A mirror of man
by Lawrence Anlow Hayes
A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of MASTER OF APPLIED ART
Montana State University
© Copyright by Lawrence Anlow Hayes (1966)
Abstract:
It's a wise man who knows how little he knows". This quotation of Socrates might be said to be the
very reason I ventured forth upon this particular phase of my education.
- As a painter who is aware of the need for new conceptual forms for his personal expression in his art I
requested and was granted a year's leave-of-absence from my position in the Helena School System,
The main problem and its three subsidiary problems which presented themselves to me in the course of
my graduate work were as follows: 1. The subordination of any preconceived idea of the finished
painting to the actual development of the painting.
2. The enlargement of color concepts.
3. The integration of form with the surrounding area of the canvas.
4. The stabilizing of varied techniques and types of expression to the point where my use of them is the
result of directed focus of choice.
The solutions to these problems are not easily isolated from each other but, rather, function in an
integral fashion. To achieve these solutions a new awareness of the act of painting and of the painting
itself was quite necessary. Through experimentation, reading, discussion, study of paintings and
reproductions new channels of thought were opened which helped to lead to the solutions of the
problems which presented themselves at this time.
Through the use of a variety of media including lacquer, used as binder and vehicle, tissue -paper, glue,
oil-paint, and ink, and by using a number of techniques such as scumbling, over-painting,
under-painting, glazing, direct painting, painting wet-in-wet, and collage, I arrived at satisfying
solutions to the four problems named above.
A detailed description of methods and materials used in achieving the paintings is included in the main
body of the thesis under the illustrations. A M IRROR OF M A N
by
L A W R E N C E A N LO W H A Y E S
A t h e s i s s u b m itte d to th e G ra d u a te F a c u lt y in th e p a r t ia l
f u lf illm e n t o f th e r e q u ir e m e n t s fo r th e d e g r e e
of
M A ST E R OF A P P L I E D A R T
A p p ro v ed :
7[/'
M a jo r D e p a r tm e n t
C h a ir m a n , E x a m in in g C o m m itte e
M O N T A N A S T A T E U N IV E R SIT Y
B o z e m a n , M on tan a
J u n e, 1966
iii
ACKNOW LEDGM ENT
It i s w ith p ro fo u n d g r a titu d e th a t I a c k n o w le d g e th e a s s i s t a n c e
an d e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f th e f o llo w in g p e o p le :
M r. G. A . S u lliv a n , M r.
■Robert D e W e e s e , M is s F r a n c e s - S en sk a , M r. John G -ie se r , M r .. S y d n e y
K u rla n d , D r., J o h n L a n g e n b a c h , M r. C y r il C o n ra d , M r. R ic R o le tto ,
an d M r s . M ic h a e l C o n k ey .
I sh o u ld a l s o lik e t o e x te n d m y a p p r e c ia tio n to m y f e llo w
s tu d e n ts fo r a m u c h v a lu e d a s s o c ia t io n d u r in g m y g r a d u a te w o rk .
_ L . A , H.
iv
ABSTRACT
" It's a w is e m a n w ho k n o w s h o w l i t t le h e k n o w s" . T h is q u o ta tio n
o f S o c r a t e s m ig h t b e s a id to be th e v e r y r e a s o n I v e n tu r e d fo r th upon
t h is p a r t ic u la r p h a s e o f m y e d u c a tio n .
- A s a p a in te r w h o i s a w a r e of th e n e e d fo r n ew c o n c e p tu a l f o r m s
f o r h is p e r s o n a l e x p r e s s i o n in h is a r t I r e q u e s t e d and w a s g r a n te d a
y e a r ' s l e a v e - o f - a b s e n c e fr o m m y p o s it io n in the H e le n a S c h o o l S y s te m ,
T h e m a in p r o b le m and i t s t h r e e s u b s id ia r y p r o b le m s w h ich p r e ­
s e n te d t h e m s e l v e s to m e in th e c o u r s e o f m y g r a d u a te w o r k w e r e a s
fo llo w s :
1.
2.
3.
4.
T h e s u b o r d in a tio n o f a n y p r e c o n c e iv e d id e a of th e fin is h e d
p a in tin g to th e a c t u a l d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e p a in tin g .
T h e e n la r g e m e n t of c o lo r c o n c e p t s .
T h e in t e g r a t io n o f fo r m w ith th e su r r o u n d in g a r e a o f
th e c a n v a s .
T h e s t a b iliz in g o f v a r ie d te c h n iq u e s and t y p e s of
e x p r e s s io n to th e p o in t w h e r e m y u s e of th e m i s th e
r e s u lt o f d ir e c t e d f o c u s o f c h o ic e .
T h e s o lu t io n s t o t h e s e p r o b le m s a r e n o t e a s i l y i s o la t e d fr o m e a c h
o th e r b u t, r a t h e r , fu n c tio n in an in t e g r a l fa s h io n . T o a c h ie v e t h e s e
s o lu t io n s a n e w a w a r e n e s s o f th e a c t of p a in tin g and of th e p a in tin g i t s e l f
w a s q u ite n e c e s s a r y . T h r o u g h e x p e r im e n t a t io n , r e a d in g , d is c u s s io n ,
stu d y of p a in tin g s and r e p r o d u c t io n s n e w c h a n n e ls of th o u g h t w e r e o p en ed
w h ic h h e lp e d to le a d to th e s o lu t io n s o f th e p r o b le m s w h ic h p r e s e n t e d
t h e m s e l v e s a t t h is t im e .
