NATIONAL 5 ART AND DESIGN STUDIES NOTES EXPRESSIVE

NATIONAL 5 ART AND DESIGN STUDIES NOTES EXPRESSIVE Use this booklet, along with your own notes to study for the written exam, the following pages take you through each section step by step.

National 5: Expressive Studies LA NAVE DEI DESIDERI (THE SHIP OF DESIRES) oil on canvas 2011 75 x 100 cm. Roberto Bernardi Example exam question: DISPLAY CAKES Oil on canvas 1963 71 cm x 97 cm Wayne Theibaud 1 a) Identify two artworks by different artists that you have studies. These should be based on similar subject matter and /or the same theme. With reference to these two selected artworks comment on: • Subject matter/ imagery • Composition/ arrangement • Colour Which of the two artworks is the most appealing? Give two justified reasons. 10 b) Select one artist from part (a). Explain the impact of social, cultural and/or other influences on any of their work and practice. 5

The ‘prepared question ’ will ask you about two paintings that you have studied. The question will contain three prompt words that you should use as headings for your answer. Take one painting at a time, using your first painting to compare to your second. Expressive prompts for unseen questions: • Composition/ arrangement • Media handling/ techniques • Colour • Line • Tone • Texture • Shape and/or form • Pattern • Scale • Style • Subject matter/imagery • Mood and atmosphere • Visual impact Example Question 1: Artist communicate and express their ideas about their subject in a variety of ways. Identify two works by different artist’s that you have studied. These should be based on similar subject matter and/or the same theme. With reference to these works in your answer, compare each artist’s use of: • colour • media handling and techniques • mood and atmosphere Which of the two works shows the most creative approach? Give two justified reasons. 10 (b) Select one artist from part (a). Explain the impact of social, cultural and/or other influences on any of their work and practice. 5

PAINTING 1: DISPLAY CAKES Oil on canvas 1963 71 cm x 97 cm Wayne Theibaud COMPOSITION/ ARRANGEMENT • • • Here you should be referring to the following: What is the Focal Point? Why? What does this do? Is there anything that leads your eye into the painting? (A lead-in) Why? What is the viewpoint? Where are you in relation to the subject matter? How can you tell and why do you think that the artist chose this viewpoint? Do you think this is a deliberate or random arrangement? Why? I SEE…. This is your observation/ your statement. I THINK…. This is where you justify your statement. Why has the artist done this? BECAUSE…… What effect does this have/ create? • This is a very simple composition, the three cakes are evenly spaced out and so this means that you can see all of the cakes very clearly. They are on ‘display’ as the title suggests. • This is a very fixed arrangement as if it could be set in a shop window. The artist has painted this as if the light is coming from the top left(perhaps the sun). We know this because there are sharp dark shadows below the cakes. The light looks warm which further suggests that it could be natural sunlight. • The focal point is the white cake in the middle. I think this is because it is central and elevated above the others making it look like it has more importance. • The viewpoint is above eye-level (you can see the tops of the cakes) which suggests to me that the artist is looking down into a shop window. This viewpoint also means that you are able to see the cakes that are on display more clearly. • This is a simple, triangular composition which I think creates balance within the painting.

PAINTING 1: DISPLAY CAKES Oil on canvas 1963 71 cm x 97 cm Wayne Theibaud MEDIA HANDLING/ TECHNIQUES STYLE • • In your answer refer to the following: What Style of Painting has the artist used? Explain your answer. What kind of brush has been used? How can you tell? Do you think this would have been painted quickly/slowly? How can you tell? I SEE…. This is your observation/ your statement. I THINK…. This is where you justify your statement. Why has the artist done this? BECAUSE…… What effect does this have/ create? • I can see that the artist has used a large thick brush to paint ‘Display Cakes’. You can tell because you can actually see thick brushstrokes, particularly on the cakes. This creates a realistic icing-like texture on the cakes. • I think that the artist would have painted this quickly because despite its large size, there isn’t a huge amount of detail and lots of block colour and simple shapes. • Wayne Theibaud is associated with the Pop Art movement which is often based around simple everyday objects and food which we see here. He is making something normal and ‘everyday’ into something special and appealing with his simple composition and use of brushstrokes.

