Pastel Fruit Paintings

1. Pastel Fruit Paintings

2. Objectives • To collect and assemble objects for a still life. • To analyze the composition of a still life set-up using the elements of art and principles of design. • To study and analyze still life paintings by other artists. • To further painting and color-mixing skills.

3. Questions to ask yourself… • What is a still life? • An artwork showing an arrangement of object that cannot move on their own, such as fruit. • Why would artists want to paint a still life? • It is convenient • The arrangement can remain in exactly the same position for long periods of time • It is easy to rearrange and modify the subject • How can an artist organize a still life to prevent it from being chaotic? • Select objects with a theme in mind • Choose one or two colors which appear on most of the objects • Limit the area selected for the final painting by cropping out a good composition. • Use a variety of the same objects.

4. ART TERMS • Balance- The arrangement of the parts of an artwork to give a sense of overall equality in visual weight. Balance can be symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial. • Contrast- The difference between two unlike things, such as a light color and a dark color. • Emphasis – Importance given to certain objects or areas in an artwork. Color, texture, space, shape, placement, and size can be used to create dominance, contrast, or a focal point. • Gesture Drawing- A quick drawing that captures the energy and movement of the subject. • Movement- The path the viewer’s eye follows throughout an artwork. • Texture – The way something feels to the touch (actual texture) or how it may look (visual texture). • Unity – The quality of seeming whole and complete, when all the parts of an artwork look right together. • Variety – The use or combination of elements of art to provide interest in an artwork.

5. Paul Cezanne • 1839-1906 • French artist and Post-Impressionist painter • Known for his repetitive, exploratory brushstrokes

6. Cezanne’s Fruit Paintings

7. Materials • Still life Fruit • Large pieces of drawing paper • Viewfinders • Pencils • Watercolors • Brushes • Water containers • Watercolor paper • Chalk pastels • Oil pastels

8. Procedures • PRACTICE WITH DIFFERENT MEDIA FIRST! • Choose a fruit to draw and paint. Must be the same fruit for all drawings and paintings. • Split a large sheet of drawing paper into 4 rectangles. • In the upper left hand corner of your paper, you will use gesture lines and contour lines. • In the upper right hand corner you will use pencil to show value. • In the lower left hand corner, you will practice using chalk pastel to demonstrate value and color. • In the lower right hand corner, you will practice using oil pastels.

9. Chalk pastel painting

10. Oil pastel painting

11. Procedures for Final Painting • Using a viewfinder, draw three separate preliminary thumbnail sketches of the still life in your sketchbook. • Choose one of the compositions, and draw the still life on a large sheet of watercolor or a large sheet of drawing paper using gestures and contour lines. DO NOT shade in using pencil!!! • Paint the wall and table using watercolor washes (not thick paint). Let dry. • Choose either chalk pastels or oil pastels as your second medium. Color in the fruit and surrounding objects. Make sure you add value and shadows.