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Painting III:
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Juxtaposition
Assignment Parameters
Student Work
Assessment
As stated in the syllabus for this course, students are expected to experiment and cultivate a creative voice that is distinctive to them. With this assignment, students are required to fuse contrasting styles or types of imagery into a single composition. However instead of just combining contrasting imagery together, they must devise a conceptual reason for doing so.
The selected examples are all painted with a technical sophistication, demonstrate a thoughtful concept, and are well considered compositionally.
For example, the painting by Zavier Doll is a reinterpretation of intentionally unfinished painting by Keith Haring. Specifically, Zavier used Artificial Intelligence within Adobe Photoshop to "finish" the remaining negative space within the composition with a patterning motif that emulates the original design. However, Zavier decided to overlay an A.I. version of the black lines, and a different version of the white lines so that it would subtly indicate an intentional deviation from Keith Haring's original piece. Even though Zavier didn't fully complete the painting by the deadline, it is a great example of a student making thoughtful work, using both tradition and digital skillsets and ingenuity at their disposal.
Vanitas
Assignment Parameters
Student Work
Assessment
Both "Memento Mori" and "Vanitas" are recurring themes within the history of painting and the visual arts. For this assignment, I ask students to create a contemporary version of this topic, while avoiding overt and cliche imagery.
This assignment inherently deals with conceptual topics that are often difficult to confront. Despite the difficulty in exploring macabre content, students are quite successful at creating a work that is complex, nuanced, and distinctly human. This assignment requires critical thinking from the students and to think more profoundly about the meaning behind their creative practice.
The selected examples all demonstrate a creative solution to a difficult conceptual challenge, while also making a work that is resolved on a technical and formal level.
Moving Forward
Assignment Parameters
Student Work
Assessment
The final assignment for this course is once again open-ended. However, the work should be an indication of a clear direction within their creative practice as a painter.
The examples included above each demonstrate a strong balance between technique, content, and composition. Furthermore, these paintings exemplify the creative voice and identity of the individual who created the work.
At this point in their education, they should be making working that looks like their own, and not a byproduct of my instruction or stylistic influence.