Painting in the Round

Painting in the round to add color to wooden forms

Painting in the round means we must take in a work from all sides and consider what we want from each point of view. It means not only a look that moves in consideration of what is seen but also from where it is seen. Many of my students found themselves in odd postures physically in an attempt to see from different angles. I showed them how the base can be turned easily to accommodate a new view without getting into an awkward position. Something that they just did not know or try to do, and I wondered privately about the frontal position of the body being more dominant no matter how uncomfortable their position seemed for them.

Walking around and observing them while they work is an important time for many reasons. Guidance in the moment comes in many forms and is individually situated, and always a form of support whether it is a query or in the form of a reminder. I want my students to work from themselves, become aware of what they are doing and how they are doing it. Sometimes my only job in the moment is to fetch them clean water or push their palette closer to their working area.

Usually I have an exploratory lesson or two each time I introduce a new media but the time allotted and not fixed by me in this residency did not permit that kind of allowance. There is no substitute for that and I only hoped that previous painting experiences would inform the older ones while with the younger I made sure my demo covered some mixing aspect with primary colors to make secondary and tertiary colors. I don't believe in providing what can be done if a child can do it for her or him self. There was no green, orange, purple or brown but if they wanted it, they could make it with what primaries I provided.

This was our last lesson before I made a display of their work so to maximize their time, I had them work the entire period and we ended the lesson without a reflection. That would be picked up in greater length in any case during our exhibition tour next week.