SDSU The Clarity of Painting Discussion

1. How can paintings help awaken our visual senses and awareness? Choose any image you want from any of our readings so far to illustrate your point.
2. From the section of this week’s reading called “PERCEPTION KEY: Our Visual Powers”, answer ONE of those four questions in at least 100 words . The images referenced in those questions come from past chapters, so I’ve linked you to those chapters here:

PERCEPTION KEY Our Visual Powers

* Jackson Pollock, Autumn Rhythm (Figure 3-3). Identify the three major colors Pollock uses in addition to the background. How do these colors establish a sense of visual rhythm? Which of the three colors is most intense? Which most surprising?

* Suzanne Valadon, Reclining Nude (Figure 2-23). Examine the piece of furniture, the sofa, on which Valadon’s nude reclines. What color is it? Why is it an effective con- trast to the nude? What are the designs on the sofa? What color are the lines of the designs? How do they relate to the subject matter of the painting?

* Edward Hopper, Early Sunday Morning (Figure 1-8). What are the most important colors in the painting? How do they balance and complement each other? Why does Hopper limit the intensity of the colors as he does? What is the visual rhythmic effect of the patterns formed in the windows of the second floor? Are any two windows the same? How does Hopper use unexpected forms to break the rhythm of the first level of shops? What emotional qualities are excited by Hopper’s control of the visual elements in the painting?

* Paul Cézanne, Mont Sainte-Victoire (Figure 2-4). How many colors does Cézanne use in this painting? Which color is dominant? Which figure in the painting is most dominant? How do the most important lines in the painting direct Describe the way your eye moves through the painting. How does Cézanne use line and color to direct your attention?

3. Describe the six basic principles of traditional painting in your own words. Be sure to look at the paintings referenced under each principle because they will help with your understanding and descriptions!

(Balance, Gradation, Movement and Rhythm, Proportion, Unity, variety)

4. Now, using the photographs of paintings in the readings we’ve done so far (from the Weeks 2, 3, 4, and/or 5 modules), select an example that illustrates each of the principles, providing a brief description of how. But do not use the examples that the text gives of each principle…you must find your own! So in the end you should have six different examples with brief descriptions. Please use this template for your answer.

a) Balance

• Figure ____
• Artist and Title of Painting
• Brief description of how this painting illustrates balance

b) Gradation

• Figure ____
• Artist and Title of Painting
• Brief description of how this painting illustrates gradation

c) Movement and Rhythm

• Figure ____
• Artist and Title of Painting
• Brief description of how this painting illustrates movement and rhythm

d) Proportion

• Figure ____
• Artist and Title of Painting
• Brief description of how this painting illustrates proportion

e) Unity

• Figure ____
• Artist and Title of Painting
• Brief description of how this painting illustrates unity

f) Variety

• Figure ____
• Artist and Title of Painting
• Brief description of how this painting illustrates variety