T h r o u g h th e u s e o f a v a r i e t y o f m e d ia in c lu d in g la c q u e r , u s e d a s
b in d e r an d v e h ic le , t i s s u e -p a p e r , g lu e , o il- p a in t , and in k , and b y
u s in g .a n u m b e r of t e c h n iq u e s su c h a s s c u m b lin g , o v e r - p a in t in g , u n d er p a in tin g , g la z in g , d ir e c t p a in tin g , p a in tin g w e t - in - w e t , an d c o lla g e , I
a r r iv e d at s a t is f y in g s o lu t io n s to th e fo u r p r o b le m s n a m e d a b o v e .
A d e t a ile d d e s c r ip tio p . o f m e th o d s and m a t e r i a ls u s e d in
a c h ie v in g th e p a in tin g s i s in c lu d e d in th e m a in b o d y o f th e t h e s i s u n d er
th e i l lu s t r a t io n s .
■,
v
V
T A B L E OF C O N T E N T S
Page
T it le P a g e
V ita
, ...................................
i
...........................................................................................................
A c k n o w le d g m e n t
. .
. ........................................................
A b s t r a c t ' .............................................. ......................... ' ................................... .... I n tr o d u c tio n
The s is
...................................................^
ii
iii
iv
I
. . . . . . .
I
I llu s t r a t io n s ..............................
10
L it e r a t u r e C o n s u lte d
Zl
........................................................
IN T R O D U C T IO N .
T o d i s c u s s s o m e th in g a s p e r s o n a l and in tim a te a s th e c r e a t iv e
a c t o f p a in tin g b o r d e r s on th e i m p o s s ib le , in m y o p in io n .
A t b e s t , one
ca n o n ly h o p e to t r a c e in f lu e n c e s , d ir e c t or in d ir e c t , im p r e s s i o n s , m o o d s ,
r e m e m b e r e d o u tlo o k s , and a l s o o n e 's e m o t io n a l o u tlo o k at th e tim e of
th e a c tio n o f c r e a t in g .
T h e p a in tin g , b e in g th e p r o d u c t of a p a r t ic u la r
tim e in th e l i f e o f th e p a in t e r , b e c o m e s an a n a c h r o n is m w h en r e m o v e d
fr o m c o n te x t b y d i s c u s s i o n u n le s s of s u c h m a t t e r s a s te c h n iq u e , or
s o c i a l o r h i s t o r i c a l s ig n if ic a n c e .
T o m e , a g o o d p a in tin g n e e d s n o e x p la n a tio n .
It h a s it s own
li f e b e c a u s e it r e p r e s e n t s n o t o n ly th e s u m o f th e p a in t e r 's e x p e r ie n c e s
b u t a l s o th e su m of th e a c c u m u la te d e x p e r i e n c e s of th e p a in t e r 's
s o c ie t y .
T h e m a n w ho i s a p a in te r d o e s h a v e the o p p o r tu n ity to e x p r e s s
h is s u m m a tio n o f m a n in h i s s o c ie t y in v is u a l t e r m s .
O ften t h is p r e s e n ­
ta tio n i s n o t p le a s a n t , but on th e o b v e r s e s id e , .m a n i s o fte n n ot
p le a s a n t to o b s e r v e .
W hat is m o d e r n m a n ?
Is h e h e a d e d fo r o b liv io n th r o u g h l o s s of
in d iv id u a lity , o r th r o u g h d e s t r u c t iv e d e v ic e s o f h is ow n i n t e l le c t ?
H as
h is c o n c e p t of h im s e lf , w h ic h h a s .b e e n of su c h h ig h c o n c e it th a t he h a s
f a s h io n e d th e g o d s in h is im a g e , f a lle n to su c h a lo w s t a t e th a t h e w ill
w ill in g ly w a lk to t h is o b liv io n ?
I th in k not.'
T o m e , m a n h a s a ll th e
w e a k n e s s e s w h ic h a r e a ttr ib u te d to h im , b u t h o w c o u ld h e e s c a p e th e m ,
b e in g m a n ?
On th e o th e r h a n d ,. h e , t o m e ,
s t i l l p o s s e s s e s th e g r a n d e u r ,
th e n o b ility of i n t e l le c t w h ic h s e t s h im a p a r t fr o m a ll o th e r f o r m s of
2
c r e a t io n .
T h is , in m y o p in io n , i s h is r e d e e m in g g r a c e .
In m u c h o f t o d a y 's a r t th e c o n c e p t o f m a n i s o fte n c o n fu s e d w ith
th e s o c i e t y in w h ic h h e e x i s t s .
A s a r e s u lt of th is c o n fu s io n , th e r e p r e ­
s e n t a t io n s of m a n a r e , to s a y th e l e a s t , u n fla tte r in g .
In th e f ie ld o f
" P op A rt" n o t m a n , but th e s o c ie t y of m a n ig e x p lo it e d fo r th e sa k e of
p a in tin g c o n te n t.
