Painting II: 20th Century Styles and Masters

Instructor: Robin Adair
Wednesdays 9am-12pm
10 weeks: October 1 to December 3
Location: In-person Williams Building room 306
$387.50 (supplies not included)
Prerequisite: Any Painting level I course 

The 20th century is noted for its sudden burgeoning of stylistic approaches and conceptual innovations in the art world. This course will guide students through a sampling of some of the most celebrated and innovative artists of the first half of the 20th century and from around the world, including Emily Carr, Piet Mondrian, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keeffe, Wassily Kandinsky, and Tom Thomson. Students will be led in exercises that explore the colour palettes, brush handling techniques, compositional strategies of these celebrated artists. This course is for those who would like some familiarity with art history while practicing techniques that will enhance and expand upon their own personal style. It is also for artists who have some familiarity with the acrylic medium but need more inspiration techniques and process.

Syllabus

  • Brief overview of Twentieth Century painting

  • Mary Cassatt: Impressionism in the everyday

  • Tom Thomson: Canada’s Consummate Colourist

  • Emily Carr: Visionary of the West Coast

  • Piet Mondrian’s Trees

  • Georgia O’keeffe: “Mother of American Modernism”

  • Wassily Kandinsky: hearing colour and seeing sound

  • Salvador Dalí: painting in the realm between dream and reality

  • Frida Kahlo: painting as biographical expression

  • Jackson Pollock and the “Action Painters”

Supplies

  • Brushes: a variety of acrylic brushes, either synthetic or hog hair bristles ranging in size from #6-#16, I recommend squares, rounds, filberts, fan brushes, and at least one large 1.5” square brush

  • Palette knives: at least 3 palette knives, either plastic or metal (various styles and sizes)

  • Acrylic heavy body Paint: Recommended brands: Golden; Holbein; Tri-Art. I recommend the following pigments:

    • Titanium White

    • Cadmium Yellow Medium

    • Cadmium Yellow Light

    • Cadmium Red light

    • Cadmium Red Medium

    • Alizarin Crimson

    • Quinacridone Magenta

    • Ultramarine Blue

    • Cobalt Blue

    • Primary Cyan

  • Acrylic gel medium: There is a wide range of gel mediums on the art store shelves. Most of the brands and types are suitable for this course. I recommend a regular soft gel, either matte or gloss, or the Golden GAC (100 series). Either of these are versatile acrylic gel products and are suitable for the projects we will be doing in this course

  • Wet palette (12" x 16") You may buy one from a store or I will also teach you how to make your own wet palette. For this you will need a regular tray palette, paper towel, parchment paper, and bulldog clips

  • Cotton rags

  • Painter’s masking tape

  • Supports: for this course, we will be using paper supports. You may choose any of the cotton rag or cover stock brands of paper. I recommend white Stonehenge because it is a good quality paper that will serve as a sturdy support. Four full sheets of Stonehenge (22” x 30”) should be sufficient for our projects in this course. We will be dividing the full sheets into halves and quarters as we progress through the class. Note: If you already have experience with other kinds of supports (canvas, board, etc.) please feel free to use them in this course

For a brief list of frequently used suppliers, please see Where can I purchase supplies? on our FAQ page.