Andy Warhol invented several styles of painting that combined painting with print making. One of these styles is called blotted line. He first started to use this technique in advertising, to sell shoes. He copied the shoe in a repeated pattern. Later, he did a series of painting about endangered species to raise money for an environmental program. Some critics did not consider this to be genuine art because he copied photographs and traced.
Andy Warhol’s style was called Pop Art because it was about things that were popular in the American culture. He is famous for his paintings of Marilyn Monroe, who was a very popular actress, and his portraits of Campbell’s Tomato Soup.
Some of his artwork pushed the limits of what a word means. A sculpture is art that can be seen from all sides. Warhol made a giant box of Brillo Pads, and called it a sculpture, because you can see a box from all sides. He painted cans of soup and called it a still life, because it is a painting of an object.
He was known for his use of color. His colors had contrast to draw attention to his work. Sometimes he used colors that clash, or that are not visually pleasing.
To make a blotted painting that is similar to his endangered species series, you will need:
• Paper
• Pictures of animals
• Plastic presentation sleeves
• Water color paint
• Brushes
• Water cups
• Tape
• Hairdryer or fan.
• Pictures of Warhol’s endangered species series and blotted line drawings available at the official Andy Warhol museum web site.
Collect pictures of wild animals from magazines and calendars. Laminate the pictures, or put them in plastic presentation sleeves. Make sure the sleeve is taut, by mounting the pictures on stiff 8 ½ x 11 paper.
Tape the picture to the paper, with the photo facing the paper. The tape will act like a hinge. It should open like a book.
Use water color paint on the picture to fill in the basic body shape. Use the same color that you will use to paint the body. Close the book before the paint dries to transfer the paint to the paper. Rub the back of the paper with your thumb. Repeat this step until you have transferred the entire animal. Fill the area with a flat wash to complete any part that did not print. Do not use too much water or make puddles on the page.
Use the same method to fill in the background using a bright color. There should be a contrast between the two colors. Contrast is a big difference between light and dark, warm and cold or bright and dull.
Use a hair dryer or small fan to dry the paper if it becomes too wet.
Use the small brush directly on the paper to make details, or contour lines where needed, such as the eyes and mouth.
Sunshine State Standards
A. media, techniques and processes
1.3 organization/principles of design
C art history
Assessment:
- The student transferred paint to the paper using the blotted line technique.
- The student chose colors with a high contrast.
- The student filled the entire page with color.
- The student made details directly on the paper.
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