U n fo r tu n a te ly , m a n an d h is s o c ie t y a r e in s e p a r a b le
an d a s a r e s u l t th e in h e r e n t q u a lit ie s o f m a n h im s e lf a r e o fte n l o s t in
th e c o n d e m n a to r y r e p r e s e n t a t io n s of h is s o c i e t y a s s e e n b y s o m e
c o n te m p o r a r y a r t i s t s .
T h e fr p a r t ic u la r r e p r e s e n t a t io n s m a y c o n ta in
a p a r t ia l tr u th , b u t, to m e , th e l o s s e s in th e c o n c e p t of m a n w h ich
e n s u e a s a r e s u lt of th e e x p r e s s io n o f a p a r t ia l tr u th of m a n 's s o c ie t y
m a k e th e c o s t of t h is p a r t ia l tr u th e x o r b ita n t.
In o th e r w o r d s , to m e ,
m a n i s b e in g r e g a r d e d to o m u c h a s a s o c i a l b e in g ,, a m e m b e r of a g ro u p ,
a p a r t o f a . m a s s , . and not en o u g h a s th e in d iv id u a l h e a l s o i s .
T h e r e f o r e , in m y p a in tin g s I h a v e a tte m p te d to c a p tu r e w h a t to
m e i s th e e s s e n c e o f t h is g r a n d e u r and d ig n ity of m a n .
T h is s a m e
e s s e n c e i s fou n d in th e a n t h r o p o c e n t r ic a r t of p a s t c i v ili z a t io n s and
e v e n in P r e h i s t o r i c s c u lp t u r e o f E u r o p e and in th e c a v e - p a in t in g s of
th e T a s s i l i d i s t r i c t in A f r ic a .
C o n s id e r th e V e n u s o f W iI le n d o r f, th e
s m a ll, iv o r y V e n u s of L a s c a u x , th e F r i e z e of th e A r c h e r s on P r o c e s s i o n
S t r e e t in a n c ie n t N in e v e h , th e m o n u m e n ta l, p r i e s t - d i c t a t e d s c u lp tu r e and
p a in tin g s o f a n c ie n t E g y p t, and th e f r e e , l i f e - l i k e c a r v in g s of T e l - e l A m a r n a fr o m a n o th e r p e r io d o f E g y p tia n h is t o r y , th e C r e ta n d e it i e s ,
th e id e a l iz e d m a n - g o d s of G r e e k a r t, th e e n t ir e v a s t p a r a d e o f m a n 's
3
c o n c e p tio n s o f h i m s e l f dow n th r o u g h th e c o u r s e o f h is h is t o r y to
cu rren t tim e s .
• E a c h p a in te r i s h ig h ly a w a r e of th e w o r k of o th e r p a in t e r s ,
e ith e r th r o u g h v ie w in g o r ig in a ls or r e p r o d u c t io n s , and th e r e a r e
p r e f e r e n c e s w h ic h in tu r n te n d to in f lu e n c e th e w o r k of th e v ie w in g
p a in te r .
T o i s o la t e t h e s e in f lu e n c e s in th e p a in t e r 's w o r k i s n ot a
s im p le ta s k .
In m y ow n c a s e s o m e o f m y g r e a t e s t r e s p o n s e h a s b e e n
to th e w o r k s of C e z a n n e , R o u a u lt, P i c a s s o , ■P o lla c k an d d e K o o n in g ,
an d I a l s o w is h to in c lu d e p a in t e r s of h ig h a b ilit y if n o t u n iv e r s a l
r e c o g n itio n , m e n su c h a s R o b e r t D e W e e s e , and R ic R o le tto .
T r u e , m y p a in tin g s a r e n o t a lw a y s f la t t e r in g to th e h u m a n
f ig u r e an d m ig h t p o s s i b l y , a t f i r s t g la n c e , te n d to c o n tr a d ic t m y p r io r
s ta t e m e n t of c o n v ic tio n b u t to m e th e y e a c h s ta te , in t h e ir ow n w a y ,
m y c o n c e p t of th e d ig n ity of m a n .
The. S o lu tio n o f th e P r o b le m s
V is u a l p r o b le m s in m y im a g e o f m a n a r e th e fo llo w in g :
/
1.
T h e s u b o r d in a tio n of an y p r e c o n c e iv e d id e a o f th e
f in is h e d p a in tin g to th e a c tu a l d e v e lo p m e n t of th e
p a in tin g .
2.
T h e e n la r g e m e n t of c o lo r c o n c e p t s .
3.
T h e in t e g r a t io n of fo r m w ith th e su r r o u n d in g a r e a of
th e c a n v a s .
4.
T he s t a b iliz in g of v a r ie d te c h n iq u e s and t y p e s o f
e x p r e s s io n to th e p o in t w h e r e m y u s e o f th e m i s th e
r e s u lt of d ir e c t e d f o c u s of c h o ic e .
.
4
In th e fo llo w in g e x p la n a tio n s o f th e s o lu t io n s to t h e s e s ta te d
p r o b le m s - 1 s h o u ld lik e to o ffe r e x a m p le s w h ic h to m e s e r v e a s a s t e p b y - s t e p r e c o r d o f m y a r r i v a l a t m y p r e s e n t s e r i e s o f p a in t in g s .
