STUDIO EXPERIENCES PAINTING ESSAY ASSIGNMENT

STUDIO EXPERIENCES PAINTING ESSAY ASSIGNMENT
Visit the Chicago Art Institute located at 111 S. Michigan Avenue. Within
the museum, you will focus on two paintings, one primarily abstract, the
other more representational. The essay is to be 3-5 pages in length,
typed, double spaced, stapled, with the ticket stub stapled to the essay.
Please supply a photograph of each painting. You may use a camera at
the museum as long as it is without a flash. Museum hours are 10:30-
5pm daily ($14 for Chicago students) with free hours between 5-8pm
Thursday.
With regard to the abstract painting, identify the artist, title of the piece,
approximate dimensions, and date. Begin by discussing how the painting
affects you. What thoughts or emotions do you notice within yourself as
you observe the work? Spend some time absorbing the image, and note
any changes in your response over time. Observe how your eye travels
through the composition. What associations does the piece conjure?
Next, analyze why the painting has its various effects. Consider formal
aspects including color, shape, space, composition, texture, scale, and
any other aspects that seem relevant to your experience.
Now discuss the representational painting. Include artist’s name, title,
dimensions, date. Perform the same type of analysis as with the first
piece, describing your response and then analyzing why the painting has
its particular effects. Discuss formal qualities here, as well as subject
matter (what is being depicted).
Finally, compare and contrast the two experiences. What do the
paintings share? How do they differ in terms of how information is
absorbed by you the viewer? Do differences in the two paintings in any
way reflect differences in the artists’ origins, concerns or attitudes? Feel
free to do some research, but bear in mind that I am mostly interested in
your own thoughts regarding this essay.
The essay is due Thursday, April 20th, at the beginning of class.