Art Terms

The Language of Art – II

Being a creative person today is almost like thinking and speaking in a foreign language, since much of the terminology used is unique to the art world.  Following is a discussion of several terms relating to materials, tools, techniques, etc.

Foreshortening is a method of creating a flat image that appears to have depth, distance or perspective.  In drawing, it is often exaggerated to create super illusions of closeness with other very distant items.  Emphasis on the part of a subject that is closest to the viewer’s eye is important.  For instance, if you wanted to create foreshortening of your left hand, the method by which you would accomplish this is much like putting your fingers very close to your eyes.  As you examine the tips of your fingers, the remainder of the hand seems to shrink and get smaller in the distance.  What you see, and would draw, is a foreshortened view of the hand.  No realistic hand looks like that, but it does make the viewer acutely aware of the fact that the tips of the fingers are coming right at his/her eyes.  To shorten the part of the item that is closest, the frontal portion, is to foreshorten.

Marble dust is an important component in acrylic gesso.  Being opaque, very finely ground and easily combined with acrylic polymer, it is a perfect material to use to coat artists’ canvas for painting preparation.  This dust is created when tremendous pressure and heat is applied to a mass of marble rock.  It does have industrial uses as well, but as an art material it is plentiful, works perfectly and is considered to be the perfect ground upon which to paint (when combined in correct proportions with liquid acrylic).

A roulette is a tool used in creating a metal plate for printmaking.  The tool has a barrel onto which a pattern has been created.  When rolled across an area on the plate, the roller leaves a pattern that will be picked up with ink and printed on the finished print.  Several sizes, shapes and methods of application are available and each is often used in combination with scribes, which scratch lines into the plate.  Roulette patterns are used to create dark areas of dots or lines by multiple passes of the tool.  Patterned areas can be created in any area on the plate. 

Objet Trouvé [awb-zhe troo-vey] is French for “found object,” meaning art that is created using raw materials not intended to be used as art items.  Artists for decades have been creating with found items – usually creating a visual juxtaposition of materials that cause the viewer to become involved in deciding what the item is and to realize the unique qualities of such an item in an art presentation.

Marquetry [mahr-ki-tree] is the term used for the intricate inlay work done in wood.  Many of the designs use a variety of colors and/or textures of wood to add interest and realism to the work.  Wood veneer is the prevalent material used and often the shapes are created in multiples by stacking a number of veneer pieces together.  These thin shapes are then glued to a rigid backing.

Inpainting pretty much says what it is.  When an artist inpaints, he/she reworks an area within what was a completed section of the artwork.  In watercolor, for instance, inpainting is very difficult to blend in and is not an acceptable practice among many artists.  The visible change created is often detrimental to the look of the art and usually shows dramatically.

An atomizer is a small metal tool used to create small areas that mimic airbrush work.  The tool is composed of two tubes; one is extended into the liquefied paint and the other into the artist’s mouth.  When the artist blows through the tube, the power of his breath draws up the paint and sprays it onto the surface.  An atomizer is simple and inexpensive if a relatively small area of spray painting is desired and very effective, also.

Brush washers can be used to clean paint brushes in all media.  Some include a spring-type handle into which the handle can be pressed and held while suspending the bristles into a cleaning solution.  Others have clips to hold the brush off the bottom of the container of cleaner.  Brush cleaning solvents can be reused by first allowing the pigments and debris to settle to the bottom of the washer.  Pour off the clearest of the solvents and it is reusable. 

Kids’ Korner

Please confirm event schedules in advance.

Best Illustrated Books

The New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2010 have been announced.  This year’s winners include:

—Here Comes the Garbage Barge! ill. by Red Nose Studio
—Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
—Seasons by Blexbolex
—Shadow by Suzy Lee
—Busing Brewster ill. by R. G. Roth
—Big Red Lollipop ill. by Sophie Blackall
—Henry in Love by Peter McCarty
—A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Erin E. Stead
—Subway by Christoph Niemann
—Bink & Gollie ill. by Tony Fucile

Holiday by Design—Milwaukee, WI

The Milwaukee Art Museum presents Kohl’s Art Generation Family Sundays:  Holiday by Design on Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  The Museum’s special exhibition European Design Since 1985:  Shaping the New Century inspired this event—with a holiday twist.  Hands-on art projects will be usable objects, perfect to keep or to give as holiday gifts.  Free with Museum admission.

Winter Break—Denver, CO

The Denver Art Museum presents Winter Break:  Adventures in Egypt from Dec. 18 – Jan.  2, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (noon – 4 p.m. on Sundays).  Spend your holidays with Tutankhamun, the Boy King!  Make fingerprint crocodiles, help prepare the mummy model for the afterlife, design flower collars, make “gold” jewelry and much more.  Included in general admission, which is free for kids 17 and under during Winter Break.  (Separate exhibition ticket required for King Tut.)  No reservations needed.  720-865-5000 or email info@denverartmuseum.org.

