BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Expected to continue studies at home, advanced students wishing to expand into painting areas not included in class would often work in acrylics or oils, two media we could not afford to supply. The oils displayed here were initiated and completed on one's own personal time.

Wishing to effect a change from transparency to opacity, a black background was first applied and left to dry. Overpainting with paint applications thinned with turpentine created the flame differences from base to tip.

The intent here was to allow a very heavy application of gesso (½" thick)to provide a rough surface where color, shadows and form would be modified by uneven texture. Palette knife scrapes and builds added to a variety of form definitions.

Going one step further, oil painting and collage made a fine combination. Yellow burlap is combined in clothing and foreground adding dimension to figures and side where both sky and ground merge by painted images of cloud patches and plant growth. Separated strips of burlap weave made the painted balloon strings very noticeable.

Texture painting was achieved with smooth application in the background, and layered brush effect for everything else.