I am back in Minneapolis!
Although a snow storm, rain and ice delayed my scheduled Sunday arrival at Cobalt Studio until the end of the day on Monday, I was able to work with the Cobalt students and out-of-town guests on Tuesday and Wednesday. Yesterday was only a half day, as my flight departed in the early evening.
Over the course of 2 1/2 days, the majority of students completed three dry pigment projects. Immediately upon my arrival Monday afternoon, we looked at a power point presentation on historical scene painting techniques. For the remaining hour of the day, I taught the students how to work with dry pigments and diluted hide glue. They experimented with various colors on test flats to get familiar with this artistic medium, producing a variety of rich color combinations. Dry pigment mixed with diluted hide glue (called size) is a lovely medium to work with, and very different from premixed paint that comes in cans.
Each student had the opportunity to work up a painting from light to dark, with a series of glazes (in the English style that I have been describing in this blog). They also painted a composition that went from dark to light, using more solid colors (European style that I have been describing in this blog). The replicated sections from historic backdrops that I have photographed over the years and historic designs from the University of Minnesota Performing Arts Archives.
For all projects, we worked on speed, layout, color and technique. Rachel requested that the focus of the class this year was rocks, both natural and carved. However, the students had a chance to work on a little foliage and gold ornament as time permitted. For the most part, each student was able to select there project with minimal guidance from me.
Each composition was created from a palette, where the colors were individually mixed up and immediately applied to the canvas. They did not mix individual colors in cans. This is a very economical way to paint, as nothing is wasted or left over at the end. I love not having to worry about disposing any leftover paint.
Below are the students with all of the projects that they completed from Tuesday morning until Thursday noon.