PAINTING 1: DISPLAY CAKES Oil on canvas 1963 71 cm x 97 cm Wayne Theibaud SCALE Here you should refer to the following: • What is the size of work? Are the objects life size or bigger/smaller? What impact does this have? • Do you think this would have had impact on the time spent? Consider the level of detail in this painting when you answer this. I SEE…. This is your observation/ your statement. I THINK…. This is where you justify your statement. Why has the artist done this? BECAUSE…… What effect does this have/ create? • I see three cakes on display on cake stands. The cakes are painted about life-size which I think makes the cakes look more realistic and much more appealing, as if you could reach in and eat them. • I can see chunky visible brushstrokes, suggesting a large brush was used, and so would cover a greater surface area than if the artist had used a small brush. I don’t think that the artist would have spent a long time on this painting because of this and the fact that there are very few objects in the painting. • The artist has used a limited colour palette and so not as much colour mixing would have been required for such a large canvas. I think that this is another reason that it wouldn’t have taken as much time as ‘Ship of Desires’ because

PAINTING 1: DISPLAY CAKES Oil on canvas 1963 71 cm x 97 cm Wayne Theibaud SUBJECT MATTER Here you should be referring to the following: • The artist’s choice of subject matter – why? • What is the Title and what does it tell us? Why choose that title? • What is the Size of the work? What impact does this have? • Where is the painting set? How can/ can’t you tell? What effect does this have? Where might you be based on what you can see? • What is the Focal Point? What is your eye drawn to and why? I SEE…. This is your observation/ your statement. I THINK…. This is where you justify your statement. Why has the artist done this? BECAUSE…… What effect does this have/ create? • This painting is based on three large cakes on three tall cake stands. The title ‘Display Cakes’ makes it obvious that they are cakes on display – perhaps in a bakery window. (explain fully) • The size of the painting means that the cakes themselves are about lifesize and I think that this makes it more appealing as it is as if you could reach in and eat them. • The subject matter is really simple but effective because of the thick paint for the icing and use of neutral, realistic colours. • The focal point is the white cake in the middle. I think this is because it is central and elevated above the others making it look like it has more importance. • The artist worked in a diner in California around the time that this was painted and so he obviously chose subject matter that was easily accessible and that he was surrounded with every day.

PAINTING 1: DISPLAY CAKES Oil on canvas 1963 71 cm x 97 cm Wayne Theibaud MOOD/ATMOSPHERE • • In your answer you should refer to the following: What is the general mood/atmosphere of the painting when you look at it? What is the direction of light? i. e Where is the light coming from? How can you tell? Does the lighting look natural or unnatural? Why? What does this type of lighting do to the subject matter (what is the effect on the objects in the painting)? Is the mood and atmosphere appropriate to the objects or are they made more or less important? Explain your answer. Does the title add anything to the mood and atmosphere? I SEE…. This is your observation/ your statement. I THINK…. This is where you justify your statement. Why has the artist done this? BECAUSE…… What effect does this have/ create? • This painting uses soft, natural, neutral colours which I think creates a calming and still atmosphere. • This painting reminds me of a warm summer day. This is because the warm, creamy light that is shown suggests that it is probably from the sun. The artist also worked in California which further backs this idea up. • There is a very simple mood and atmosphere that is created. The title is simple and straight to the point and the subject matter itself is direct and clear. There is no drama that is created in contrast to ‘The Ship of Desires’.

PAINTING 1: DISPLAY CAKES Oil on canvas 1963 71 cm x 97 cm Wayne Theibaud VISUAL ELEMENTS COLOUR – • • Describe the use of colour – vibrant/dull etc? What does this add? What impact does this create? Think about background? What colours have been used? What impact does this have on the main objects of the painting? Are the colours true to life/realistic or not? What impact does this have? LINE – • Are there any visible lines in the painting/outlines? If yes – what do the lines do? Do they create movement? Define the objects? Make them stand out? TONE – • • What is the direction of light? i. e Where is the light coming from? How can you tell? Does the lighting look natural or unnatural? Why? What does this type of lighting do to the subject matter (what is the effect on the objects in the painting)? Does the tone add to the mood and atmosphere? TEXTURE – • What is the texture of this painting? • Has the artist tried to capture the surface quality of the objects? Smooth, rough, bumpy etc? What effect does this have? Does it make it more or less appealing/ realistic? PATTERN – • Has the artist used any patterns in this painting? • What impact does it have? Does it add interest? Does it look busy? SHAPE/ Form (3 D shape) - • Are the shapes true-to-life or has the artist exaggerated anything? What impact does this have? • Are they rounded/geometric? Varied shapes to add interest?

