Art in FocusChapter 22:
Art of the Later Nineteenth CenturyAdditional Studio ProjectsTEMPERA BATIK IN THE STYLE OF GAUGUINComplete a tempera batik in which you present your view of life in contemporary America. This work is intended to enlighten viewers who are unfamiliar with our modern society. Make sure to use large shapes, bright colors, and a variety of thick and thin lines.
INSPIRATIONExamine Gauguin's painting of Fatata te Miti (Figure 22.8). How are the shapes used to suggest space? Are the colors bright or dull? Would you describe this as a realistic-looking picture? What does this painting tell you about life on a South Pacific island?
WHAT YOU WILL NEED- Pencil and sketch paper
- Sheet of lightly colored construction paper, 9 × 12 inches or larger
- White chalk
- Tempera paint
- Brushes, mixing tray, and paint cloth
- India ink
- Food tray or some other large, flat surface
- Water container
WHAT YOU WILL DO- Complete several sketches in which you present your version of life in twentieth-century America. Direct your view of contemporary life to viewers who live on a remote South Sea island.
- Reproduce your best sketch to fill the sheet of colored construction paper. Overlap the shapes in your drawing to suggest shallow space.
- Go over the main lines in your picture with white chalk, making some lines thick and others thin.
- Paint your picture with a heavy application of tempera paint. Choose bright, rather than dull, colors. Paint up to--but not over--the chalk lines. A thick coating of tempera is needed because some of the paint will wash off later. Avoid overlapping paint layers, since the top layer will be lost during the final operation. Tempera paint details should never be applied to a previously painted surface.
- As soon as the tempera paint is dry, cover your picture completely with a brushed-on coat of india ink.
- When the ink is completely dry, place your picture on a food tray to prevent it from tearing. At the sink, gently wash the ink from the surface of your picture. Use a light stream of water, and rub carefully with your fingers. Do not remove all the ink, or you will lose the batik-like look you are trying to achieve. To retouch your work, apply small amounts of tempera paint with a sponge or crushed paper towel while the picture is still damp.
EVALUATING YOUR WORKDescribe Does your batik present viewers with your ideas about life in contemporary America? What typically American people, objects, or events did you include?
Analyze Did you use large, flat shapes? Were these shapes painted with bright, intense colors? How is space suggested in your picture? Did you use a variety of thick and thin lines?
Interpret Did you include enough visual clues to help viewers form an accurate opinion about life in contemporary America? What single idea about America does your picture communicate?
Judge What type of critic or critics would be most pleased with your picture: those favoring the theory of imitationalism, formalism, or emotionalism? Explain your answer.
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