Family Fun Art Workshop – New York, NY

The Whitey Museum presents Thinking About Transformation for families with kids ages 6-10 on December 4 and 11.  Taking cues from the artist, kids and parents will consider how Charles LeDray has transformed familiar objects like hats, shirts and suits into sculpture.  Families will then experiment with transforming everyday objects into works of art!  $10 per family (free for member families).  Museum admission includes admission to family programs.  Registration required:  https://whitneyedu.wufoo.com/forms/family-fun-art-workshops/

Highlight the Holidays – Baltimore, MD

The Baltimore Museum of Art presents Highlight the Holidays on Family Sundays during December.  Dec. 5—Design a Luminary; Dec. 12—Celebrate Kwanzaa Family Day; Dec. 19—Create Holiday Crafts; Dec. 26—Family Tour—Highlight the Holidays.  Admission/activities are free.  www.artbma.org/families.

Book Signing – Atlanta, GA

For pure Christmas fun and a joyful celebration of state pride, there’s nothing like The Twelve Days of Christmas in Georgia to celebrate the holiday season.  Featured are a host of entertaining and kid-friendly facts about the Peach State, so purchase this perfect holiday gift and have it signed as well.  High Museum of Art, Dec. 12, 1-4 p.m. 

Artist Profile

Giuseppe Arcimboldo (Arcimboldi) 1527-1593

Giuseppe Arcimboldo was born in Milan in 1527, the son of an artist, who learned painting along side his father.  His career began as a portrait painter, but artists of the time were not limited to one medium, should they be offered other opportunities.  Early in his career, Arcimboldo was a painter and a designer of stained glass windows.  Much of this early work was done for Milan Cathedral and the Cathedral of Monza.  In 1562 Giuseppe moved to Prague and became court painter to the emperors Ferdinand I and Rudolf II.

During his Prague experience, Arcimboldo also painted for the court theater.  This work helped him use his talents to become skillful at creating illusionary scenes with animals, landscapes and people that were strange and unnatural.  He was responsible for designing and supervising the construction of gilded fountains, flocks of specially colored birds, ornate paintings and sculptures and special effects including machinery.  Some speculate this contact with the unusual and bizarre had a great influence on his later work.

Arcimboldo’s skills in design and graphics eventually aided him with what was to become known as the Mannerist style.  This style uses realistically painted common objects such as fruit, vegetables, containers, animals, fish, books, roots and the like to create exotic and strange collections that yield grotesque images.  These images are quite entertaining to us today and can require quite some time to identify all the components therein.  But, in Arcimboldo’s own time, the paintings were considered vulgar and in poor taste.

Arcimboldo had a fixation on painting heads created by using composite images of fruits and vegetables.  His innovative works remain popular today and can be seen in collections from the Louvre to Texas.  Children are especially fond of Arcimboldo’s works because the paintings offer a challenge of finding and recognizing a wide range of flowers, animals and everyday objects.

The unique qualities of Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s works influenced some of the most recognized surrealists of all time.  At the same time, this endearment elevated the revere for Arcimboldo’s works to more respected levels.  Artists like Caravaggio and even 20^th century artists Salvador Dali and Sandro del Prete took the original concept in new directions.

For more than 25 years Arcimboldo worked in the courts, where one of his major responsibilities was the design and settings for elaborate royal events.  At retirement, he moved back to Milan, where he died in 1593.

Arcimboldo, 1526-1593:  Nature and Fantasy is at the National Gallery of Art through Jan. 9, 2011, and includes sixteen examples of his fantastic composite heads—composed of plants, animals and objects—making their first appearance in the U.S.  Additional works—drawings, small bronzes, illustrated books and manuscripts and ceramics—provide a context for the artist’s inventions. 

The Art Marketplace

New Encausticbord from Ampersand

Ampersand Art Supply, in collaboration with R&F Handmade Paints, is pleased to announce the introduction of Encausticbord to its comprehensive product line of archival painting panels.  The marriage between Ampersand’s archival panel coating technology and R&F’s expertise in encaustics led to Encausticbord, a unique wood panel that has the tooth to hold encaustic and mixed media unlike any other surface.  Encaustic gesso or painting ground is applied to the sealed Hardbord panel to form a bright, smooth and absorbent surface that is ready to use with the ancient technique of encaustic painting. (Greek artists as far back as the 5^th century B.C. practiced encaustic painting.) 

