Challenge 12 - Chiaroscuro

The Quilter’s Studio Art Quilt Challenge October 8/due November 13

Chiaroscuro literally means clear-obscure or light-dark. It refers to the use of strong contrast or unusual lighting to create a strong dramatic effect in art.

Chiaroscuro is pronounced: Key + Arrow + Skew + Row

Chiaroscuro was highly used in Renaissance era painting by the Old Masters, such as Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Delatour

The Young Singer by Georges Delatour

The inspiration of St Matthew by Caravaggio

The Parable of the Rich Man by Rembrandt

Now for the Challenge…

· Create a small art quilt using the strong contrasts of Chiaroscuro

· Depict light in some way – either a directional light source, a glow or illumination

· Choose landscape, figurative, nature, still life, stylized or abstract

· Make it dramatic!

· Remember to have fun with it

Homework – Make a critique comment or two on the product packaging challenge pieces. Answer one of these questions: What draws my eye first in the piece? What feeling or memory does the piece evoke in me? If this piece was mine and I was starting over, what might I do differently?

Example Quilts using Chiaroscuro

http://www.esteritaaustin.com/sundaymorning.htm

http://www.esteritaaustin.com/metamorphosis.htm

http://www.bryerpatch.com/images/quiltrecords/fs23/featherstudy23_117k.jpg

http://www.patkumicich.com/patkumicich.com/Galleries/Pages/Figurative.html#14

http://www.sylvesterartquilt.com/html/color_play.html

http://www.lorilupepelish.com/gallery_1.htm

http://www.adler-quilts.com/gallery/circleunbroken.html

http://www.craftcouncil.nl.ca/gallery/show.asp?item_id=1238&show_id=57

http://www.caroltaylorquilts.com/ - look at the confetti series

http://www.margoquilts.com/gallery_florals.php?i=11

http://www.julieduschack.com/quilts-mothfairy.html

http://ebarton.myweb.uga.edu/watercityscapes.htm

Art Links

http://emptyeasel.com/2007/07/20/chiaroscuro-in-painting-the-power-of-light-and-dark/

Some examples from the Old Masters, including Caravaggio and Rembrandt

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/painting/chiaroscuro.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/27356/c_index.htm

And some contemporary artists http://www.flickr.com/groups/chiaroscuro_art/pool/