phthalogreen ([info]phthalogreen) wrote in [info]uw,
2008-09-14 08:26:00

Campus Paintings

I am an amateur painter attempting to paint a painting a day for a year. I wanted to figure out a way that people could submit ideas for paintings, so I have dedicated the next week to UW campus paintings. So: what scenes, items, or spots on campus would you all like me to paint? All completed paintings will be posted to my blog, and/or to LJ if you want.

*edit* I tried to add a poll, but it did not work. My apologies.

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  • 16 comments

[info]diabolusmetztli

September 14 2008, 16:59:14 UTC 3 years ago

You should probably focus on an idea about painting rather than subject. Sticking with the same subject and exploring that each day will be more fruitful if you are trying to improve. Looking specifically at how to capture light or color, etc. If you aren't interested in an idea like that then you are going to be wasting a lot of time illustrating instead of painting, unfocused, with little improvement.

Don't sacrifice a painting just to make it look complete. Experiment with how you mix colors! Use less white and black!

[info]dothefrug

September 15 2008, 00:28:57 UTC 3 years ago

ugh, that's what i really hate about the painting program. illustration is not always a dirty word.

[info]diabolusmetztli

September 15 2008, 01:35:58 UTC 3 years ago

Yeah, but it's different.
It just depends on what you're going for.

[info]dothefrug

September 15 2008, 04:04:44 UTC 3 years ago

yeah, exactly. it's just different, and it doesn't make you a bad painter. it frustrates me that just because i am a painting major i can't make illustrative paintings that are as valuable as anything else. at least that's been my experience with 99% of this department's faculty.

[info]diabolusmetztli

September 15 2008, 04:24:33 UTC 3 years ago

I take it as that is their way of teaching students how to improve--not how to paint forever, but how to practice and learn if that makes sense.
From my experience, they treat graduate students a lot different in that way; give them a lot more freedom and support for whatever they want to do.

I was just trying to give tips from things that have helped me improve to whatever ends.

[info]dothefrug

September 15 2008, 16:56:31 UTC 3 years ago

that's what i thought, until i ran into the same problem in seminar. honestly, i think only zhi seemed interested in encouraging the students' interests rather than their own. he was the only person who said "do what you want, it's all great as long as you do it well", and he was the only one who i didn't feel the need to BS around.

anyway, that's enough of my personal gripes against the painting program. i didn't know this post would open such a big can of worms in my head :)

[info]diabolusmetztli

September 15 2008, 04:26:38 UTC 3 years ago

ps

Illustrating was the wrong word.

[info]phthalogreen

September 15 2008, 00:44:30 UTC 3 years ago

Although I appreciate the feedback from other LJ users, I have to ask: why are you so negative? With my painting venture, I am attempting to show the progress of a completely average person picking up some paintbrushes. It is my attempt to show that everyone has their own creative "muscle" and you don't have to be an angst-ridden or pretentious artist to paint. Likewise, introductory painting does not have to be a chore or an exercise in repetitive frustration.

[info]diabolusmetztli

September 15 2008, 01:40:09 UTC 3 years ago

I didn't see my comment as negative.

I'm sorry you did not appreciate my input, I apologize.

[info]ohmiee

September 14 2008, 17:20:59 UTC 3 years ago

I'd like to see you sneak into the health sciences building and capture one of the students hard at work in the research lab with centrifuges, microarrays, and all that jazz.

[info]corpus_juris

September 14 2008, 23:45:29 UTC 3 years ago

This would all be far more interesting when school is actually in session, but some of my favorite places when I was a student, and classic locations:

The graduate reading room in Suzzalo. The lighting on a bright day is fantastic.

The bustle of the HUB atrium in the mornings. Again, lots of light, and always full of interesting characters.

The wasteland, busted-up former nuclear reactor building. I believe on maps it's called the "Guthrie Annex". Check it out, look in the windows, etc.

Students trudging up the hill off of 15th and 43rd towards classes in the early morning when there's still dew on the ground and all is quiet.

The quad from the top of the steps between the Art and Music buildings.

If you do it during classes, try watching Student Senate on Tuesday nights on the HUB 3rd floor. Early in the year a ton of kids show up, and they pretend to politic. I'm sure if you watch carefully you could find some interesting interactions to capture.

I can think of a bunch more, but that's a good start of inspiration I hope.

[info]phthalogreen

September 16 2008, 07:10:56 UTC 3 years ago

I painted a portrait of the reactor building, complete with phosphorescent glow, at your request.

http://yearofpaint.blogspot.com/2008/09/nuclear-reactor-building.html

[info]corpus_juris

September 16 2008, 16:38:03 UTC 3 years ago

Hahaha, that's sweet! Thanks! I love the architecture of that building; it's one of the few on campus with interesting design. It's a shame it'll likely be demolished due to its past rather than retrofitted. I just picture it making a perfect dance studio with those giant glass windows and open floor plan.

Sigh.

[info]dothefrug

September 15 2008, 00:39:38 UTC 3 years ago

i swear, your cute little paintings are better than some of the stuff i saw at the BFA show last spring. if you're interested in more quirky random things instead of boring landscapes, look around the buildings. there are weird hallways (like the basement of the art building) or people sitting around doing random things. i'd find that more interesting than another painting of the quad.

[info]dothefrug

September 15 2008, 00:40:20 UTC 3 years ago

also, the law school is a pretty cool building for interesting angles and architecture.

[info]phthalogreen

September 15 2008, 06:37:31 UTC 3 years ago

Hey thanks! I should check out the art building basement - I've always been a fan of odd spaces like that.
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