Thematic Painting Assignment (Symbolism and Metaphor Assignment TEXT)

Painting with Symbolic/Metaphorical Content

Assignment will be worked on in class and it is expected that the assignment should be worked on outside of class as well.

Objectives:
Large Painting (3 x 4 feet) with numerous small studies/preliminary work. Note half a letter grade will be lost if studies are not integrated into the process of the work. This means not doing studies at the completion of the assignment. As in previous assignments the “Thematic Assignment” will continue with the formal investigation of various painting materials, thick applications of paint to thin glazes, composition, mark making, forms, space and color. Unlike previous assignments this Thematic Assignment places more emphasis on developing and expanding themes that will involve choosing symbols, metaphors, allegories, narratives, icons, signifiers, myths or combining some of these choices. Concept building and expanding thematic layers of meaning in this assignment will become an essential part of the working process.

Primarily painting mediums are required for this assignment to depict an advanced level of symbolic and or metaphorical subject matter (see below points 1 to 8 under Thematic Subject Matter heading). Other non-traditional materials may be used in addition to the primary use of painting materials. You also have the option of developing collage and or using text as a partial component in the work as long as the objectives are demonstrated.

Examples of Thematic Paintings and Drawings

The examples below do not offer examples that address the Thematic Assignment completely but instead offer ideas that may assist people with the assignment. As the above Thematic Assignment text indicates thematic content can potentially take form in various ways. Most of the examples do not demonstrate completed Thematic Assignments but instead are good examples of work that could be components or parts of a Thematic Assignment. Often innovative and unique parts for a theme can be discovered in the studies or preliminary works where a random image may be chosen.

Painting 1 course 2005

This above work is perhaps too obvious in terms of a political critique that involves and addresses important issues regarding Globalization/Multinational Corporations and their relation to culture. The above Painting also requires more use of colour and is perhaps a bit of a one liner but is large in scale and offers an intricate work with some interesting use of different materials in combination with paint. As well the painting surface is modular and is comprised of metal and canvas surfaces. Overall this is a good start for a painting with thematic content. Perhaps something else could be added to expand concepts in the work that is less literal in terms of corporate logos and the American dollar bill and flag.

Detail

Painting 1 course 2005

(example from Fundamentals of Drawing course 2004)

In terms of personal thematic content the sand traps of a Golf Course for this artist offers memories of time with her father. She saw the golf course as the only time she was able to spend time with her father and never did enjoy golfing, but played the sport in order to spend time with her father.

This work also makes a slight reference to environmental and or ecological issues of the natural uninhabited land being violated by the golf course. In this example the work begins to have layers of meaning for the artist and potentially for the viewer.

Advanced Painting  course         

  Self Directed Assignment    2006

The eaten Apple has obvious biblical references to Adam and Eve.

However in this example the aboriginal artist uses the subject matter to explore the negative connotation of being labeled an “Apple” (Red on the Outside and White on the Inside)
As a metaphor he felt that most of the red has been taken away and all that is left is the decay of the white.

Advanced Painting  course         

One example from a self portrait and identity paintings series completed by student

  Self Directed Assignment    2006

The Forced Posing of childhood portraits and Family Pictures. (Self Portrait)

Notice the forced smile and the child has taken a piece of cake before the staging of the photograph has been completed.

Perhaps this image is also about challenging negative Western stereotypes of Women of Asian descent  who are constructed and misrepresented as docile and not willing to challenge authority

Painting 1  course 2006

Tree Ghosts

 

Advanced Painting  course 2006
approximately 4 x 5 feet

In the work above a pre-colonial Aboriginal painting is depicted (Location is in actual Interlake area in Manitoba) The artist has added the Loon who is considered to be “the Trickster” in aboriginal culture.

Painting 1 course 2010

approximately 6 x 8 feet

Painting 1 course 2010

3 x 4 feet

Painting 1 course 2010

3 x 4 feet

Preliminary work for Thematic Assignment

Painting 1 course 2010

12 x 16 inches

Painting 1 course 2010

3 x 4 feet

Painting 1 course 2010

approximately 2 x 3 feet

Painting 1 course 2003

oil and acrylic on board   14 x 48 inches

Painting 1 course 2003

Work In Progress of previous image

oil and acrylic on board   14 x 48 inches

Advanced Drawing 2 course (Self -Directed Assignment) 2011

acrylic on paper

24 x 18 inches

Advanced Drawing 2 course (Self -Directed Assignment) 2011
acrylic and pen on board
48 x 24 inches

Images with Multiple Interpretations and Meaning

When an image/subject matter is depicted in a more abstract or expressionistic way there is greater potential for the image to be viewed or read in a way that allows for more than one interpretation or single meaning of the image. In poetry sometimes a word can have multiple meanings or conceptual layers in a poem but at the same time connects to the overall theme of the poem. Images and subject matter have potential to operate the same way in the overall theme of an art work.

When viewing the two examples of work below, what are the 3 or 4 images seen simultaneously or layered into each single image?

Two examples above  are from Fundamentals of Drawing courses       both 24 x 18 inches    circa 2004