tmartin -s-one - focus: mroy

Course Title: “Talkin’ History”

“why do i paint???????? i used to say for the history. butthat don't make since if i aint talking history.”

–Michael Roy

This is a six-week course in which you will produce a series of works focusing on the development of an image vernacular capable of articulating your personal vision and understanding of history that relates to a framework of broader contexts. In this course, you will produce a series of five fully-developed paintings that relate to a thesis discussing your approach to solving the visual problem of interpreting history with paint.

Restrictions:

· You may not keep a sketchbook during this course. You are however allowed to keep a notebook of your thoughts. All of your energy should be directed towards the finished works and your writings about the series.

· You may start only one new piece each week. After the first work reaches it’s finished stage for that week, however, you are encouraged to go back to it in following weeks and make revisions that encourage overall cohesion for the series.

· You are encouraged to work with paint that allows the development of your images over time. (ie: oil paint mothafucka)

Week 1:

• Write a brief thesis outlining your thoughts on the subject and strategy by which you plan to approach it
• Create a list of “imagery” and note on their significance that will be used to establish reoccurring themes in your paintings.
• Sketch three compositions using these somehow at the scale your five finished works to be.

Weeks 2 – 5:

• Produce one finished painting each week
• Take three in progress photographs of the piece showing stages of it’s development
• Post the finished work, in progress photos, and notes concerning it’s conceptual relevance to your thesis to the blog each weeks. Notes should reference at least one outside reading of your choice.

Week 6:

• Post images of all five finished works. Each piece should display some minor change since it’s initial posting.
• Write a statement addressing all works as a cohesive series, include your thoughts on their aesthetic and conceptual development and how they relate to your original thesis.