“REACH OUT AND PAINT SOMEONE”

A SERVICE LEARNING project for Art 128ABCD---Oil Portraiture

The idea behind this project is to incorporate SERVICE LEARNING into the learning process of this class. Although this SERVICE LEARING project is a required component in this class, (see your syllabus) it very possibly will be one of the most memorable and vital experiences in your college career.

BASIC DEFINITION: SERVICE LEARNING is a way of reaching out to the community to access new ways of developing what we are learning in class then bring the results back to the classroom.

THE LOCATION (The Agency): This SERVICE LEARNING experience will take you out of the everyday studio classroom and place you in a non-classroom environment. This could be a Boys and Girls Club, a Senior Center, and Assisted Living Facility, a Homeless Shelter or some other community facility.

THE SCENARIO: Once a location (or agency) is decided upon, the Activities Director should be notified of all intentions and with their approval and assistance, they will then prepare a time for this project to occur.

THE FIRST MEETING IS THE HARDEST---But only at first, I think it is somewhat like facing a blank canvas-a bit scary, but once you find your direction, it gets easier. In our typical classroom situation the experience of working with a sitter (model) whom you do not know is only one approach to making a portrait. In this SERVICE LEARNING situation you’ll get to KNOW  something about your sitter through interaction BEFORE painting a portrait of them. This kind of interaction can take the shape of interviews, conversations, playing a game with, sketches and photographs.

ULTIMATE GOAL: This SERVICE LEARNING experience will result in a “portrait” of your “sitter”. It does NOT have to be done on location. The painting method can be traditional or contemporary—YOUR CHOICE. You do not have to give your painting to the sitter, but it may be a good idea to share a color photocopy-this will be entirely YOUR CHOICE. This painting will be evaluated as one of your class portraits so if you plan to give it to your sitter, please do so AFTER it has been critiqued.

THE CRITIQUE: Bring in “the portrait” and we will discuss it in terms of technical strengths and weaknesses. I would also like you to discuss with the class and overall interpretation of your experiences in terms of:

1.      Discuss the pros and cons of the service learning experience in general and

2.      Specifically, how did this process of getting to know a “stranger” before painting their portrait affect your portrait making process