A
d i s c u s s i o n o f th e te c h n iq u e s e m p lo y e d w i l l a c c o m p a n y th e il lu s t r a t io n s .
B e c a u s e of p r e v io u s t r a i n i n g , . I a m in c lin e d to b e r a t h e r f o r m a l
in m y th o u g h t p r o c e s s e s .
T h e r e f o r e , p r o b le m o n e, th e s u b o r d in a tio n
o f th e p r e c o n c e iv e d id e a o f th e p a in tin g to th e a c tu a l d e v e lo p m e n t of
th e p a in tin g , w a s p e r h a p s th e m o s t d if f ic u lt fo r m e b e c a u s e it n o t o n ly
in v o lv e d te c h n iq u e , b u t a l s o it in v o lv e d th e m o r e in tim a te a s p e c t s of
m y a ttitu d e s to w a r d p a in tin g .
M y g r e a t e s t m e n t a l h u r d le in t h is r e s p e c t
w a s g iv in g up th e p r e c o n c e iv e d id e a o f th e p a in tin g a s s e e n in m y m in d 's e y e and a llo w in g th e p a in tin g to g r o w q u ite n a t u r a lly out of th e a c tio n on
th e c a n v a s .
T h is i s n o t m e a n t to im p ly th a t th e r e w a s no o b je c t or g o a l
in m in d ..but, r a t h e r , th a t th e a c tio n ta k in g p la c e on th e c a n v a s w a s
a llo w e d to s u g g e s t th e fo r m to e m p lo y and e x p lo it in a c h ie v in g t h e d e ­
s i r e d g o a l.
On p a g e s 10
an d 11 w ill b e fou n d th e f i r s t s u c c e s s f u l
a t t e m p t s a t s o lv in g t h is p r o b le m .
H a v in g th e g o a l in m in d of a f a ir l y
r e p r e s e n t a t io n a l h u m a n f ig u r e I b e g a n m a r k in g th e c a n v a s u s in g a p ie c e
of s p lin t e r e d b a m b o o w h ic h w o u ld g iv e a c a s u a l, n o n - r ig id lin e w ith th in
o il p a in t a s th e m e d iu m .
A s th e p a in tin g s e v o lv e d , th e f ig u r e s b e g a n
a s s u m in g t h e ir g r o w th to w a r d c o m p le tio n .
F u r t h e r il lu s t r a t io n s of th e
s o lu tio n of t h is p r o b le m w ill b e fou n d on p a g e 12
.
5
P u r s u in g p r o b le m on e s t i l l f u r t h e r I b e g a n u s in g c o lla g e .
The
m a t e r i a l c h o s e n fo r One o f th e c o lla g e t e c h n iq u e s w a s t i s s u e p a p er,
c h o s e n in a li m it e d r a n g e of c o l o r s , w h ic h w o u ld a llo w fo r q u ick
a p p lic a tio n or r e m o v a l of la r g e a r e a s of c o lo r .
O il- p a in t
w as u sed
to v a r y th e h u e o f th e t i s s u e and la c q u e r s e r v e d a s a t r a n s p a r e n t
a d h e s iv e .
T h r o u g h th e u s e o f u n d e r -p a in tin g , o v e r - p a in t in g , g la z in g ,
and s c u m b lin g t h is c o lla g e te c h n iq u e w a s e n r ic h e d .
In th e b e g in n in g , th e te c h n iq u e e m p lo y e d a m in im u m o f c o lla g e
an d a p r e d o m in a n c e of o il- p a in t , ( s e e th e il lu s t r a t io n o h p a g e 13 ).
As
th e te c h n iq u e d e v e lo p e d th e u s e of t i s s u e in th e c o lla g e in c r e a s e d w h ile
th e u s e of o il- p a in t d im in is h e d .
(S ee il lu s t r a t io n s on p a g e s 14, 15 and 16. )
T o w a r d th e en d o f t h is p a r t ic u la r e x p e r im e n t th e b a la n c e h a d r e tu r n e d
to it s o r ig in a l p r o p o r t io n s .
(S e e p a g e
17).
A n o th e r e x p e r im e n t in c o lla g e w h ic h p r o v e d of g r e a t v a lu e and
i n t e r e s t to m e w a s in w o r k in g w ith th e u s e d c le a n in g b lo t t e r s fr o m th e
e tc h in g d e p a r tm e n t. . T h e s e p a r t ic u la r b lo t t e r s a r e u s e d to a b s o r b th e
e x c e s s liq u id s u s e d in v a r n is h in g and c le a n in g th e m e t a l p la t e s b e f o r e
in k in g th e m fo r p r in tin g .
A s a r e s u lt of t h is a b s o r p tio n th e b lo t t e r s
a c q u ir e r ic h , a n g u la r d is c o lo r a t io n s r a n g in g fr o m a p a le g r a y to a d e e p
um ber.
A s s e m b le d in t e m p o r a r y c o m p o s it io n on a w a l l , . a f f ix e d b y p in s ,
an d p h o to g r a p h e d a f t e r e a c h a r r a n g e m e n t , t h is ty p e of c o lla g e o f f e r s a
s p o n ta n e o u s , n a tu r a l, and l i t e r a l l y e n d le s s m e d iu m fo r e x p e r im e n t a t io n .
