Artists Paint From the Heart

Tony Ortega came to our school to paint a mural.  This is what we learned…

We learned that artists can paint from the heart.

We learned that a mural starts as a very large drawing.

We learned the technique of hard edge under painting.

We learned how to apply dry brush painting as a second layer.

We learned that a mural takes many colors.

SMA students are proud of the work that they have accomplished.

Vivid Colors: The World of Tony Ortega

Why does Tony Ortega leave the faces of his people blank?  The artist wants the focus of his work to be on the group and not on the individual.

Medium:  Ortega works mainly with acrylic paint and chalk pastel. He is also a muralist.

Style:  Ortega considers himself an ‘expressionist’.  This means that he uses color, line, shape, and space to express emotion through his artwork.

Color:  One of the most striking aspects of Ortega’s art is his use of color. Ortega uses vivid and harmonious color to express emotions and to depict images.  He layers transparent (see through) color with opaque (cannot see through) color to create a “dynamic’ visual effect.  He also contrasts light and dark color in order to create a vivid composition.

Space:  Ortega uses perspective and overlapping of shapes to create parts of his work that look three-dimensional.  He then uses designs and simplified geometric shapes to create flat areas in his work.  The flat areas and the three-dimensional areas combined to create and an over all interesting effect.

Subject:  Ortega is depicting what he calls, “Magical Realism.”  This term means that Ortega shows you an image that looks real, meaning it is recognizable.

Look at this painting; can you see people, a wall, a street, and a bicycle?  These are all recognizable items.  Ortega’s goal is to go beyond showing just a realistic scene.  He wants to show something deeper than reality.  He is showing the emotions of the figures reflecting through the surrounding scene.

Through this scene, Ortega is depicting everyday people and their relationship to their surrounding environment. Ortega feels there is a mystery in this connection and his goal is to unravel this mystery through his artwork.

Summary:  Ortega’s overall message is to depict the story of groups of everyday people, in particular, Latino people.  He wants to depict the deeper meaning of their everyday lives as they go about their day, expressing their culture and traditions.

Medium: Medium refers to the tools that were used to create the artwork.  Compare a chalk pastel drawing to a painting.  What are the differences?

Style:  Style refers to way in which the artist uses line, shape, color, and space to create an image. Describe in your own words how Tony Ortega’s artwork represent an ‘expressionist’ style.

Color:  Many artists use a specific color pallet.  Describe Ortega’s use of color.  What colors do you see?  Do you see layers of light and dark colors?

Space:  Space refers to the way the lines and shapes come together in the drawing and painting.  Can you see the use of perspective in Ortega’s art?  Can you see the use of simplified line or design?

Subject:  This refers to the things and people Ortega draws and paints.  What do you  literaly see in his artwork?

 

 

Tony Ortega and Our School Mural

Our School Mural:  Tony Ortega will be coming to our school Jan. 9th to create a mural about the community at SMA!

The above image is an example of Tony Ortega’s previous mural work.  The theme of this mural will be the ways in which we come together as a community at SMA.  We gather for prayer and mass, to serve others in our community, to learn, to play sports and to socialize.  The mural will emphasize all of these aspects of our community while incorporating our Loretto Values: Faith, Community, Justice, and Respect.

Please keep checking this blog for updates about our mural!

Who is Tony Ortega?

Tony Ortega was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  He currently lives in Denver and teaches painting at Regis University.  He holds a BA and MFA in art from CU Boulder. Ortega’s work can be found in public and private collections including the Denver Art Museum, Los Angeles County Art Museum, Museo del Barrio in NYC, and the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Ortega’s focus as an artist is to show community, specificly the ways in which people come together as a group.

Ortega feels that there is a mystery or a story found in the relationship that a group of people can have to their surroundings.  For more examples of his artwork please visit the reource page.

You can check out Tony Ortega’s website here.

Peruvian Friendship Bracelets!

1. Watch this You Tube Video

Or watch this You Tube Video

Please note:  The bracelets in these videos contain 4 long strings which are folded in have to create 8 strings to braid with.  Your bracelets have two long strings which have been folded in half to create 4 strings.  After you try this, make an 8 string bracelet (4 strings folded in half).

Learn how to tie forwards “4’ knots on both cords to get all of your string over to your right (2 knots per cord). Learn how to tie backwards ‘4’ knots on each cord to make your strings come back to the left (2 knots per string).  Then you keep going like this.

2.  You might want to have a volunteer show every one how to make a forwards ‘4’ knot and a backwards ‘4’ knot.  (She doesn’t really show this).

3.  Clip your bracelet to a clipboard or tape your bracelet down with masking tape.  It helps to use two pieces of tape in an ‘x’. Make sure your strings are going to the left.

4.  Use the ‘how to make Peruvian Bracelets’ hand out.  It has pictures and explains in detail what to do.

5. Have fun!

Remember that next week is wear your bracelet(s) to school week! (Your bracelet might end up on this blog!)

Keep checking back for more information on how to make bracelets such as: Candy Stripe, Double Candy Stripe, Stair Case, Watermelon Pattern, Diamond Pattern, and many more.

Extra Credit for going to the DAM

Night at the Museum Event (free) Saturday, November 5, 10:00 am: Extra Credit

You will receive 10 Extra Credit Points for your total grade by going to the Denver Art Museum and attending Xu Beihong and Threads of Heaven or any of the permanent exhibitions.  All events are free, but only this Saturday.

Due on Monday, Nov. 7th:

Provide a receipt of Admission and 1 written or typed paragraph with your name and block that answers the following questions:

1. Choose one work from either a temporary exhibition or a permanent collection and answer the following:

a. What is the name, medium, and artist for this work?

b.  Why do you like this work (please think in terms of color, line, shape, composition, subject matter)?

Denver Art Museum

The DAM celebrates Night at the Museums with an entire day of free general admission from 10 am to 5 pm. Visitors will get a glimpse into China’s vibrant history through two special ticketed exhibitions exploring the mysterious final years of the Qing Dynasty with Threads of Heaven: Silken Legacy of China’s Last Empire and the birth of the modern with Xu Beihong: Pioneer of Modern Chinese Painting. 

From 5 to 10 pm during Night at the Museums, admission also will be free to Xu Beihong and Threads of Heaven.We’ll paint the night red with free China-centric family-friendly fun including Chinese dragon and lion dance performances from the Colorado Asian Cultural Heritage Center, family activities, artmaking, gallery access, and special offers from the Museum Shop.

Night at the Museums is part of Denver Arts Week. For details on other activities, visit the Denver Arts Weekwebsite.

Free. Tickets available onsite at the DAM starting at 10 am November 5.

What do you see when you really look closely?

St. Mary’s Trees (graphite on paper)

SMA art students enjoyed the crisp fall days while studying the complex contours of trees.  Many students noticed a hidden world within the bark of the tree.

What do you notice?

From top to bottom: Ambrina, Ivy, Hanna, Iris H.

For more trees please visit our Flicker page

Drawing Outside……

Students were given the challenge to show texture and dramatic shading by drawing the oldest trees at St. Mary’s.