This painting project’s challenge is to paint your own studio or painting space (or the one you wish you had) in the style in which Matisse painted his studio, not to reproduce his painting. It isn’t about copying Matisse's Red Studio painting, it’s about applying what he did in this painting and creating an version of your own, an "After Matisse" painting.
The tradition of working from the paintings of the great masters is centuries old, to gain a better understanding of how it was done. Attempting to apply what you know about the painting for yourself is quite different to merely looking at it.
Start by deciding what format you're going to use, don't let a canvas size or shape dictate the composition. Then select what you're going to include, and which of these will be reduced to outlines and which painted in full color (do some thumbnail sketches to try out composition options). Then pick a dominant color (it doesn't have to be red, pick one that means something to you).
Submissions: The deadline for submissions for this painting project is 25 October 2008. All submissions must follow these guidelines to be considered for inclusion in the project gallery. Submissions that are mere copies of Matisse's painting will be rejected.
Note: I shall be commenting on selected submissions only, not every one (here's why). I encourage you to start a thread in the Projects Folder on the Painting Forum for feedback on your painting, and if you email me the URL I'll link to it from the page with your painting in this project's gallery.
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