, A f te r a c h ie v in g an a r r a n g e m e n t w h ic h w a s p a r t ic u la r ly p le a s in g to m e ,
th e c o lla g e w a s ta k e n fr o m th e w a ll, c a r e f u lly g lu ed in th a t a r r a n g e m e n t
6
to a p e r m a n e n t m o u n tin g b o a r d and th e n o il- p a in t m ix e d w ith tu r p e n tin e
w a s u s e d to a m p lif y f o r m s .
S e e p a g e 18 fo r a n il lu s t r a t io n o f t h is
te c h n iq u e .
Of w h a t v a lu e a r e t h e s e p a r t ic u la r c o lla g e t e c h n iq u e s ?
T hey
o b v io u s ly a r e d e s t in e d to a v e r y s h o r t l i f e b e c a u s e o f th e p e r is h a b le
n a tu r e o f p a p e r .
B u t w h e n one s to p s t o c o n s id e r -h o w im p o r ta n t is
it to a p a in tin g th a t it sh o u ld s u r v iv e in to th e c e n t u r ie s ?
s y n o n y m o u s w ith q u a lit y ?
I th in k not.'
I s lo n g e v it y
L eo n a rd o c r e a te d m a s te r p ie c e s
in ic e fo r th e a m u s e m e n t of p a tr o n s an d t h e ir d in n er g u e s t s .
D id th e
f a c t th a t th e y w o u ld d is a p p e a r in a m a t t e r o f h o u r s m a k e th e m a n y l e s s
a s w o rk s of a r t?
N o 3 fo r th e y h ad s e r v e d t h e ir a p p o in te d fu n c tio n .
T h e a p p o in te d t im e fo r c o m m u n ic a tio n w ith th e s p e c t a t o r h a d b e e n f u l­
f il le d .
T h is th o u g h t i s n o t m e a n t to im p ly th a t p e r m a n e n c e in a
p a in tin g i s n o t d e s ir a b le , b u t r a t h e r , th a t, to m e , p e r m a n e n c e i s not
n e c e s s a r y to th e v a lid it y o f a w o r k o f a r t .
H e n c e , t h is w o r k in c o lla g e
h a s h ad it s m a in v a lu e in a s s u m in g th e a s p e c t s of a ty p e o f " in sta n t
p a in tin g " .
T h e p r o b le m of e n la r g e m e n t o f c o lo r c o n c e p ts w h ic h on th e
s u r f a c e p r e s e n t e d n o g r e a t d if f ic u lt y e v o lv e d in to a q u ite c o m p lic a t e d
stu d y of s u b t le t ie s ly in g w ith in th e c o l o r - w h e e l.
F o r e x a m p le , b e c a u s e
o f p r e v io u s t r a in in g , I w a s a c c u s t o m e d to u s in g the c o m p le m e n t in
a c h ie v in g a g r a y e d to n e o f a n y h u e b u t th r o u g h e x p e r im e n t in g T e v o lv e d
a m o s t s a t is f a c t o r y m e th o d o f g r a y in g b y u s in g an a n a lo g o u s of one or
th e o th e r c o m p le m e n t.
T o c ite a s p e c i f i c e x a m p le , in th e la n d s c a p e ,
7
Sun and th e M o r n in g , ( s e e p a g e 1 9 ) 1 h a d th e p r o b le m o f a p p r o a c h in g
r e a l i s m w ith a lim it e d p a le t t e .
T h e s u b je c t m a t t e r w o u ld b e b a s ic a ll y
h u e s of g r e e n , te n d in g to ra n g e fr o m w a r m to c o o l in f e e lin g .
K e ep in g
in m in d th e f a c t th a t th e e n t ir e c a n v a s sh o u ld b e in t e g r a t e d in c o lo r and
f o r m , I d e li b e r a t e ly a v o id e d th e u s e o f a l i z a r i n c r im s o n w h ic h i s th e
p e r f e c t c o m p le m e n t of th e p th a lo c y a n in e g r e e n w h ic h w a s c h o s e n fo r th e
d o m in a n t h u e and c h o s e in s t e a d a c a d m iu m o r a n g e to w h ic h w a s a d d ed
a m in u te a m o u n t of c a d m iu m r e d .
T h is r e s u lt e d in a m e d iu m v a lu e of
g r e e n w h ic h , b y th e a d d itio n of m o r e of th e r e d - o r a n g e or m o r e of th e
g r e e n c o u ld b e m a n ip u la te d in e it h e r d ir e c t io n , to w a r m o r c o o l, to
a c h ie v e th e d e s ir e d e f f e c t .
T h is p a r t ic u la r p r o b le m w a s d e lib e r a t e ly
k e p t in an e x t r e m e ly li m it e d r a n g e to a llo w fo r g r e a t e r c o n c e n tr a tio n on
th e c o lo r p r o b le m .
F u r t h e r e x p e r im e n t s in c o lo r w e r e c a r r ie d on d u r in g the e n tir e
y e a r and one w h ic h p r o v e d o f g r e a t v a lu e c a m e ab ou t d u r in g m y. w o r k
w ith the c o lo r e d t i s s u e - p a p e r .
T r y in g v a r io u s m e th o d s of a p p ly in g th e
t i s s u e b r o u g h t s u b tle v a r ia t io n s in th e q u a lity of th e c o lo r of th e t i s s u e .