Only Encausticbord has a ready-to-use surface formulated for the unique demands of encaustic painting and mixed media.  The ground not only responds well to heat, but also is highly absorbent and holds tight to layers of wax and collage without the fear of cracking or separation.  It can be used with any combination of mediums imaginable to create incredible textures, colors and patterns.  Encaustic painters have attested to how exceptional Encausticbord works with encaustic paint when used alone and also in combination with a wide variety of mixed media techniques, including collage, oil bars, image transfer, incising and others.  See your retailer and visit www.ampersandart.com and www.rfpaints.com. 

Art Events

(Since schedules sometimes change, please confirm events in advance.)

—Miami Beach/Miami, FL

ART Basel Miami Beach – Dec. 2-5 – Convention Center – An exclusive selection of more than 250 leading art galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa will exhibit 20^th and 21^st century artworks by over 2,000 artists.  www.artbaselmiamibeach.com.  Art Miami will once again electrify the city during Art Week.  This 21^st edition will see 100 international galleries exhibit the best modern and contemporary paintings, drawings, sculpture and more. Dec. 1-5, Art Miami Pavilion, Miami.  www.art-miami.com

—Hartford, CT

37^th Annual Festival of Trees & Traditions – Dec. 2-12 - Wadsworth Atheneum.  Showcased are fanciful, fabulous and romantic trees and wreaths that have been decorated by more than 200 creative artists and individuals—and all are for sale.  Enjoy musical entertainment, holiday films, family activities and guided tours.  Admission.  860.838.4046.

http://www.wadsworthatheneum.org/do/festival.php

—Corning, NY

Holiday Open House – Dec. 4-5 - Corning Museum of Glass – Enjoy live music; make holiday gifts with craft activities and decorate delicious holiday treats; see the glittering 14-foot tree filled with more than 1,200 handmade glass ornaments; find unique gifts at the Annual Studio Glass Sale; take advantage of special holiday sales in the GlassMarket; explore the newest exhibition, East Meets West—and more.  Free admission all weekend long!  www.cmog.org.

—Washington, DC

This holiday season the National Gallery of Art presents a wide array of special offerings, including a film program, caroling, gallery talks and concerts.  Hundreds of red poinsettias, white hydrangea, orchids and 12 Christmas trees adorned with sparkling white lights will fill the Rotunda and Garden Courts.  Also, the Sculpture Garden’s ice-skating season has begun and will continue through mid-March, weather permitting.  www.nga.gov.

—Chantilly, Virginia

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival – Dec. 10-12 – Dulles Expo Center – Lovers of fine crafts and art will find more than 250 top artisans displaying and selling their unique creations.  Also featured are interactive demonstrations with master craftspeople, live music and children’s entertainment.  www.sugarloafcrafts.com. 

Airbrush

Airbrush Basics that Ensure Success

There are several simple but major factors that come into play when initially learning airbrush technique.  Abiding by these will ensure a good and encouraging new experience.

Thin That Paint Appropriately! — The first problem many beginners encounter is trying to spray paint that is too thick.  Start with a pre-reduced airbrush color or ink—right from the bottle.  This will give you an idea of just how thin all paints must be for successful spraying.  By using an already sprayable medium—such as Medea Com-Art Airbrush Colours, Schmincke Aerocolor or Higgins Ink—you won’t become discouraged by a clogging airbrush.  You’ll be able to learn how to spray without the distraction of a clogged tip and can later “graduate” to thinning other types of mediums.

Hold the Airbrush Correctly! Another mistake that beginners encounter is how to correctly hold the airbrush.  No matter if you’re left- or right- handed, you should hold an airbrush like a pen or pencil, with the index finger on the trigger at the top.  Some beginners hold the airbrush and attempt to trigger it with the thumb—wrong!  This prevents you from being able to sight down the barrel of the airbrush to see where the paint is being sprayed and also limits the mobility of hand movement. 

Keep the Tip Clean!  Once you begin to spray paint through the airbrush, it must be kept clean.  The perfect spray is round.  If you see that round spray changing configuration (flattening out) this indicates there is dried paint on the tip/needle.  A good item to have on hand is a flat bristle brush (No. 4) to use periodically with appropriate airbrush cleaner (either water-soluble or solvent-based, depending on the paint used) to clean the paint tip.  This is also useful when cleaning the color cup or funnel that holds the paint.

Clean the Needle!  Periodically you must remove the needle from the airbrush and wipe it clean.  Very gently wipe the needle away from you so you don’t stick yourself with the sharp tip. And when replacing it in the airbrush, use care to slide the needle in snug to the tip and be sure to retighten the needle chuck screw that holds the needle in place.  If you have replaced the needle and the airbrush does not spray, you probably have not tightened the screw and it is likely sliding over the needle instead of drawing it back from the tip.

Keep that Hand Moving! When spraying, get into the habit of keeping your hand moving with no pauses.  The slightest hesitation will cause a barbell effect in the spray (blotch of paint/line/blotch of paint).

