“Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.” -Salvador Dali Lesson: Coal Painting Nature Study Painting/Adv. Painting '21
Essential Questions: 1. How do we depict the irony/juxtaposition as well as important history? 2. Why is perspective so important? 3. How can the artist set a mood in a drawing? 4. Why do artist's use the term "study" so often?
Learning Objectives: Students will- 1. Use close observation to understand objective reality. 2. Practice working with a new medium 3. Practice varied brushstrokes and glazing 4. Comprehend vantage points and landscape art 5. Understand perspective -Foreground + background -Horizon line 6. Play with realism (accurate drawings) 7. Strengthen drawing skills 8. Apply new vocabulary to their art 9. Learn a bit about our local tourist attraction --> exhibition at Train Station
Terms: * Observational Drawing: develops parts of the brain that helps us see better *builds confidence *requires intense concentration ⦁Perspective: the art of drawing objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth and position in relation to each other when viewed from a particular point. ⦁Foreground + background ⦁Horizon Line: refers to a physical/visual boundary where sky separates from land or water. It is the actual height of the viewer's eyes when looking at an object (interior or exterior) ⦁Value: the degree of lightness or darkness in a color ⦁Realism: accurate drawings in terms of form ⦁Juxtaposition: the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect. ⦁Study (in relation to art): In art, a study is a drawing, sketch or painting done in preparation for a finished piece, or as visual notes. Studies are often used to understand the problems involved in rendering subjects and to plan the elements to be used in finished works, such as light, color, form, perspective and composition.
Student practices: 1. find reference photo of wildlife/landscape native to Durango region 2. practice rendering your image in 4 different compositions 3. apply final/favorite composition to canvas 4. work with alternating mediums (coal + glue, water, paint thinner, baby oil) and depict your photo realistically 5. exhibit work at Durango-Silverton Train Station! * artist statement + selfie
Constraints: - canvas - reference photo of Durango wildlife/landscape specifically - Coal from Narrow Gauge Train Station - glue - paint thinner/turpentine - baby oil - paintbrushes
Tips from the teacher: ⦁ Practice SLOW, FOCUSED, CAREFUL observations ⦁Draw what you see, not what you ‘think’ you see ⦁Practice good line quality ⦁PLAY with different approaches until you find the medium/style that makes you feel best * layer, layer, layer! * baby oil = white *
A little bit of history....
Durango, Colorado was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1880. The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. By July of 1882, the tracks to Silverton were completed, and the train began hauling both freight and passengers. The line was constructed to haul silver & gold ore from Southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, but passengers soon realized it was the view that was truly precious. This historic train has been in continuous operation between Durango and Silverton since 1882, carrying passengers behind historic steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock indigenous to the line. It is a family-friendly ride sure to create memories that will last a lifetime while offering a view of Colorado’s mountain splendor inaccessible by highway. Relive the sights and sounds of yesteryear for a spectacular journey on board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
How does Coal propel a train? When heated, water turns to an invisible vapor known as steam. The volume of water expands as it turns to steam inside the boiler, creating a high pressure. The expansion of steam pushes the pistons that connect to the driving wheels that operate the locomotive.
Coal or oil are the fuels used for heating the water (coal is shown in the diagram above). Coal is carried in the tender of the locomotive and is hand-shoveled by the fireman into the firebox. Water is carried in the tender in a tank surrounding the coal. The water passes to the locomotive through a device called an injector.
By spreading the coal evenly throughout the firebox, the fireman creates a level fire above the grates. Air flows up through the grates allowing the coal to burn hotter. The hot gases released from the coal flow forward through a series of flues or tubes to the front of the locomotive.
Water surrounds the outside of the firebox. Heat from the burning coal turns water to steam, which rises to the top of the boiler. The area surrounding the firebox and tubes is the “steam generator” of the locomotive.
Steam gathers at the steam dome, the highest point in the boiler. The engineer uses the throttle to regulate the amount of steam being sent to the pistons. A throttle lever in the cab opens and closes the throttle valve in the steam dome.
Steam passes to the piston valves which control admission of steam to the cylinders. Once in the piston, the steam expands, pushing it in the opposite direction. At the end of the piston stroke, an exhaust port opens, allowing the steam to escape. Then the process is reversed and repeated in the opposite direction. Steam is admitted to either side of the piston so that it is always under power. A lever in the cab allows the engineer to control the action of the piston valves (direction of locomotive movement, and timing).
The pistons push or pull the rods connected to the drive wheels, providing the force needed to move the locomotive.
The steam is exhausted through a nozzle and up through the smokebox into the stack. This action produces the “chuff chuff” sound heard when the locomotive is moving. A draft or vacuum results, pulling air through the firebox grates to induce combustion of the coal. Both exhausted steam and coal smoke travel up through the stack.
Let's make some art with it, eh?
critique: chiaroscuro + value + composition + contrast