I d is c o v e r e d th a t t h r e e m e th o d s of a d h e r in g th e t i s s u e t o th e ca n v a s p r o ­
d u c e d t h r e e d is t in c t t y p e s of c o lo r c h a r a c t e r .
In th e f i r s t , b o th th e
s u r f a c e o f th e c a n v a s an d th e t i s s u e w e r e p a in te d w ith la c q u e r , the
b o n d in g m e d iu m , p r o d u c in g a r ic h , t r a n s p a r e n t c o lo r w h ic h co u ld c o m b in e
to th e e y e w ith th e u n d e r ly in g c o l o r s .
W hen w h ite o r y e llo w p ig m e n ts
u n d e r la y th e t i s s u e a r ic h lu m in o s it y r e s u lt e d .
In th e s e c o n d , th e s u r ­
f a c e of th e c a n v a s a lo n e w a s p a in te d w ith la c q u e r an d d r y t i s s u e la id
8
in it, p r o d u c in g a t r a n s lu c e n t c o lo r q u a lity w h ic h co u ld b e e m p lo y e d in
m o d ify in g a r e a s o f u n d e r ly in g c o lo r , or in s tr e n g th e n in g s u g g e s t e d
fo r m .
T h e th ir d m e th o d o f a p p lic a tio n c o n s is t e d in la y in g d r y t i s s u e -
p a p e r on a d r y c a n v a s a r e a and p a in tin g th e la c q u e r on th e s u r f a c e of
th e a p p lie d s e c t io n of t i s s u e o n ly , p r o d u c in g a r ic h , o p a q u e , m o t t le d ,
e ffe c t.
T h is , w h en u s e d a s th e f in a l la y e r , s e r v e d to c o m p le t e th e
s u g g e s t e d fo r m .
In th e in t e g r a t io n o f fo r m w ith s u r r o u n d in g a r e a o f th e c a n v a s
I w a s f a c e d w ith a p r o b le m c o m p le t e ly d if f e r e n t in n a tu r e and y e t v e r y
c l o s e l y r e la t e d t o th e p r o b le m of c o lo r c o n c e p ts a s s t a t e d a b o v e .
In th e t r a d it io n a l r e n a i s s a n c e c o n c e p t o f th e p la n e s of th e
p ic t u r e th e c a n v a s i s v ie w e d w ith th e il lu s io n o f d ep th o r r e c e s s i o n
in m in d .
T h is w a s a c h ie v e d th r o u g h th e u s e o f a e r 'ia l-p e r s p e c t'iv e ,'
l i n e a r - p e r s p e c t i v e , an d t r i - d i v i s i o n o f th e c a n v a s in to fo r e g r o u n d ,
m id d le g r o u n d , and b a c k g r o u n d .
M y th o u g h t p r o c e s s e s or a ttitu d e s
to w a r d th e c a n v a s h a d to ch a n g e c o m p le t e ly in d ir e c t io n f r o m th e depth,
or r e c e d in g p la n e to th e p ic t u r e p la n e .
L in e a r p e r s p e c t iv e w a s e m ­
p lo y e d l i t t l e , if a t a ll , w h ile f o r m r e la t io n s h ip s w e r e u s e d to s u g g e s t
d ep th a s w e r e th e s u p e r - im p o s i t io n o f th e d a r k v a lu e s o v e r th e lig h t
v a lu e s , th e o v e r - la p p in g of c o lo r f o r m s , and th e u s e of f o r m and b r u s h ­
str o k e .
.(See il lu s t r a t io n s on p a g e 20 ).
B o th i l lu s t r a t io n s te n d to w a r d th e a b s t r a c t .
T h is a llo w e d
c o m p le t e f r e e d o m f r o m s u b j e c t m a t t e r o r c o n te n t w h ic h in tu r n b ro u g h t
a b o u t c o m p le t e f r e e d o m fo r c o n c e n tr a tio n on th e im m e d ia te p r o b le m o f
in te g r a tio n .
9
T h e s o lu tio n to p r o b le m fo u r , th e s ta b iliz in g - of v a r ie d t e c h ­
n iq u e s and t y p e s of e x p r e s s io n to th e p o in t w h e r e m y u s e o f th e m is
th e r e s u lt of d ir e c t e d f o c u s o f c h o ic e , h a s c o m e ab ou t q u ite n a t u r a lly
a s a r e s u lt of th e e x p e r i e n c e s in v o lv e d in th e s o lu t io n o f th e f i r s t th r e e
p r o b le m s .
E a c h of th e o th e r p r o b le m s w ith i t s a c c o m p a n y in g s o lu tio n
p r o v id e d a b a s e u p on w h ic h to p la c e th e s u c c e e d in g p r o b le m .
The
e n la r g e m e n t o f c o lo r c o n c e p t s b y e x p e r im e n t a t io n in th e m ix in g of
c o l o r , th e stu d y o f th e e f f e c t of c o l o r s p la c e d in c o n ju n c tio n w ith e a c h
o th e r and th e s u b tle c h a n g e s w r o u g h t in c o lo r b y v a r io u s p a in tin g
t e c h n iq u e s s u c h a s s c u m b lin g , u n d e r -p a in tin g , c o lla g e , e t c . , le d
d ir e c t ly in to th e p r o b le m of in t e g r a t io n o f f o r m w ith the s u r r o u n d in g
a r e a of th e c a n v a s .
