A Bird in the Hand - Art Gallery of Alberta

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The Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition ProgramElements of Composition Tour continued– The lines form a radial composition suggesting depth. They outline the birds as well asthe landscape. Lines can be vertical, horizontal, zig-zag lines, curving lines and diagonallines.–What are some differences in the shape of the lines? – have the students ‘draw’ thedifferent kinds of lines in the air and notice the difference in motion and speed of thelines based on direction and thickness.–What affect do the lines have on the work? What do the lines do in the work? – the linesadd a graphic quality to the work, there is no shading, everything is 2-dimensional/flat- like a colouring book image. This gives an intensity to the objects making an overallstrong image.–What ‘speed’ do the lines have in this work? How might this relate to the subject of thework? –the lines have an urgency and strength to them that may relate to the motion ofthe birds in flight.B) SHAPE: SEE Northern Nesting Grounds by Marion NicollQuestions to Guide Inquiry:–What kinds of shapes can a person make? – squares; circles; triangles; rectangles etc.–How can such shapes be organized? – organic or geometric shapes–What are organic shapes? What does this term mean and how are organic shapesdifferent from geometric shapes? – organic shapes are those found in nature; muchmore free-flowing than geometric shapes–What kinds of shapes do you see in this work – organic or geometric? - primarilyorganic.–Why are the shapes primarily organic in nature? - the organic shapes represent birds,they form an oval shape to portray a nest or family of birds.–What effect does the use of these shapes create? * answers here may varyconsiderably – generally speaking, organic shapes are much friendlier’ and freer and, asused in this construction, create a feeling of unity or family. The repetitive oval shapescreates a nurturing environment; the birds are nesting, creating new life. In this work thefigures are balanced within the composition.–What feeling is created by the use and space of the shapes? What meaning mightthis presentation have because of these differences and what is the ‘real’ relationshipbetween the figures?C) COLOUR: SEE Sister Loves the Zoo by Grant LeierQuestions to Guide Inquiry:–What do you see in this art work? How would you describe what you see? - a woman, abird and a colourful background.AFA Travelling Exhibition Program, Edmonton, AB Ph: 780.428.3830 Fax: 780.421.0479youraga.ca
The Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition ProgramElements of Composition–How would you describe the colour of each object? What objects are lightest? darkest?Where are they located within the painting? Foreground? Midground? Background?–Where are the warm colours located within the painting? Where are the cool colours?–Describe the use of complementary colour within the artwork. How does this use createfocus or direct the viewer’s eye towards certain areas or objects?The use of red/green complementary colour directs the viewer’s attention towardsthe objects in the foreground and creates space and intensity. The use of brightcomplementaries in the background creates a balance between background andforeground.*Be as descriptive/use as many descriptive words as possible.–How does the colour of the painting make you feel? The colours are bright and cheerful.–What narrative/story could you put to this image?D) TEXTURE: SEE Cock and Hen by Maxwell BatesQuestions to Guide Inquiry:–What does the term texture mean? - Texture can be actual, simulated or invented.–What do you see in this work? - a cock and a hen in a natural setting.–How has texture been created in this work? - The textures are simulated. The printmakingtechnique that is used is important to create the mark-making that resultsin scratchy, irregular lines. The surface quality of the print portrays the grasses andlandscape the birds are in. The variety of lines presented indicate a change in texturalquality from the grasses to the implied textural surface of the birds.–What is the mood created in this work, how does it make you feel? - sombre, happy etcbecause...The print presents a harsh, rugged feeling that expresses some discomfort tothe landscape these birds are in.E) SPACE: SEE Untitled, Illustration from “A Man called Raven” by George LittlechildQuestions to Guide Inquiry:–How would you describe the space in this work? Is there an obvious foreground,midground and background?–Where are the objects located within the space? What makes you think this? -based onthe size of the objects, overlapping, and the use of warm and cool colours, some objectsappear closer than others. For example, based on the size of the moose, it is furtheraway in the picture than the fish who appears much larger. The warm colours of the fishalso bring it closer to the foreground.–How has the artist divided up the painting? The painting is divided into three verticalparts. Why has the artist done this? Possibly to show different areas in nature, i.e. land,sky and water. The warm pinks and reds in each section as well as the similar markmakingallow the viewer’s eye to travel across each vertical that separates the painting.–What are possible narratives within the work?AFA Travelling Exhibition Program, Edmonton, AB Ph: 780.428.3830 Fax: 780.421.0479youraga.ca
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A Bird in the Hand - Art Gallery of Alberta

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