This site contains information and project examples for "Branching Out: Trees as Inspiration," a professional development course offered by Catherine Carter at the Danforth Museum School during the Summer 2015 semester.

Course Schedule

Monday, August 3, 9 AM to 5 PM
Class 1 of 5: Introductions, review schedule and syllabus.
Project 1: Bark Closeup

Tuesday, August 4, 9 AM to 5 PM
Class 2 of 5: Project 2, Tree Through the Seasons

Wednesday, August 5, 9 AM to 5 PM
Class 3 of 5: Project 3, Fantasy Tree including the figure

Thursday, August 6, 9 AM to 5 PM
Class 4 of 5: Project 4, Roots and Branches

Friday, August 7, 9 AM to 5 PM
Class 5 of 5, Portfolios due, Group Critique

Course Information

The course meets for a total of 37.5 contact hours: 5 meetings, each lasting 8 hours, with half an hour scheduled for lunch.

A group critique will be held on each of the first four days of class at approximately 2 PM. Participants may choose to present their work to the group, view and respond to other students' work, or not join in at all but continue to work on their own.

At our final meeting on August 7, participants will turn in a portfolio of all projects, completed. The instructor will photograph each work for reference in calculating final grades and return portfolios to the participants before the final class is dismissed.

Attendance is mandatory. In the event of an unplanned absence, it is the responsibility of the student to complete all missed work, dependent upon the discretion of the instructor.

Participants are required to turn in all projects completed on the final day of class.

The Museum School is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM; on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30 AM to 5 PM; and closed on weekends. The school office can be reached at 508.620.0937 or school@danforthart.org. For complete information about the school, visit danforthart.org/studentinfo.

The instructor, Catherine Carter, can be reached at carterpaintings@aol.com. Her artist website is CatherineCarterPainting.com and her teaching website is CarterTeaching.blogspot.com.

Project 1: Bark Closeup


Create an artwork inspired by a closeup view of tree bark. 

EXAMPLES OF PARTICIPANTS' WORKS FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTER:

Graphite and charcoal on paper by Jonathan Hansen

Acrylic on canvas by Colby Caravaggio

Graphite on paper by Claudia Price

IMAGES FOR INSPIRATION:


"Ballast" by Sandra Allen, pencil on paper, 11' x 18.5'
 
Installation view of artwork pictured above

Acrylic on panel by Joan Backes, 24" H x 18" W

Acrylic on panel by Joan Backes, 12" square

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Project 2: Tree Through The Seasons


Create an artwork depicting the changes of a tree during the four seasons of the year. 

EXAMPLES OF PARTICIPANTS' WORK FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTER:

Mixed media assemblage by Claudia Price

Torn paper collage by Jonathan Hansen

IMAGES FOR INSPIRATION:





Project 3: Fantasy Tree Including Figure

Create an artwork depicting the human figure incorporated into the form or environment of a tree. The specific direction of the project is up to the participant to interpret in her/his own way. We will have a model available to work from during this class meeting.

EXAMPLES OF PARTICIPANTS' WORKS FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTER:

Mixed media on paper by Colby Caravaggio

Mixed media on paper by Jonathan Hansen

Mixed media on paper by Claudia Price


IMAGES FOR IDEAS:




"The Dream" by Henri Rousseau






"Tree of Life" by Gustav Klimt

"Wooden House" by Dariusz Klimczak


Project 4: Roots and Branches

Create an artwork that focuses on the root and/or branch system of a tree.

EXAMPLES OF PARTICIPANTS' WORK FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTER:

Inkjet print on paper by Jonathan Hansen

Mixed media sculpture by Colby Caravaggio


IMAGES FOR INSPIRATION:






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