OIL ON PANEL
LATE 20TH CENTURY VANITAS BY AMERICAN AUDRY FLACK, "VANITAS, MARILYN", OIL ON CANVAS
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: WRITTEN HW #1