T h e la t t e r in it s tu r n o p en ed th e w a y fo r th e m a in
p r o b le m , th e s u b o r d in a tio n o f th e p r e c o n c e iv e d id e a o f th e p a in tin g to
th e d e v e lo p m e n t on th e c a n v a s .
T h e s u b s e q u e n t s o lu tio n o f t h is p r o b le m
c r e a t e d fo r m e a n e w a w a r e n e s s o f th e " o n e n e ss " or t o t a lit y of th e
p a in tin g .
10
T i t l e s -----
F ig u r e s t u d ie s I and II
P a le t t e
A u to m o tiv e b la c k (F ig .
P r o b le m -
T h e s u b o r d in a tio n o f th e id e a to th e a c tio n o f th e
I), r a w u m b e r ( F ig . 2)
p a in tin g .
S o lu tio n -
T h e u s e of a s p lin t e r e d b a m b o o s tic k and th in p a in t
to a llo w fo r a m o r e r e la x e d fo r m in t e r p r e t a t io n , and
a llo w in g th e p a in tin g to s u g g e s t its own d ir e c t io n
to w a r d th e g o a l.
11
T it le s -----
F ig u r e S tu d ie s III and IV
P a le t t e
A u to m o tiv e b la c k , W hite ( F ig . I), a u to m o tiv e b la c k ,
w h it e , an d o c h r e , ( F ig . 2)
P r o b le m -
T h e s u b o r d in a tio n o f th e id e a to th e a c tio n o f th e
p a in tin g , and th e in tr o d u c tio n o f a d d itio n a l p ig m e n t.
S o lu tio n -
T h e u s e of s p lin t e r e d b a m b o o s t ic k fo r a p p lic a t io n
of th in p a in t to a llo w fo r a m o r e r e la x e d fo r m i n t e r ­
p r e t a t io n , and a llo w in g th e p a in tin g to s u g g e s t it s
ow n d ir e c t io n to w a r d th e g o a l.
12
T i t l e s -----
F e m a le T o r s o I, a n d A S tu d y of a Y oung Man
M ed iu m
O il
-
P a le t t e
C h r o m e g r e e n , c a d m iu m r e d , and w h ite ( F ig . I), w h ite ,
o c h r e , c a d m iu m o r a n g e and b la c k (F ig . 2)
P r o b le m -
T h e s u b o r d in a tio n o f th e id e a to th e a c tio n o f th e
p a in tin g , and the a d d itio n o f a w id e r ra n g e of h u e s .
S o lu tio n -
T h e u s e of a s p lit b a m b o o s t ic k fo r a p p lic a tio n of
m e d iu m to a llo w fo r a m o r e r e la x e d fo r m i n t e r p r e ­
ta tio n , and a llo w in g th e a c t io n o f th e p a in tin g to
s u g g e s t it s ow n d ir e c t io n to w a r d th e d e s ir e d g o a l.
13
T i t l e ----
A F a m i ly P o r t r a it I
M ed iu m -
O il- p a in t an d la c q u e r
P a le tte
R a w u m b e r and b u rn t s ie n n a
P r o b le m -
T h e s u b o r d in a tio n of th e p r e c o n c e iv e d id e a of th e p a in tin g
to th e a c t io n of th e p a in tin g .
S o lu tio n -
T h e u s e of c o lla g e c o n s is t in g of p e e lin g s t r ip s of gro u n d
fr o m th e c a n v a s and a ffix in g th e m to th e r e m a in in g
s ta b le s u r f a c e of th e c a n v a s , t h e r e b y , a llo w in g th e m to
s u g g e s t a c r u m b lin g or d e f a c e d w a ll.
14
5
T i t l e ----
T he D w arf
M e d iu m -
C o lla g e , o il- p a in t , and la c q u e r
P a le t t e and m a t e r i a l s - M u lt i- c o lo r e d t i s s u e p a p e r , c o lo r e d and
w h ite o il- p a in t fo r u n d e r p a in tin g .
P r o b le m -
T h e s u b o r d in a tio n of th e p r e c o n c e iv e d id e a to th e a c tio n
of th e p a in tin g .
S o lu tio n -
T h e a p p lic a tio n o f la r g e a r e a s o f c o lo r e d t i s s u e u n til
th e fo r m w a s s u g g e s t e d b y th e g r o w th of th e p a in tin g .
T h e o il- p a in t w a s u s e d in u n d e r -p a in tin g to s t r e n g th e n
th e s u g g e s t e d fo r m .
T is s u e w a s u s e d p r e d o m in a n tly .
15
T i t l e ----
A G a m e o f P a t ie n c e
M ed iu m -
C o lla g e , o il- p a in t , and la c q u e r
P a l e t t e and m a t e r i a l s - M u lt i- c o lo r e d t i s s u e p a p e r , m u lt i- c o l o r e d
o il- p a in t s , and la c q u e r .
P r o b le m -
E m p lo y m e n t o f c o lo r c o n c e p t s , in te g r a tio n of s u b je c t
m a t t e r w ith s u r r o u n d in g a r e a s , and su b o r d in a tio n of a
p r e c o n c e iv e d id e a t o th e a c t io n o f the p a in tin g .