PAINTING 2: LA NAVE DEI DESIDERI oil on canvas 2011 75 x 100 cm. THE SHIP OF DESIRES Roberto Bernardi COMPOSITION/ ARRANGEMENT • • • Here you should be referring to the following: What is the Focal Point? Why? What does this do? Is there anything that leads your eye into the painting? (A lead-in) Why? What is the viewpoint? Where are you in relation to the subject matter? How can you tell and why do you think that the artist chose this viewpoint? Do you think this is a deliberate or random arrangement? Why? I SEE…. This is your observation/ your statement. I THINK…. This is where you justify your statement. Why has the artist done this? BECAUSE…… What effect does this have/ create? • I think that the focal point is…. I think this because… (There will be different answers and opinions here) • The viewpoint is at eye-level. I think that this is deliberate as if it is a child looking longingly onto a sweetshop counter. • We are unsure as to where the setting of this as we are given no clues due to a very dark mysterious background. I think that this emphasises the bright subject matter of the sweets and makes them seem so much more important/ they become the main focus/ no distractions. • The black liquorice sweet in the middle foreground acts as a lead-in and draws your eye into the painting. I think that this is because it is almost pointing upwards to the rest of the brightly coloured sweets. • The artist has shown the light coming from the left hand-side. I know this because the sweets are more illuminated whereas on the right they are in the shadows. I think that this strong contrast in tone makes the sweets and bowl look very three-dimensional.

PAINTING 2: LA NAVE DEI DESIDERI oil on canvas 2011 75 x 100 cm. THE SHIP OF DESIRES Roberto Bernardi MEDIA HANDLING AND/OR TECHNIQUES STYLE • • In your answer refer to the following: What Style of Painting has the artist used? Explain your answer. What kind of brush has been used? How can you tell? Do you think this would have been painted quickly/slowly? How can you tell? I SEE…. This is your observation/ your statement. I THINK…. This is where you justify your statement. Why has the artist done this? BECAUSE…… What effect does this have/ create? • This is a photorealist painting which means that the artist has painted it with such a high level of detail as to give the illusion that it is a photograph. • I think that a very small fine brush would have been used for the majority of it in order to capture the finer details such as the sugar on the sweets. • This painting would have taken a very long time. I think this, not only because of the large scale of the painting but the level of detail that it shows. • The artist has managed to capture details such as the reflection of the sweets onto the bottom of the smooth shiny bowl. I think this contrasts well with the varying textures and colours of the sweets themselves.

PAINTING 2: LA NAVE DEI DESIDERI oil on canvas 2011 75 x 100 cm. THE SHIP OF DESIRES Roberto Bernardi SCALE Here you should refer to the following: • What is the size of work? Are the objects life size or bigger/smaller? What impact does this have? • Do you think this would have had impact on the time spent? Consider the level of detail in this painting when you answer this? I SEE…. This is your observation/ your statement. I THINK…. This is where you justify your statement. Why has the artist done this? BECAUSE…… What effect does this have/ create? • The sweets and bowl are painted to be much bigger than life-size (75 x 100 cm) which I think exaggerates everything and makes them look so much more desirable and mouth-watering. • The title also refers to the scale of the painting – the ‘ship’ in the title refers to the over-sized bowl of sweets, again adding to the drama and exaggeration of the painting. • The large size of this painting and the high level of detail would mean that this painting would probably have taken a very long time to complete. I think that this makes it seem so much more impressive. A small brush would have been used to capture the detail which again would mean that this large painting would have taken a very long time to complete.

