Introduction to the Visual Arts

Painting

Pandemic Isolation Version

If you’re able to Paint as described below, that would be great. Maybe you have some spray paint at home and you can paint a piece of cardboard in the back yard.

No one is required to go to the art store or hardware store. No one is required to go to the beach or anywhere else to paint.

If you don’t have the option of painting in your backyard or something like that, you can draw your name in Bubble Letters on paper using markers, colored pencils, crayons, or whatever materials you might have.

Alternate EC

The EC listed below is not offered this semester, Spring 2020!

If you’d like some EC, you can watch the 2007 graffiti documentary Bomb It and write a review of the film for up to 35,000 points of EC. Discuss the ideas and artists featured. Pick 2 artists that speak most powerfully to you and describe your response to their work. Look them up online and see if they’re still working today and what sort of work they’re producing 13 years later.

2D Art: Painting

  • Spray Paint your name in Bubble Letters, 2 colors.
two women sitting on a narrow wall at the Venice Beach Art Walls, Venice Beach, CA
Alana (Amanda’s niece) & Amanda sitting on top of Amanda’s name!

Location

You can paint anywhere that’s legal! A piece of cardboard or plywood in your backyard is great. Occasionally someone’s parents will let them paint their garage door or backyard wall.

Optional Location: Venice Beach Art Walls

At the Venice Art Walls you can:

  • Paint your name
  • See other painting, from beginner classmates to some awesome murals by pros
  • Sun, Sand, Surf, Palm Trees
  • Art Walls, Skate Park, Basketball Courts, Muscle Beach are all next to each other
  • Eclectic mix from rich & famous artists (Digital Domain, Chiat Day, Frank Gehry, Claes Oldenburg, Jonathan Borofsky, Mark DiSuvero) to starving artists selling paintings on the Venice Boardwalk for $5!
  • Cheap Slices of Giant Pizza

Extra Credit

If you do go out to Venice, there’s a little EC you can do while you’re there. You can visit Small World Books just across the boardwalk from the Venice Art Walls. You can also visit LA Louvre art gallery (Art Gallery open Saturday, closed Sunday). Also, since so many of you have skateboards, you might like to know that the Venice Skate Park is right next to the Art Walls! I’ll give you EC for a photo of you skating in the Venice Skate Park!

  • +10,000 EC for a photo of you holding a zine at the Zine Rack at the entrance to Small World Books. Just add this photo to your Graffiti Writing activity post.
  • +15,000 EC for doing Beach Cleanup. This one is from your awesome classmates Sierra & Julia. While you’re at Venice Beach, bring along a medium sized bag. Wander around and fill it with trash. Include a photo of you holding your bag full of trash with your blog post. Build a better world, score points while you’re at it!
  • +15,000 EC for a photo of you Skating in the Venice Skate Park. Just add this photo to your Graffiti Writing activity post. (by Skating in the Skate Park I don’t mean a photo of you standing on a board on the sidewalk. I mean in the actual skate park. The “swimming pools”. You should be moving. Catching at least a tiny bit of air would be awesome! ***But don’t hurt yourself!***)
  • +30,000 EC for a blog post of your visit to LA Louvre gallery. Be sure one of your photos is of you in the gallery!

Details

Free

  • Everything is free.
  • Unless you want to buy a zine or book of course. Zines are cheap! $2-5
  • And parking. Street parking is free if you’re willing to walk enough blocks. Or $15 to park super-close.
  • And food if you’re hungry. Kettle Corn, Cheep Pizza, Poke Bowls, etc.

Links:

Addresses:

  • Venice Art Walls: 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice CA 90291
  • Venice Skate Park: 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
  • Small World Books: 1407 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
  • LA Louvre gallery: 45 North Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90291
  • Venice Art Walls.com
Megan Stevens writing her name in bubble letters
Megan Stevens

More Details

Photos

Whether you go to Venice or not, be sure your blog post includes a clear photo of YOU with YOUR WORK.

Parking

  • Free: On the street, far, walk!
  • Really Close: about $15
  • Earlier tends to be easier

Carpooling

  • Cheaper
  • Funnerer
  • Even if you don’t have a car… half the class or more does!
  • Go ahead, ask someone!!
  • Share a ride and share paint!

Glenn

I will be there on Wednesday from 3 to 5 pm. You really don’t need any help from me, but it’d be nice to say “Hi!” and hangout.

Activity

  • Do a Pencil Sketch of your name in Bubble Letters in advance.
  • Paint your name in Bubble Letters. At least 2 Colors. (if you paint with a classmate, you can each bring 1 can)
  • Blog it! Include a few pictures and talk about your experience. Be sure your blog post includes a clear photo of YOU with YOUR WORK.
  • BTW: you have more paint than you’ll need to just do your name. Have fun! Paint other stuff too! Going home with extra paint is lame. Use. It. All.

Jessica Harrington in front of the Venice Beach, CA Art Walls showing her painting permit
Lil Mex (Jessica Harrington) with her Venice Artwall Painting Permit in 2011. You used to have to show ID and fill out a form to get a permit. It seems like lately you just show up and paint. Even though you’ll see paint all over the trees, you should only paint on the Art WALLS. Have fun!

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