S o lu tio n -
A llo w in g th e a c t io n to s u g g e s t th e f o r m s and th e n
s tr e n g th e n in g th e s u g g e s t e d f o r m s w ith u n d e r -p a in tin g
and o v e r - p a in t in g w ith o il s .
16
T it l e - - -
P o r t r a it of a Lady-
M e d iu m -
C o lla g e , o il- p a in t , and la c q u e r
P a le t t e and m a t e r i a l s - M u lt i- c o lo r e d t is s u e p a p e r , p th a lo c y a n in e
g r e e n , and w h ite o il- p a in t .
P r o b le m -
E m p lo y m e n t o f th e a c c u m u la te d e x p e r i e n c e s in th e p r e ­
c e d in g p a in tin g s .
S o lu t io n -
T h e p r o c e d u r e u s e d in t h is p a in tin g w a s b a s ic a ll y th e sa m e
a s th a t u s e d in o t h e r s of t h is ty p e w ith th e e x c e p t io n th a t
I p la c e d th e c o lla g e in a su b o r d in a te p o s it io n , and a llo w e d
th e la y e r o f o il- p a in t t o a s s u m e th e d o m in a n t p o s it io n of
m a k in g th e s t a t e m e n t .
17
T i t l e ----
T h e C lo w n s
M e d iu m -
O il
P a le tte
P th a lo c y a n in e b lu e and g r e e n , a li z a r in c r im s o n , b u rn t
s ie n n a , and w h ite
P r o b le m -
E m p lo y m e n t o f th e a c c u m u la te d e x p e r ie n c e in a ll of the
p r e c e d in g w o rk .
S o lu t io n -
T h e a p p lic a tio n o f b r o a d a r e a s of c o lo r , u n d e r -p a in tin g ,
g la z in g , s ta in in g , s c r a f f it o , and s c u m b lin g to il lu s t r a t e
d ir e c t e d f o c u s of c h o ic e o f te c h n iq u e .
18
T it l e - - -
C o n fig u r a tio n w ith B r o w n A c c e n t s ( F ig . I), E le m e n ta l
( F ig . 2)
M ed iu m -
C o lla g e
P a le t t e
R a w u m b e r p a in t and u s e d e tc h in g b lo t t e r s
P r o b le m -
T o a r r a n g e a n u m b e r o f "found" s h a p e s in to a s tr o n g
c o m p o s it io n .
S o lu t io n -
P in n in g th e b lo t t e r s in to v a r i o u s , t e m p o r a r y a r r a n g e ­
m e n t s u n til a s tr o n g c o m p o s it io n i s a c h ie v e d and th en
a ffix in g th e a r r a n g e m e n t to a p e r m a n e n t m o u n tin g .
19
T it le — -
Sun and M o rn in g
M e d iu m -
O il
P a le t t e
P th a lo c y a n in e g r e e n , c a d m iu m o r a n g e , c a d m iu m r e d
P r o b le m -
T o m a in ta in a d o m in a n t h u e w h ic h r a n g e s fr o m th e c o o le s t
to th e w a r m e s t v e r s io n of th e c o m b in a tio n o f p ig m e n ts .
S o lu tio n -
T h e u s e of a d o m in a n t hue and th e a n a lo g o u s o f it s
c o m p le m e n t a s a m e a n s of a c h ie v in g a s w id e a ra n g e
of th e d o m in a n t a s p o s s i b l e fr o m c o o l to w a r m .
20
T i t l e s -----
I n te r io r I ( F ig .
I), and I n te r io r II ( F ig . 2)
M e d i a -----
O il ( F ig .
P a le t t e
A u to m o tiv e b la c k and c o b a lt b lu e ( F ig .
I), a c r y l i c ( F ig . 2)
I), b la c k , ca d m iu m
y e llo w , c a d m iu m r e d , and c o b a lt b lu e .
P r o b le m -
T h e in t e g r a t io n o f th e o b je c t w ith th e su r r o u n d in g a r e a of
th e c a n v a s w ith o u t r e s o r t in g to lin e a r or a e r i a l p e r ­
s p e c t iv e fo r d ep th .
S o lu t io n -
S u p e r - im p o s it io n of th e d a r k v a lu e s o v e r th e lig h t v a lu e s ,
th e o v e r - la p p in g of f o r m s , and a llo w in g th e b r u s h s tr o k e s
to in d ic a te d ep th .
21
L IT E R A T U R E C O N SU L T E D
22
L IT E R A T U R E C O N SU L T E D
1.
A r n h e im , R u d o lp h , " A rt an d V is u a l P e r c e p t io n " , U n iv e r s it y
o f C a lif o r n ia P r e s s , B e r k e l e y , 1 9 5 7 , 393 pp.
2.
B i d d l e , . G e o r g e , " T he Y e s and N o of. C o n te m p o r a r y A r t" ,
. H a r v a r d U n i v e r s it y P r e s s , C a m b r id g e , 1957, 183 pp.
3.
B ir r e n ., F a b e r , " T h e S to r y of C o lo r " , T h e C r im s o n P r e s s ,
W e s tp o r t, C onn. , 1941, 320 pp.
4.
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23
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MONTANA STATE U N TV rB trrv
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