ROMARE BEARDEN

W O R K I NG W

I TH J U

X T A P O S I TI O

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CORE VOCABULARY1. Collage: A work of art that consists of an assemblage of

various types of materials onto a flat surface. These materials can include: photographs, printed media, fabric, along with other types of scrap material.

CORE VOCABULARY2. Juxtaposition: This is the placement of two or more

opposing or contrasting things near each other. This is often done in art to cause comparisons and inspire deep thought about the relationship between the opposing things.

CORE VOCABULARY3. Background: The place in pictorial space that is furthest

away from the viewer.4. Middleground: The area immediately after the background.

This is a transitional space between the background and the foreground.

5. Foreground: The area in pictorial space that is closest to the viewer. The focal point is placed in the foreground.

CORE VOCABULARY6. Theme: The central idea, topic or subject an artist is trying

to convey or express.

7. Mood: The state of mind or emotion communicated in a work of art through color, composition, scale, and size.

CORE VOCABULARY8. Emphasis: A Principle of art that uses the elements to

create a focal point, an area of interest in the artwork.9. Contrast: This principle is achieved with the placement of

dissimilar elements within a work of art.10.Unity: This principle is achieved when the entire work of art

exists as a whole. When all elements, though they may be different, appear to work together cohesively to create the work of art.

ROMARE BEARDEN

• Born 1911 in his great-grandfather’s house in North Carolina• His Family moved to Harlem when he was 3 years old.• Bearden’s early memories of Southern sharecroppers, black urban life,

family gatherings, and jazz music became the subjects of the collages for which he later became famous.

• After graduating with a degree in Math, he decided to study art at the Art Students League. He Studied many traditions including Chinese calligraphy, Italian painting, and African Art.

ROMARE BEARDEN

ROMARE BEARDEN

ROMARE BEARDEN

ROMARE BEARDEN

ROMARE BEARDEN

• Served in the Army between 1942-1945• In 1964, during the peak of the civil rights movement, Bearden’s

artwork became very popular and critically acclaimed because it made a unique statement about black pride, and the hardships of the African American community.

• He had his first solo show in 1965.• 1967 He was able to support himself entirely on making art.• He died in 1988

WHAT THEMES DID YOU NOTICE IN BEARDEN’S WORK?

WHAT THEME WOULD YOU EXPRESS IN YOUR COLLAGE?• Your life story or family history?• Your hopes for the future?• A life changing experience?• School?• Your current struggles?• A social justice issue?

“The Artist needs to be like a whale swimming along with his mouth wide open , absorbing everything that happens along the way.” -Romare Bearden

HOW TO BEGIN:1. Consider a theme for your collage:• Your life story or family history?• Your hopes for the future?• A life changing experience?• School?• Your current struggles?

• A social justice issue? 2. Begin searching for images., patterns, and textures. You

can use any type of printed material. If an image you want to use is on a page, tear out the entire page.

Collect images for your back ground, middleground and foreground.

HOW TO BEGIN:3. Store your background, middleground, and froeground images in separate folders before you begin pasting. 4. Once you have accumulated enough images begin laying

out your collage WITHOUT GLUE.5. Lay out your images in the order of background,

middleground, then foreground.6. If everything works, begin pasting images. USE SMALL DABS

OF GLUE AT THE CORNERS AND EDGES TO AVOID WRINKLING.

7. You must achieve: emphasis, contrast, and unity.

COLLECT IMAGES

PLACE BACKGROUND IMAGES FIRST

MIDDLEGROUND

FOREGROUND

AND THERE YOU GO!