Be a Famous Artist

We all have favorite artists who inspire us. Perhaps one artist inspires your color choices, another your compositions and someone else, your point of view. We learn from these artists by emulating their techniques. Here are a few exercises to get you started on your path to mastering your domain.

TECHNIQUE ONE: Warhol Wannabe

Scan an image into a digital photo-editing program or go to the copy shop and convert it to black-and-white high contrast. Print it out multiple times onto transparencies or Mylar. On the back side, paint with acrylics, using a different color for each one. Try color glazing to keep it transparent and soft. When dry, flip it over and glue it down. You have an Andy Warhol-type image.

TECHNIQUE TWO: Be a Picasso

Do three figure drawings or paintings in different sizes, including at least one full-face drawing and one profile. Cut them up and rearrange them into three different pieces of art. You will learn about composition and color relationships, and it just might surprise you to discover what a good Picasso you are.

TECHNIQUE THREE: Close to You

For a Chuck Close variation, take a close photograph of a face. Lay this under some plastic and dot paint with a pencil eraser in different colors to cover the face. When the paint is dry, transfer the piece to a canvas or panel via Crazy Easy Transfer painting. The beauty of this technique is that, when viewed from a distance, the color dots merge to create a cohesive image.

TECHNIQUE FOUR: Louise Me

Glue a variety of dimensional objects on a board a la Louise Nevelson. Keep composition in mind as you play with shapes and textures. Spray it all one color, preferably in the wonderful Nevelson black, and watch how shadows work on a tonal piece.

ARTIFACT

Darlene Olivia McElroy

Featured Technique: Louise Me