PAINTING 2: LA NAVE DEI DESIDERI oil on canvas 2011 75 x 100 cm. THE SHIP OF DESIRES Roberto Bernardi SUBJECT MATTER Here you should be referring to the following: • The artist’s choice of subject matter – why? • What is the Title and what does it tell us? Why choose that title? • What is the Size of the work? What impact does this have? • Where is the painting set? How can/ can’t you tell? What effect does this have? • What is the Focal Point? What is your eye drawn to and why? I SEE…. This is your observation/ your statement. I THINK…. This is where you justify your statement. Why has the artist done this? BECAUSE…… What effect does this have/ create? • The artist has chosen to paint lots of brightly coloured sweets in a purple plastic bowl, set against a dark background. I think that this rather everyday/mundane subject matter has been made to look dramatic and exciting because of its large scale and level of detail. • I think that this choice of subject matter appeals to a wide audience and can transport adults looking at the sweets back to their childhood where sweets generally represent fun and excitement. • The painting has a very overly dramatic title ‘The Ship of Desires’. I think that the artist selected this title to exaggerate the importance of the sweets. I think that the bowl could represent the ‘ship’ and the sweets its passengers. I think that this adds interest to the subject matter. You are perhaps expecting more from the painting because of the dramatic title.

PAINTING 2: LA NAVE DEI DESIDERI oil on canvas 2011 75 x 100 cm. THE SHIP OF DESIRES Roberto Bernardi MOOD/ATMOSPHERE • • In your answer you should refer to the following: What is the general mood/atmosphere of the painting when you look at it? What is the direction of light? i. e Where is the light coming from? How can you tell? Does the lighting look natural or unnatural? Why? What does this type of lighting do to the subject matter (what is the effect on the objects in the painting)? Is the mood and atmosphere appropriate to the objects or are they made more or less important? Explain your answer. Does the title add anything to the mood and atmosphere? I SEE…. This is your observation/ your statement. I THINK…. This is where you justify your statement. Why has the artist done this? BECAUSE…… What effect does this have/ create? • I think that the mood and atmosphere of this painting is quite uplifting and playful due to the brightly coloured sweets and bowl. • The title contributes to the sense of atmosphere of the painting as it is overly dramatic and adds an intensity to what is normally an everyday set of objects. • The tone of the painting adds to the mood and atmosphere – The dark, black background adds a sense of mystery as we are given no clues as to where the still-life is set. • The bright unnatural light that has been used adds drama and emphasises the tone. I think that this makes it look almost theatrical or a stage with the spotlight on the bowl of sweets. The light looks white which suggests that it is not the sun but a lamp at a low angle – this makes the objects cast a long shadow – again making it look like a stage-set.

PAINTING 2: LA NAVE DEI DESIDERI oil on canvas 2011 75 x 100 cm. THE SHIP OF DESIRES Roberto Bernardi VISUAL ELEMENTS COLOUR – • • Describe the use of colour – vibrant/dull etc? What does this add? What impact does this create? Think about background? What colours have been used? What impact does this have on the main objects of the painting? Are the colours true to life/realistic or not? What impact does this have? LINE – • Are there any visible lines in the painting/outlines? If yes – what do the lines do? Do they create movement? Define the objects? Make them stand out? TONE – • • What is the direction of light? i. e Where is the light coming from? How can you tell? Does the lighting look natural or unnatural? Why? What does this type of lighting do to the subject matter (what is the effect on the objects in the painting)? Does the tone add to the mood and atmosphere? TEXTURE – • What is the texture of this painting? • Has the artist tried to capture the surface quality of the objects? Smooth, rough, bumpy etc? What effect does this have? Does it make it more or less appealing/ realistic? PATTERN – • Has the artist used any patterns in this painting? • What impact does it have? Does it add interest? Does it look busy? SHAPE/ Form (3 D shape) - • Are the shapes true-to-life or has the artist exaggerated anything? What impact does this have? • Are they rounded/geometric? Varied shapes to add interest?

(b) Select one artist from part (a). Explain the impact of social, cultural and/or other influences on any of their work and practice. 5 marks 1. When Theibaud was growing up he worked in diners and restaurants and so there is a clear influence from this time shown in his later work where he repeatedly painted plates of food and cakes. 2. Theibaud was very influenced by Pop art and depicting objects of mass culture such as icecream, lipsticks, hot-dogs etc. 3. Theibaud was also very influenced by advertising. He uses exaggerated colours to depict his subjects, and stark blank backgrounds characteristic of advertisements are included in his work. 4. Theibaud’s drawing apprenticeship at the Walt Disney Studios had much influence on his work. The heavy outlines of the shapes and objects in his paintings remind us of the outlines that define cartoons. 5. Working in theatre during school played a strong role in influencing the work of Theibaud. The dramatic shadows that are cast by the objects in his paintings show the influence of theatre and lighting in Theibaud’s work.