The goal of a painting that is intended to be seen by others is to communicate an idea or feeling or impression and to attract and maintain the viewer’s interest. The background is an important part of this. Unfortunately, artists often select their subject matter without considering how the background will support or undermine their painting.
Backgrounds should not be an afterthought. The background sets up the subject and clues the viewer about the intentions of the artist. For instance, a portrait against a simple background, or none at all, isolates the figure which could just be intended to show what someone looks like, or it could convey aloneness, exclusion, etc. With a suggestion of a room or place behind it, it says something about where the person is or what they are doing, which can suggest a situation, story or establish a mood.
Backgrounds are useful for providing context in this way, but they also provide opportunities to create a sense of depth and provide contrast to the subject aesthetically. The background helps the main subject stand out visually, provides a narrative, or evokes a mood.
The most important thing in designing a background is that it is understood as integral of the painting. Have you completed a pretty good painting and wondered what is keeping it from being a great painting? Artists often overlook the important role backgrounds play in setting the stage for the subject.
During this workshop we will consider various approaches to backgrounds. We will investigate them and show why the right background choice should be based on the goals of their artwork. Using your own laptop or tablet, workshop participants will look at many different backgrounds to find different settings for the same subject. Each of those contexts will suggest a different way to interpret the subject. For instance, a rocking chair on a sunny porch is different from a rocking chair in a dimly lit room with a crib behind it. By establishing the context, the rocking chair becomes more than just a rendition of an object to suggest a feeling or narrative.
For this workshop, it is recommended that you have access to a royalty free image service like Shutterstock or Dreamtime. If you don’t already have that, I will help you get it and it will cost $25-30 for a month (you can cancel at any time.) During the workshop day you will search out different backgrounds for the subjects I provide, print them at the Center with my help, and then cut out and glue your subject within the background. Your costs will be the workshop price, the subscription to the image service, and the lunch you should plan on bringing. The supply list includes scissors, a glue stick, pencils and an eraser.
Don’t expect to make art during this class. This is not a painting class. It is a planning (or design) class. Our goal is for you to go home better able to select a good reference photo and develop a strong composition around the subject that supports what you want your painting to communicate.
The objective of this class is to give you the tools you need to select a subject and then decide what kind of background would support the goals you have when you paint it. Once you determine that, how do you pick reference photos that will look like they go with that subject? This can take your painting from good to great.
Accomplished artists and ones that are less experienced are welcome in this class. It is designed for people of every level in any 2D medium.
