Project 3: The transformational and colour properties of glass

This project is for both groups, Monday and Tuesday and will last for two weeks.

The aim of this project is to study the properties of glass by firstly taking a traditional still-life set-up using glass objects and to (1) draw and (2) paint the glass which we will do in class and can then repeat at home between lessons. There are a series of photographs to use instead of setting up a real still-life, these images deliberately emphasise glass characteristics for us to study.

Process:
(1) Make a few thumbnails sketches - it will make a big difference to how you see it. See resource page opposite on how to do thumbnails). 
(2) When you have understood your subject (by using the thumbnails) draw the image using pencil on paper, using only line. 
(2) Paint using watercolours - try wet on dry paper, allow paint to dry between layers (glazes). 

TIPS:

• Don't look at the object for what it is e.g. a wine glass or a bottle, look at it as a collection of 2D (flat) shapes and colours. To see it this way it helps to "ignore" the "depth" of the objects. 
• Try to look through the glass to get the shapes and colours and distortions within the objects. This often means you are capturing what is behind the glass object as much as the object itself. 
• This way when you have drawn all these shapes, the objects (glass bottle etc) appear as a consequence of the jigsaw pieces. This is especially true of clear glass. 
• Coloured glass is often more opaque and so is often a mixture of shapes and colours on the surface of the glass objects. 

Resources
You can print any of the images below for your project, or use these as a guide to set up a still-life at home then photograph it for class. The tutor will also bring prints similar to those below in case anyone has problems printing from the internet.

Any questions send me an email to: bernardqu@hotmail.co.uk