1. DP 2 – Unti 4, Abstraction
Abstract Still Life
Objective: Create an abstract composition from a still life drawing. Use two tertiary intensity scales to
create a composition that has color balance and a controlled use of color mixing.
Project Directions:
1. Choose your best still life from your homework assignments. Use newsprint to abstract your
drawing until you have it broken down into shapes with visual movement.
2. Paint two INTENSITY scales in your journal. They
must be tertiary colors. For each square, add white
to one side. You must work one square at time,
color mixing on your palette. CONTROL YOUR
COLOR, DON’T LET YOUR COLOR CONTROL
YOU!
3. Choose the brightest color from one of the scales
and add white your color. Paint a gessoed matboard
with the color. Paint the board as flatly as possible.
4. Transfer your abstract drawing to Freezer paper.
Draw on the paper side.
5. Go back to your intensity scales and choose five
colors:
a. Very bright with white added is the first
color
b. No color (last square) is the fifth color
c. You can choose the other three colors from
your scales – remember you color will get
dark quickly, so add white to some of the colors.
6. Use color pencil to color code your abstract drawing. Lightly color your drawing. Remember to
BALANCE out your colors. Don’t isolate a color.
7. Cut out the portions of your abstract drawing that are color-coded for the 1st color.
8. LIGHTLY glue them in their correct place on top of the first
layer.
9. Mix and paint a second layer of paint on top of the paper
pieces and the first layer of paint. Use the #2 color you have
chosen.
10. Cut out the 2nd color abstraction portions of your drawing
and then LIGHTLY glue them in their correct places on
your matboard. There will be some shifting.
11. Paint the #3 color.
12. Cut out the #3 color portions of the freezer paper and lightly
glue in place.
13. Paint #4.
14. Cut out #4 color portions and lightly glue them in place.
15. Finish with the 5th color.
16. Carefully remove the layers of freezer paper to reveal your
composition.
DO NOT GLUE YOUR FREEZER PAPER TO WET PAINT!!!!!