Lecture 1: Ideas About Painting

1. Introduction to Painting as a Visual Language:
   Painting is a powerful form of communication, using colors, shapes, and textures to convey meaning. Unlike photography, painting allows for emotional and subjective interpretation of real-life objects. Realistic painting aims to depict the world with precision, but it also allows the artist’s perspective to shine through.

2. What Makes a Painting “Realistic”?

   • Definition of realism in art: A style that seeks to represent real-world objects, scenes, and people accurately.
   • Key elements that make a painting look realistic:
     • Form: How shapes are represented to look three-dimensional.
     • Proportion: Ensuring that objects are in the correct size and related.
     • Perspective: Creating depth and a sense of space on a two-dimensional surface.
     • Light and Shadow: How light interacts with objects creates highlights and shadows that give volume and depth.
     • Color: Using naturalistic colors that closely match what the eye sees.

3. The History of Realistic Painting:

   • Classical Realism: How ancient artists from Greece and Rome focused on lifelike sculptures and paintings.
   • Renaissance Realism: Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo perfected the depiction of the human figure and natural surroundings through techniques like linear perspective and chiaroscuro.
   • 19th Century Realism: The shift toward painting everyday life and ordinary people, led by artists like Gustave Courbet.
   • Modern Realism: Contemporary realism, hyperrealism, and photorealism in painting. These styles push the boundaries of what it means to represent reality in art.

4. Why Paint Real Things?

   • Connection with the Viewer: Paintings of real objects and scenes create immediate recognition and emotional resonance with the viewer.
   • Exploring Detail: Painting real things forces the artist to observe the world closely and understand the intricacies of form, light, and shadow.
   • Telling Stories Through Everyday Objects: Everyday objects, scenes, and people can be transformed into powerful narratives in a painting, adding deeper meaning to the ordinary.

5. The Artist’s Perspective:
   While realism is about capturing the world as it is, every artist brings their own unique interpretation to their work. A realistic painting can express mood, emotion, and personal experiences of the artist.

6. Practical Discussion: How to Choose a Subject to Paint

   • Selecting subjects from your surroundings (still life, landscapes, portraits).
   • Exploring how to add personal meaning to realistic art: What does this object or scene mean to you?
   • Preparing to study your subject: Importance of observation, sketching, and planning before the actual painting.

Activity:
Students will be asked to bring an everyday object or a photograph of a real-life scene they would like to paint. They will briefly explain their choice and how they intend to capture its realism while adding their unique perspective.

Homework Assignment:
Choose a simple real-life object (e.g., a cup, fruit, or a chair) and sketch it using pencil or charcoal, focusing on:

• Shape
• Light and shadow
• Proportion

The sketch will serve as a preliminary study for the first painting exercise in the next lecture.