Keep your practice exercises simple!  Practice dots, lines, mists of spray and simple geometric shapes.  Learn and master the fundamentals of airbrushing before you apply them to more complicated paintings.

Most of all, don’t be intimidated by the airbrush.  Even though it’s a mechanical tool, with practice and patience it’s easy to learn to use with confidence and success.

New Airbrush Newsletter

See the new edition of AirbrushTalk at www.airbrushtalk.com.

You’ll find Airbrushing Makeup for Halloween by Wes Hawkins; Re-Deco-Rating—Bringing Art Deco Style to Your Storefront by Thomas Adams; Crazy Clock! By Janean S. Thompson and more. 

Art Competitions

—Georgia Watercolor Society XXXII National Exhibition – March 5 – April 21 – Carrollton Cultural Arts Center, Carrollton, GA – Open to all artists 18 years of age and older.  All paintings must be original work in water-based media on water media grounds including Yupo paper.  Awards total more than $10,000 in merchandise and cash.  http://www.georgiawatercolorsociety.com/

770-263-7832. Deadline:  Jan. 2, 2011.

—1^st Annual Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art – April 21 – May 19 – The Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ – Open to all artists and will feature the finest in representational figurative, portrait, still life, floral, landscape, interior, wildlife and western themes in watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel and all drawing media.  Over $25,000 in cash prizes.  http://www.scottsdalesalonoffineart.com/event-prospectus.html -

480-945-1113. Deadline:  Jan. 15, 2011. 

—Salon International 2011 – April 2 – 22, 2011 - International Museum of Contemporary Masters – Hosted by Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX.  Open to traditional, representational artists and original, new oil paintings only are eligible.  Total Awards Value:  $30,000.  http://www.greenhousegallery.com/si/; 210-828-6491.   Deadline:  Jan. 21, 2011. 

ArtPourri

Prize Winner Announced – The Guggenheim Foundation and HUGO BOSS AG have announced that German artist Hans-Peter Feldmann has been named the winner of THE HUGO BOSS PRIZE 2010.  He is the eighth artist to win the biennial honor, established in 1996 to recognize significant achievement in contemporary art, which carries an award of $100,000.

Auction News – Swann Galleries' auction of African-American Fine Art resulted in auction records for several artists, including Robert Colescott and Sargent Johnson.  The auction of Whistler and His Influences set almost 20 world auction records, including the top lot by Whistler, Nocturne, which became the most expensive Whistler print ever sold at auction at $282,000.  At Christie’s, a sculpture by Henri Matisse, Nu de dos, 4 etat (Black IV) set a record for the artist at $48.8 million.  The sale of Post-War and Contemporary Art set five new artist records, with a top seller by Roy Lichtenstein for Ohhh…Alright… at $42.6 million. At Sotheby’s, the Contemporary Art Sale set five new artist records, with Coca-Cola [4] Large Coca-Cola by Andy Warhol selling for $35.3 million.  Phillips de Pury & Company’s inaugural auction at the new 450 Park Avenue location set world records for five artists, with Warhol’s Men in Her Life selling for over $63 million.

Winning Videos Announced – The Guggenheim Museum and YouTube have announced the top 25 videos, selected from 23,358 online video submissions and 91 countries for YouTube Play—A Biennial of Creative Video.  The 25 videos were created by 39 video artists from 143 countries.  Visit www.youtube.com/play.

Windows Return – After a five-year absence, the Art Institute of Chicago welcomes the much-anticipated return of one of the most beloved treasures in their collection—Marc Chagall’s American Windows.  Following an intensive period of conservation treatment and archival research, the windows return as the stunning centerpiece of a new presentation at the east end of the museum’s Arthur Rubloff building.

Holiday Tradition Continues – The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, continues a longstanding holiday tradition with the presentation of its Christmas tree, a favorite of New Yorkers and visitors from around the world.  A vivid 18^th century Neapolitan Nativity scene—embellished with a profuse array of diminutive lifelike attendant figures and silk-robed angels hovering above—adorns the candlelit spruce.  Recorded music and lighting ceremonies will add to the enjoyment of the holiday display.  Medieval Sculpture Hall – through Jan. 6.

Holiday Stamp Issued–Angel with Lute - For the holiday season, angels represent peace on earth. This stamp features an angel playing a lute, an image from a fresco painted around the year 1480 by Italian Renaissance artist Melozzo da Forli for the apse of the Church of the Holy Apostles in Rome. It radiates serenity and dignity, along with compassion, while the lute points to harmony and song.  Also, available now at Post Offices are 44-cent Madonna and Child, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Eid stamps this holiday season.

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Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 21, No. 2 — December 2010